Martin O'Neill and Graeme Souness both found themselves under the spotlight "Managing Rangers - and Celtic must be the same - is the hardest job in British football." As new head coach Russell Martin - the latest man tasked with trying to break Celtic's dominance of Scottish football - checks in at Ibrox, he would do well to heed the words of former Rangers boss Graeme Souness. Managing one half of the Old Firm brings with it an enormous amount of expectation, pressure and scrutiny. Even those accustomed with football at the highest level have been shocked by the demands of being at the helm of one of Glasgow's big two. "I didn't really know what I was going into," Souness, the European Cup-winning former Liverpool captain who managed Rangers from April 1986 to April 1991, told BBC Scotland's Managing the Old Firm series in 2010. "If you're top of the league and not playing very good football, the pressure's off. You can be second and have had a couple of bad refereeing decisions but you're playing the better football and the pressure all goes on. "That can bring you down. I hadn't experienced that before. I was coming into this job believing that I could handle everything in my stride. I came up here feeling invincible. What a fool." In a city where football is everything, escaping the spotlight is nigh-on impossible. Many Celtic and Rangers managers of the past have elected to live outside Glasgow â Souness stayed in Edinburgh â to try to escape what is commonly referred to as the goldfish bowl of a divided city. However, the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Philippe Clement, Ange Postecoglou and Steven Gerrard did all live in the city or its surroundings. Whether your team is winning or losing, the punters on the street will not be slow in sharing their feedback. "The whole west of Scotland thing, if you're not brought up in it, is mind-blowing," Gordon Strachan, who managed Celtic between 2005 and 2009, said. "You're either one or the other and that goes through all walks of life. It's quite a claustrophobic environment to work in." The late Walter Smith is one of the most revered figures in Rangers' history, the chief architect of the all-conquering side that swept all before them domestically in the 1990s and delivered nine consecutive league titles. Smith carried an aura of strength and authority but even he felt the strain of a job that comes with pressure like few others. "There are five million people in Scotland and football is the biggest thing," Smith said, speaking of a time before social media. "Although you look at the [English] Premier League and say it's a bigger environment media-wise, it's nothing in comparison to Rangers and Celtic. It's a claustrophobic environment to work in. "A manager is there a lot of the time to protect his players and try to make sure they don't get badly affected by the levels of criticism. "A lot of the boys are really surprised at being put under the microscope. They can play in Scotland for a number of years and then they join the Old Firm and their performances are dissected and analysed and criticised. "You have got to be prepared to take a fair amount of criticism." Understanding the nature of the Old Firm rivalry is key to being a successful manager of Celtic or Rangers. Beating the rest of the teams in the league is one thing but if you are falling behind your city rivals then it counts for little. After a 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park in the opening derby of last season, then Rangers manager Clement said: "Don't forget what happened last week [a 6-0 win over Ross County]. It was the best result in four years for the club." That comment was never going to cut it with the Rangers fans in the wake of a painful defeat by their biggest rivals and was one of many that suggested Clement just did not grasp that old adage â in Glasgow, second is nowhere. Legendary Celtic manager Martin O'Neill arrived in Glasgow looking to wrestle back the league title from a dominant Rangers who had won it by a 21-point margin the previous season. O'Neill was preparing his team for their opening match of the 2000-01 season away to Dundee United and, as he recalls in his autobiography, he was left in no doubt how results across the city would frame what was happening with his own team. "One journalist asks a question I am not ready for, 'With Rangers winning at Ibrox yesterday, do you think, if you don't win here today at Tannadice, the league is over?'," O'Neill wrote. "This is not said in jest but as a serious question. League over? In July? I'm slightly taken aback. Are Rangers that good and might we still be that bad?" Of course, O'Neill would turn that situation around to deliver a domestic treble in his first season and his arrival at Parkhead 25 years ago was the catalyst for a shift in power across Glasgow from Rangers to Celtic. Martin comes to Ibrox facing a similar challenge, to take a team that finished 17 points adrift last season and turn them into a force to be reckoned with.
What's it like to manage one of the Old Firm?
