Rangers coach says good bye to rangers this morning his replacement is already here

Rangers have been dealt another significant behind-the-scenes departure after academy coach Steven Mundell confirmed that he is moving on from the club with an emotional message reflecting on his time at Ibrox. The experienced coach announced his decision on Wednesday, October 14, bringing attention to another change within the Rangers setup at a time when the club is looking to strengthen its position both on and off the pitch. Mundell described his latest five-year spell as incredible and thanked the academy staff and players he had worked with throughout his time at Auchenhowie. His announcement has highlighted the importance of the people working away from the spotlight to develop the next generation of Rangers footballers. While supporters naturally focus on first-team results, transfers and the manager’s decisions, the work carried out at academy level can have a lasting influence on the club’s future. Mundell’s departure therefore deserves attention, particularly because his relationship with Rangers extends well beyond his most recent appointment. According to reports, he has spent a total of 17 years at the club across two separate spells. His decision to move on represents the end of a lengthy professional connection with one of Scottish football’s most recognisable institutions. Although the reasons behind his next move have not been fully detailed publicly, his message suggests that he is ready to embrace a fresh challenge after years of helping young players develop their footballing abilities. For Rangers, the challenge now is to ensure that the work already taking place within the academy continues without losing

Mundell’s farewell message was straightforward, but it carried considerable meaning because of the amount of time he has spent working within the Rangers system. He announced that he was moving on after an incredible five years in his latest spell, expressing gratitude to the academy staff and players he had the opportunity to work alongside. He also made it clear that he was excited about the new challenge ahead. Rather than using his announcement to criticise the club or reveal disagreements behind the scenes, his words focused on appreciation and the opportunity to move forward. That is an important distinction because departures from football clubs can sometimes become surrounded by speculation about disagreements, disagreements over responsibilities or dissatisfaction with the direction of an organisation. In Mundell’s case, there is no confirmed evidence that a dispute with Rangers prompted his decision. His public message should therefore be understood for what it says: he is leaving after a significant period of work and is looking forward to his next chapter. Supporters may naturally wonder where he will go next and whether his departure signals wider changes within the academy, but those questions remain separate from the information he has actually shared. What is clear is that Rangers are losing a coach who has accumulated considerable experience within their youth development structure. His departure provides an opportunity to reflect on the work academy coaches do, the importance of developing young footballers and the need for the club to maintain continuity as members of staff move on to new opportunities.

Mundell’s connection with Rangers began long before his latest appointment. His professional history shows that he initially joined the club in October 2005 as a community coach, a role he held until September 2015. He subsequently worked in foundation and youth development, remaining associated with Rangers until 2017 before moving elsewhere to continue his coaching career. His journey then took him to Rotherham United, where he worked as a lead youth development phase coach, before he moved to China to take up a coaching leadership role at Chongqing No. 7 High School. He eventually returned to Rangers in September 2021, beginning the five-year period that has now come to an end. This career path demonstrates that his experience is not limited to one club or one environment. He has worked in community football, youth development, professional academy coaching and an overseas football programme. Those different experiences can expose a coach to different approaches to training, player education and the organisation of football development. They can also provide valuable opportunities to learn how young players respond to different coaching methods. Although it would be impossible to attribute every success within Rangers’ academy to one individual, Mundell’s lengthy involvement means he has been part of the environment in which numerous young players have trained and progressed. His return to Ibrox in 2021 also showed that his earlier relationship with the club remained an important part of his professional journey. Now that he is leaving for a second time, his next appointment will provide another opportunity for him to apply the experience he has gained across different football environments.

One of the most important aspects of Mundell’s work has been the development of young players as they progress through different stages of their football education. Coaching at academy level involves considerably more than preparing a team for its next match. Coaches must help players improve their technical abilities, understand tactical responsibilities, develop confidence and learn how to respond when things do not go according to plan. Young footballers also need guidance on professionalism, teamwork, discipline and the demands of competing in an increasingly competitive sport. A player may possess natural ability, but that talent must be developed through regular training, careful assessment and opportunities to learn from mistakes. Academy coaches help provide the structure required for that development to take place. Their work may not receive the same public attention as the first-team manager’s decisions, but it can shape the club’s long-term prospects. Rangers, like other major clubs, have an interest in producing players who can eventually compete for places in the senior squad. Homegrown talent can strengthen the first team, provide additional squad depth and potentially become valuable assets in the transfer market. None of those outcomes is guaranteed, of course, and not every academy player will reach the professional level expected of them. Nevertheless, a well-organised youth system improves the opportunities available to talented youngsters. Mundell’s departure therefore raises a reasonable question about how Rangers will maintain the standards of their academy coaching programme while staff responsibilities change. The answer will depend on the wider coaching team, the club’s planning and the ability of the remaining staff to continue providing young players with the support they need.

