Rangers ‘keen on former Arsenal coach' as Russell Martin seeks to fill key backroom staff role
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RANGERS are reportedly looking at bringing in a goalkeeping coach that worked under Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
The position at the Ibrox club has been vacant since Allan McGregor left along with the rest of Barry Ferguson's backroom staff at the end of last season.
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Former Arsenal goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo
Credit: Getty - Contributor
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Former Rangers goalkeeping coach Allan McGregor
Credit: PA
It's less than a month away to their first competitive match - a crucial Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos at Ibrox on July 22.
And now new boss Russell Martin is hastily assembling his team - both on and off the pitch - ahead of the new season getting underway.
Matt Gill is Martin's number two and have known each other since they were players at Norwich, while Rhys Owen is his performance coach.
The Sheffield Star is reporting Rangers are "weighing up" a move to bring in the soon-to-be out of contract coach Sal Bibbo from Sheffield Wednesday.
He's a highly-rated goalkeeping coach who started out his coaching career at Reading between 2006 and 2015.
That was where he crossed paths with manager Brendan Rodgers.
He also worked under Arsene Wenger, Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery at Arsenal between 2017 and 2020, before joining Brighton and then Sheffield Wednesday in 2023.
He coached Petr Cech and World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has spoken previously about the impact Bibbo had on his career whilst on loan from Arsenal at Reading.
The Argentina goalkeeper said in 2019, 'I really look up to Sal, he's a great goalkeeper coach and a great man so he was a major influence in me coming here.
'When (Arsene) Wenger left, so many people were sacked at Arsenal.
FOUR to join Rangers before Champions League Plus Aarons impact on Tavernier REVEALED
'The fact that Arsenal wanted to keep him [Bibbo] in the club, it was for a reason."
Meanwhile, a new era was ushered in at Ibrox on Monday as the American owners addressed shareholders for the first time at the club's EGM.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh has vowed to end Celtic's dominance by restoring Rangers to trophy glory.
He also revealed the moment talks began on buying Rangers.
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