Danny Rohl has admitted the Rangers job was bigger than he first expected, describing life in Glasgow as an “emotional rollercoaster” and pointing to the pressure that comes with managing one of Scottish football’s most demanding clubs.
Rohl, who replaced Russell Martin and quickly made an impact with an away win at Hibs, said the scale of the challenge became clearer as the fixtures and the atmosphere around the team intensified. Rangers then had to face Roma in Europe and Celtic in a cup semi-final, two games that only added to the sense that every result carried extra weight.
Why the Rangers job felt different
Speaking to MailSport, Rohl said the role was tougher than he first thought, not because of the tactical side, but because of the emotional demands that come with it. “Was it a bigger challenge than I first thought? Yeah, in terms of how intense and emotional it is, yes. From a tactical point of view, you can make an impact soon, like when we won away at Hibs right away,” he said.
That immediate win offered a quick sign of progress, but it did not change the bigger picture. Rangers finished third in the Scottish Premiership table last season, and the club’s long wait to win the league title again continues to shape the pressure around every manager.
Examples of the pressure in Glasgow
Rohl pointed to specific moments that showed how quickly the mood can shift. At Dundee United away, Rangers had won their first four league games and drawn once before conceding after 10 minutes. At Ibrox, Rangers led Kilmarnock 1-0 at half-time, yet some fans were booing.
For Rohl, that was the clearest sign of what managing Rangers in Glasgow really means. “It’s an emotional rollercoaster in Glasgow,” he said. The reaction after a single setback can be immediate, and that leaves little margin for error when the expectation is to be chasing titles.
What comes next for Rangers
Rohl also reflected on the wider challenge facing the club, saying Rangers had only won the title once under Steven Gerrard. He added: “We got close but finally, couldn’t do it.”
The comments underline a simple truth about Rangers: the job is not only about winning matches, but about handling the pressure that comes with the club’s expectations, history and support. Rohl’s assessment suggests he understood that only after living it day to day.