The importance of the academy becomes even clearer when considering Rangers’ long-term ambitions. A club with the history and expectations of Rangers cannot rely entirely on signing established players from other teams. Recruitment will always have a role, but developing young talent can provide another route to building a competitive squad. Academy graduates who establish themselves in the first team can develop a special connection with supporters because they have progressed through the club’s own system. Their journey can also demonstrate to younger players that opportunities exist if they work hard and continue improving. Findlay Curtis is one young player who has attracted attention in the current Rangers setup, and his progress illustrates why supporters are interested in the pathway between youth football and the senior side. However, it would be inaccurate to suggest that Mundell alone is responsible for Curtis’s development or that his departure will automatically affect the player’s future. Youth development is a collective process involving coaches, analysts, medical staff, senior players and the individuals themselves. Different members of staff contribute at different stages, and progress depends on a combination of ability, preparation, opportunity and circumstances. What Mundell’s exit highlights is the value of maintaining a strong coaching structure around promising players. Rangers must ensure that youngsters continue receiving consistent guidance even when experienced members of staff decide to leave. If the club manages that transition effectively, it can protect the development programme while allowing the next generation of coaches to contribute their own ideas and methods.

The timing of this departure is also relevant because Rangers have experienced other changes within their wider football operation. Whenever a club goes through a period of transition, supporters naturally pay closer attention to developments behind the scenes. Changes involving the first-team manager, coaching staff, recruitment personnel and academy employees can create questions about how the organisation intends to operate in the future. However, it is important to distinguish between separate departures rather than assuming that every change is connected. There is currently no confirmed evidence that Mundell’s decision is part of a coordinated departure involving the entire academy department. His public statement focuses on his own career and his excitement about a new opportunity. That does not mean his exit is unimportant, but it does mean that claims about a larger internal problem would require further evidence. Football clubs regularly experience staff turnover as professionals seek promotions, different responsibilities or opportunities in new countries. Coaching careers can involve moving between clubs to gain experience, take on leadership roles or work within different development systems. Mundell has already demonstrated a willingness to work outside Scotland, having previously moved to England and China before returning to Rangers. His career history makes a move elsewhere a plausible possibility, but his next destination should not be presented as confirmed until reliable information becomes available. For Rangers, the immediate priority should be to understand which responsibilities need to be reassigned and ensure that the academy continues operating effectively.

There is also a wider lesson in the way supporters assess the success of a football club. First-team results are naturally the most visible measure, particularly at a club where expectations are high and every league match can influence the title race. When Rangers win, attention turns to the goalscorers, the manager’s tactics and the players who made the biggest difference. When they lose, the same people are often questioned. Yet a successful football operation relies on a much larger group of people, many of whom rarely receive public recognition. Academy coaches work with players who may be several years away from making their senior debuts, and their contribution can take a long time to become visible. A young footballer who eventually earns a first-team opportunity may have benefited from years of coaching, individual feedback and carefully planned development. It is difficult to measure that contribution through a single statistic, but it remains an important part of the club’s work. Mundell’s lengthy association with Rangers provides a reminder that football careers are built through numerous stages. His role in youth development may not have attracted the same attention as the manager’s decisions, but the work of academy staff helps create the conditions in which future senior players can emerge. As Rangers look ahead, they should continue investing in the people who support those players, because the quality of the development environment can influence the club long after any individual coach has moved on.

For the young players currently training at Auchenhowie, a staff departure can represent both a change and an opportunity. Players become accustomed to particular coaching methods and communication styles, so the arrival or departure of a coach may require them to adjust. Some may have worked closely with Mundell and benefited from his guidance during important stages of their development. Others may have encountered him less frequently, depending on their age group and training responsibilities. It would be unfair to assume that every player will react in the same way or that the departure will necessarily create disruption. A well-run academy should be able to manage staff transitions without allowing them to undermine the progress of its players. Clear communication, consistent coaching standards and a shared development philosophy are important in that process. Young footballers need to understand what is expected of them and how they can continue improving, regardless of which coach is leading a particular session. Rangers must also ensure that the transition between youth teams and the senior setup remains clear. Talented players need opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, receive constructive feedback and understand what is required to progress. The academy should not depend entirely on the presence of one individual, however experienced that person may be. Instead, its strength should come from a coordinated team that shares knowledge and works towards common objectives. If Rangers maintain that approach, Mundell’s departure can be managed as a normal professional transition rather than becoming an obstacle to the development of the players who remain at the club.

