NEWS UPDATE: Manager Rangers interviewed before Mick Beale now tipped for Napoli job

Nice, once the “best of the rest” in Ligue 1 and now fighting for a European spot, may have suffered a little since the start of the year, but one of Europe’s most exciting young tacticians will still emerge from his first season in one of the “top five” leagues on the continent with a much enhanced reputation. Nice, led by Francesco Farioli, 34, is currently only three points behind second place. Given that he had only previously served as a head coach in Turkish football, his appointment seemed risky, but it’s turning out to be one of the most brilliant decisions made during the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era on the French Riviera. In terms of Farioli, Rangers were therefore far ahead of the curve. Rangers spoke with the former Qatar Under-17 coach long before he became well-known across the Channel (The Athletic).After proving to be a huge success in France and being tipped to follow in Luciano Spalletti’s footsteps of winning the Scudetto at Napoli, one wonders where Rangers would have ended up if they had given Farioli the reins instead of the ill-fated Mick Beale when they let go of Giovanni van Bronckhorst in late 2022. Lorenzo Del Pinto, who worked with Farioli at Benevento as an assistant to the now-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, tells Calciomercato, “He was a very, very humble and reserved boy.” It was evident that he was very motivated to work and learn. He studied a lot of methods on his laptop for a long time. I believe that hard work, both on and off the field, is his secret. “I would see (him at Napoli doing) very well on a tactical level, because Napoli has the 4-3-3 within them,” said the man. “The Azzurri are going through a transitional period.” Furthermore, it’s not guaranteed that they can convey excellent football with Francesco Calzona. In any event, I believe Farioli is a perfect fit for the Neapolitan team. “Most likely, as Spalletti did, he would put a lot of passion into his Napoli,” I say.Ibrox may have been Beale’s undoing. However, at least Philippe Clement, his “exceptionally consistent” successor, is making some effort to appease the ghosts of his predecessor’s tragic period. Rangers, who have only once won a Premiership title since returning to the top flight in 2016, lead Celtic by two points heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures thanks to Wednesday’s thrilling comeback against Kilmarnock.Nice, once the “best of the rest” in Ligue 1 and now fighting for a European spot, may have suffered a little since the start of the year, but one of Europe’s most exciting young tacticians will still emerge from his first season in one of the “top five” leagues on the continent with a much enhanced reputation. Nice, led by Francesco Farioli, 34, is currently only three points behind second place. Given that he had only previously served as a head coach in Turkish football, his appointment seemed risky, but it’s turning out to be one of the most brilliant decisions made during the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era on the French Riviera.

 

Rangers, then, were very much ahead of the curve when it comes to Farioli. Long before he was a household name across the Channel, Rangers interviewed the one-time Qatar Under-17 coach (The Athletic).  Now, having proven to be a big hit in France while being mentioned as the man to build on Luciano Spalletti’s Scudetto-winning success at Napoli, one wonders where Rangers would have found themselves had they handed the reigns to Farioli rather than the maligned Mick Beale when firing Giovanni van Bronckhorst in late-2022.  “He was a very, very humble and reserved boy,” Lorenzo Del Pinto, who worked with Farioli at Benevento when he was an assistant to the now-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, tells Calciomercato.  “You could see that he had a great desire both to work and to learn. He spent a lot of time on the the laptop, studying a lot of tactics. I think his secret is hard work, which he does both on and off the pitch. Now “I would see (him at Napoli doing) very well on a tactical level, because Napoli has the 4-3-3 within them. “The Azzurri are experiencing a moment of transition. And it is not certain that, with Francesco Calzona, they can express good football. I think that, in any case, the Neapolitan team is a right fit for Farioli. “Most likely, as Spalletti did, he would put a lot of passion into his Napoli.”  Beale may have failed at Ibrox. But at least his successor, the ‘exceptionally consistent’ Philippe Clement, is going some way to exercising the ghosts of his predecessor’s ill-fated era. Wednesday’s stirring fightback at Kilmarnock means Rangers – who have still only won one Premiership title since returning to the top flight in 2016 – go into this weekend’s round of fixtures two points clear of Celtic.

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