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"The Challenges of Managing Rangers and Celtic in Scottish Football"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Managing one of the Old Firm clubs, Rangers or Celtic, is often regarded as the most demanding role in British football. As Russell Martin steps into the head coach position at Ibrox, he encounters the immense pressure and scrutiny that accompanies this prestigious job. Former Rangers manager Graeme Souness, who led the club from 1986 to 1991, reflected on his experiences, emphasizing how the expectations can be overwhelming. He noted that even when a team is performing well, the pressure can shift dramatically based on the performance of their rivals. This intense environment is compounded by the fact that Glasgow's football culture is deeply ingrained in the community, creating a 'goldfish bowl' effect where managers find it challenging to escape public scrutiny. Many past managers have chosen to live outside the city to mitigate this pressure, but some, like Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard, have embraced the local atmosphere, fully aware that their every move is watched and discussed by fans and media alike.
The rivalry between Rangers and Celtic adds another layer of complexity to the managerial role. Success is often measured not just by overall league standings but by performance against their city rivals. The consequences of failing to secure a win in these critical matches can lead to significant criticism from fans and media. Gordon Strachan, who managed Celtic from 2005 to 2009, described the environment as claustrophobic, where the stakes are incredibly high and the margin for error is minimal. Walter Smith, a legendary figure in Rangers' history, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the unique pressures faced by managers in this intense footballing landscape. The historical context of the rivalry, coupled with the need to rapidly turn around a struggling team, means that Martin's task is formidable. He aims to transform Rangers, who finished 17 points behind Celtic last season, into a competitive force, reflecting the ongoing struggle for dominance in Scottish football that has defined the Old Firm for decades.
TruthLens AI Analysis
Managing one of the Old Firm teams in Glasgow is a task fraught with immense pressure and scrutiny, as highlighted in the article. The intense rivalry between Rangers and Celtic is not just about football; it encapsulates the cultural and social dynamics of the city. The insights from former managers like Graeme Souness and Gordon Strachan provide a glimpse into the unique challenges faced by those at the helm of these storied clubs.
Expectation and Pressure
The article emphasizes the overwhelming expectations placed on managers of these clubs. The historical context of the Old Firm rivalry indicates that success is not merely measured by wins and losses; it is a matter of identity for the fans. Souness's admissions about underestimating the pressure reflect a common experience among those new to the role. The constant scrutiny means that even minor setbacks can lead to significant public backlash, amplifying the stress on managers.
Community Impact
Football in Glasgow is deeply intertwined with the community, and the article captures this sentiment by mentioning the "goldfish bowl" effect. The pressure to perform is coupled with the social ramifications of failing to meet expectations. Managers often choose to live outside the city to escape the relentless scrutiny, but this also highlights the inescapable nature of their roles. The article suggests that the divide between Celtic and Rangers fans shapes the everyday lives of those involved with the teams, further intensifying the pressure on managers.
Public Perception
The narrative constructed around the challenges of managing an Old Firm club serves to reinforce the notion that these roles are among the most demanding in football. The article's references to past managers who have struggled under the weight of expectation paint a picture of a profession that requires not only tactical acumen but also exceptional emotional resilience. This portrayal could serve to garner sympathy for current and future managers, who may find themselves in similar positions.
Manipulative Elements
While the article does present factual experiences from former managers, it also implies a certain helplessness in the face of public expectation. This could be seen as an attempt to cultivate a narrative that fosters understanding for managers who might not succeed. By highlighting the extreme pressures of the job, the article may inadvertently downplay the responsibility managers have for their teams’ performances.
Trustworthiness of the Article
The article appears to be a reliable account of the experiences shared by notable figures in Scottish football, which adds credibility to its claims. However, the use of emotionally charged language and the focus on the pressures of the job may suggest an agenda to elicit sympathy for managers over accountability for performance. The insights provided reflect real experiences, yet they are framed in a way that emphasizes emotional struggle, which might skew public perception.
The article connects with those passionate about Scottish football and its cultural significance. It speaks to fans who understand the rivalry and the stakes involved, while also resonating with a broader audience interested in sports management and the pressures of high-stakes roles.