Michael Beale insists he has fulfilled his destiny by returning to Rangers and succeeding Giovanni van Bronckhorst as Ibrox boss.

Beale was unveiled as the 18th manager to hold office days after clinching a deal to bring him back to the club where he won a historic 55th Premiership title last May.

The Englishman quit his position at Queens Park Rangers just weeks after rejecting a move to the Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And he dismissed criticism over his decision to leave Loftus Road following questions about his loyalty and integrity from furious fans of the Championship side.

Beale will now aim to follow the example set by former boss Steven Gerrard and deliver silverware success at Ibrox as he revelled in the opportunity to lead Rangers in his own right.

Beale said: “It’s a fairytale to say one club is the same size as another. Or that one opportunity is the same as the other.

“I don’t know the last time a Championship manager rejected a Premier League job. And let’s not talk about finances and all that.

“It’s clear the rate Premier League managers earn and if you’re a young coach it’s the dream to go to the biggest teams in the biggest leagues.

“This was my destiny. It was from the day I left. When I decided to become a manager, it was a job I really wanted to do in the future.

“It’s come at me very, very quickly. But having been here three and half years and ridden everything else there is no-one more experienced in this club right now, with this group of players, than me.

“That’s why I feel extremely confident about it. If I didn’t, I would have said to Ross (Wilson), Stewart (Robertson) and the rest of the board that it was a wrong moment or I wouldn’t have sat down and had the conversations.

“I feel extremely confident coming back here with this group of players and staff. But also where the club wants to go and how we’re going to try and go there.

“There’s a lot of clarity here and a lot of alignment towards myself.”


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