Michael Beale takes subtle dig at Rangers structure as he becomes Sunderland boss
Sunderland boss Michael Beale has taken a dig at the structure at Rangers where he was given the role of more than just a first-team head coach.
The Englishman took charge at the Stadium of Light on 18 December and mentions how he had to do a lot more than just be responsible for the senior side, unlike what he had to do at Ibrox.
However, as Four Lads Had a Dream points out, it’s something that he wanted at Gers and did not want a Director of Football after Wilson joined Newcastle.
He said: “10 years at Chelsea gave me a really solid foundation before moving on and having two periods at Liverpool.
“There were a lot of changes [at Rangers] with people leaving and I got pulled into different places. The thing I’m really comfortable here is the alignment of the club. My role here being a head coach and having an opinion and an idea on other aspects of the club, but I want to be the coach of the team and not the manager of the whole football club so this was a good fit.”
He volunteered for it and was happy to do it
He told everyone at press conferences and it was well documented
— Four Lads Had A Dream (@4ladshadadream) December 18, 2023
Excuses
These comments from Beale appear to be an attempt to deflect from his own shortcomings during his tenure.
By mentioning the changes at Rangers and being “pulled into different places,” Beale seems to be laying blame on external factors for any perceived failures rather than taking accountability for his role as the head coach.
His words about wanting a coaching role rather than managing the whole football club come across as an excuse for his inability to meet expectations at Rangers.
By hiring Philippe Clement, Gers upgraded on Beale and given the start he’s head, they’ve undoubtedly made the right call.
By framing his departure as a preference for a more defined coaching role, Beale may be attempting to justify his move to Sunderland as a step back in his career.
Ultimately, the narrative of circumstances and club structure being the primary factors in his departure from Rangers could be seen as an attempt to mitigate the narrative of his managerial shortcomings during his time at the Scottish club and the fans will be delighted to have moved on from him.