Allan McGregor Returns to Rangers as Lead Goalkeeping Coach Under Derek McInnes
Rangers have confirmed the return of one of the club’s most iconic modern-day figures, with Allan McGregor coming back to Ibrox in a permanent coaching capacity as lead goalkeeper coach under new manager Derek McInnes.
This isn’t McGregor’s first reappearance at the club since hanging up his gloves. The 44-year-old had a brief spell back at Rangers as part of Barry Ferguson’s interim backroom staff in 2025, but more than a year on from that short-term role, he’s now been brought back on a permanent basis as part of McInnes’ newly assembled coaching team. He takes over the position from Sal Bibbo, who has recently departed Ibrox for a move to Premier League side Coventry City.
In his new role, McGregor will work directly alongside the club’s current goalkeeping options, including new signing Ivor Pandur and back-up stopper Liam Kelly, as well as overseeing the development of Rangers’ emerging young goalkeeping prospects coming through the ranks.
Few names carry the same weight at Rangers as McGregor’s. Across two separate spells as a player at the club, he won four league titles, lifted the Scottish Cup on four occasions, and added five League Cup triumphs to his trophy haul — a genuinely remarkable collection of silverware built over more than 500 appearances for the club before his retirement in 2023. His playing career also took him beyond Ibrox, with spells at Cardiff City and Hull City in England, alongside representing Scotland at international level, cementing his reputation as one of the more accomplished goalkeepers of his generation in British football.
McGregor didn’t hide his enthusiasm about coming back to the club in a coaching capacity, saying he was genuinely excited to rejoin the staff and describing the opportunity as a real privilege given what Rangers means to him personally. He spoke about the demanding standards the club expects and said he was looking forward to getting started with players and staff as preparations continue for the season ahead.
McInnes was equally positive about the appointment, calling McGregor a fantastic addition to the coaching staff who brings a wealth of experience with him. The Rangers boss pointed specifically to McGregor’s understanding of what it takes to succeed at the club and the daily standards required, suggesting his knowledge and winning mentality will prove valuable to the group as McInnes continues shaping his backroom team ahead of the new campaign.
A club statement confirmed the appointment formally, noting that McGregor — already a Rangers Hall of Fame inductee — will now be responsible for leading the goalkeeping structure across the entire club going forward. Rangers also used the update to thank recently departed staff and players for their contributions, wishing them well for the future as the club continues reshaping its footballing operations under the new management team.
Beyond the technical value McGregor brings as a specialist coach, his return carries obvious symbolic weight for a club leaning heavily on figures who understand its history and expectations as it rebuilds under McInnes. Pairing a genuine club legend with a returning boss looking to instil fresh standards throughout the squad fits a broader pattern already visible in Rangers’ summer business — one that blends outside recruitment with a renewed emphasis on Ibrox’s own footballing identity and heritage.