The club must also consider what the next stage of its academy structure should look like. Replacing a departing coach is not simply a matter of filling a vacancy as quickly as possible. Rangers need to identify the responsibilities that must be covered, the experience required and the qualities that would help the successful candidate work effectively with young players. A strong coach should be able to communicate clearly, understand modern development methods and help players make progress both individually and collectively. Experience matters, but so does the ability to work within an established structure while contributing fresh ideas. Football coaching continues to evolve, with clubs increasingly considering technical development, tactical understanding, physical preparation, performance analysis and the psychological demands of the game. Academy departments must keep learning if they want to prepare young players for the challenges of senior football. Mundell’s career across different countries and organisations illustrates the variety of experiences that can shape a coach’s approach. Rangers could use this transition as an opportunity to review their needs and ensure that the people responsible for developing young players have the tools and support required to do their jobs. There is no need to assume that the academy is in crisis because one experienced coach is leaving. What matters is how effectively the club responds, distributes responsibilities and protects the standards it expects from its development programme. The quality of that response will be more important than the headlines surrounding the announcement itself.

Another important consideration is the relationship between academy development and the first team. Supporters often want young players to receive more opportunities, especially when the senior squad is struggling or when a promising prospect begins producing impressive performances at youth level. However, the transition from academy football to senior competition is rarely straightforward. Young players must adapt to faster decision-making, stronger opponents, greater tactical demands and the pressure of performing in front of large crowds. A footballer who dominates at youth level may still require time before he is ready to contribute consistently in the first team. This is why the coaching staff responsible for bridging that gap are so important. They help players understand the standards they must reach and identify the areas where further improvement is needed. They can also help the senior coaching staff assess which youngsters are ready for greater responsibility. Rangers need this pathway to remain effective because the academy’s value is not measured only by the number of youth matches won. Its broader purpose is to prepare players who can contribute at higher levels, whether at Ibrox or elsewhere in professional football. Mundell’s work within the youth and professional development phases placed him in an area of that process where player progression is especially important. His departure makes it necessary for Rangers to ensure that those responsibilities continue to be handled effectively. The club’s success in this area will depend on the collective experience of its coaching staff and the quality of the development system rather than on any one appointment.

For Mundell himself, the move represents another stage in a coaching career that has already taken him through several different environments. Leaving a club after spending so many years associated with it can be a significant professional decision, particularly when that club has been a major part of one’s working life. However, a departure does not automatically mean that a relationship has ended on negative terms. Coaches regularly seek new challenges because they want to broaden their experience, take on different responsibilities or explore opportunities that are not available in their current positions. Mundell’s message indicates that he is looking forward to what comes next, although he has not publicly confirmed the full details of his future role. His previous move to China shows that he has experience working beyond British football, while his time at Rotherham gave him further exposure to another professional academy environment. Those experiences could prove useful wherever he goes next. He will also leave Rangers with knowledge gained from working in the club’s development system across two separate periods. The players and colleagues he worked with may remember different aspects of his contribution, depending on their individual experiences. What can be said with confidence is that his time at Rangers forms a substantial part of his professional history. His next chapter will give him an opportunity to build on that experience and continue pursuing his career in football coaching.

Ultimately, Steven Mundell’s departure is a reminder that football clubs are constantly changing, even in areas that receive relatively little attention from supporters. Rangers are losing an experienced academy coach whose association with the club spans 17 years across two spells, but the full effect of his departure will depend on the decisions made in the weeks and months ahead. His farewell message was appreciative and forward-looking, with no public indication that he was leaving because of a dispute with the club. That is an important point to remember as discussion surrounding the announcement develops. Rangers now have a responsibility to maintain the quality of their youth development work, provide continuity for the players currently in the academy and ensure that the pathway to the first team remains effective. The departure of one coach does not determine the future of the entire programme, just as the arrival of a new coach would not guarantee immediate success. Long-term progress depends on the combined efforts of the coaching staff, the club’s leadership and the players who commit themselves to development. Supporters will understandably want to know who takes over Mundell’s responsibilities and whether further changes are planned, but those questions should be answered by confirmed information rather than speculation. For now, his announcement marks the end of an important professional chapter and the beginning of another. Rangers must look forward while recognising the value of the work that takes place behind the scenes. If the club maintains a clear development strategy and supports the people responsible for carrying it out, it can continue producing opportunities for talented youngsters despite changes in personnel. Mundell, meanwhile, leaves with a message of gratitude and anticipation, closing a long connection with Ibrox while preparing for a new challenge in his coaching career