Manager who beat Chelsea in talks to join Motherwell after Rangers discussions

Motherwell are in talks to appoint a manager who held discussions to join Rangers last season, according to a new report.

The Gers stunned many observers recently when they turned to Derek McInnes as the man tasked with leading the club into a new era, with Danny Rohl closing in on a move to RB Salzburg.

The appointment divided opinion initially, with some supporters surprised to see the Hearts and former Aberdeen manager handed one of the biggest jobs in Scottish football.

However, Rangers’ hierarchy were ultimately convinced McInnes was the right fit for the challenge ahead, with a deal agreed.

The Scot will inherit a squad in need of fresh direction following a disappointing campaign where they finished third behind Hearts and fierce rivals Celtic, who won the Scottish Premiership after a dramatic final day decider against the McInnes’ Jambos.

His task now is to close the gap on Celtic and restore Rangers as genuine title contenders.

The new manager has already begun putting his stamp on the club’s plans both on and off the pitch, with suggestions that McInnes is keen to bring Hearts hero Claudio Braga with him to Glasgow.

There is also some interest in how the club’s managerial search unfolded before McInnes eventually secured the role.

Several names were considered at different stages of the process, and one intriguing tactician before the Gers settled on Rohl to replace Russell Martin.

One of those figures was Portuguese coach Goncalo Feio.

Goncalo Feio in talks to join Motherwell after previous Rangers discussions

Now, a few months after holding discussions with Rangers, Feio appears to be edging closer to another opportunity in Scottish football to replace Jens Berthel Askou.

According to talkSPORT journalist Ben Jacobs, the 36-year-old is one of the final candidates in contention to become Motherwell’s next manager.

His report states that talks are ongoing, and a final decision is expected within the coming days.

It represents another significant opportunity for a coach whose reputation has grown rapidly in recent years.

Feio attracted widespread attention during his spell in charge of Legia Warsaw.

His work in Poland earned praise from across Europe as he helped the club secure silverware and establish themselves as a competitive force once again.

One of the standout moments of his tenure came during Legia’s European campaign in 2024/2025.

Despite ultimately exiting the Conference League, his side produced an eye-catching victory away from home against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

That result helped bring Feio to the attention of clubs outside Poland, and it was potentially among the reasons Rangers explored the possibility of appointing him during their late 2025 managerial search.

At the time, Feio was viewed as one of several ambitious candidates being assessed by the Ibrox hierarchy.

Ultimately, Rangers decided to move in a different direction.

However, interest in Feio’s coaching ability has not disappeared, and according to Jacobs, the Portuguese coach has also previously attracted attention from Southampton.

Jacobs adds that opportunities remain available to him across Portugal, Poland and Scandinavia.

That underlines the growing demand for a manager who remains relatively young but has already accumulated valuable experience.

For Motherwell, securing Feio would represent a major statement of intent.

Meanwhile, Rangers supporters may watch developments with interest given the coach’s previous connection to the club, and hope Feio doesn’t become a roaring success at Fir Park.