Colin Hendry, former Scotland captain and ex-Rangers defender, has expressed strong support for Derek McInnes as the new manager of Rangers Football Club. McInnes, a lifelong Rangers fan and former player from the late 1990s, officially took over the managerial role as the club seeks to rebuild its core with a focus on local talent. Hendry highlighted the significance of this appointment, marking a shift from recent managerial hires with little direct connection to the club.

Hendry reflected on his time playing alongside McInnes in the star-studded Rangers squad of 1998-99 under Dick Advocaat, which secured a domestic treble. Despite the presence of several foreign players, Hendry emphasized that it was the homegrown players—himself, Barry Ferguson, Ian Ferguson, Neil McCann, and McInnes—who maintained the team’s identity and focus at Ibrox. He expressed hope that McInnes would steer the club back towards its Scottish roots and foster a squad with a stronger local foundation.

Rangers have already taken steps in this direction, securing the signing of Lawrence Shankland, McInnes’ former captain at Hearts. Hendry anticipates further acquisitions of Scottish players under McInnes’ tenure. "It’s good to have that homegrown element because the Scottishness and the core and everything else starts with the manager," Hendry said. He added that McInnes’ deep familiarity with the club’s culture and values will encourage a renewed sense of identity within the entire staff and playing group, which he believes has been lacking with recent managerial appointments.

Hendry candidly acknowledged that while he did not initially envision McInnes as a future manager during their shared playing days, the former defender has demonstrated growth through a two-decade coaching journey. McInnes’ career has included roles at St Johnstone, Bristol City, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and Hearts before returning to Rangers. Hendry noted McInnes has progressively developed his management skills and achieved decent success at each stop.

A past critique of McInnes has been his perceived limited focus on youth development. However, Hendry singled out Findlay Curtis, a highly rated young player who recently featured for Scotland in the World Cup, as someone likely to flourish under McInnes. He suggested that while McInnes maintains a pragmatic approach, promising talents such as Curtis could be nurtured to make a significant impact at the club.

Hendry also drew parallels to other individuals in football who have taken diverse paths to leadership roles. He cited examples such as George Donis, recently appointed as Saudi Arabia’s coach, and Jason Wilcox, currently director of football at Manchester United, to illustrate that career trajectories can evolve in unexpected ways.

Overall, Hendry sees McInnes’ appointment as a positive move for Rangers, potentially restoring a sense of tradition and stability while emphasizing local talent development, which could be beneficial for both the club and Scottish football more broadly.