Former Rangers Star Appointed New Head Coach of Italian National Team: Fact or Fiction?

There’s been a lot of buzz about a former Rangers star being appointed as the new head coach of the Italian national team. However, it seems this rumor might not be entirely accurate.

The Actual Appointment

According to recent updates, Mike Keenan, a former NHL coach with the New York Rangers, has indeed been appointed to lead a national team – but it’s the Italian men’s national ice hockey team, not the football team. Keenan’s experience includes winning the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994 and the Gagarin Cup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2014. He’ll lead the Italian ice hockey team in the 2026 Olympics, which Italy will host ¹.

Italian Football Team’s Current Status

As for the Italian national football team, the current coach is vacant, according to Wikipedia. Luciano Spalletti was appointed as the head coach in 2023, with Gianluigi Buffon serving as the delegation chief, but it appears Spalletti is no longer in the role. There’s no information available about a former Rangers star being appointed as the new head coach of the Italian national football team ² ³.

Rangers’ Managerial Team Update

In a related development, Rangers Football Club recently appointed a new managerial team, with Barry Ferguson taking over as the head coach of the men’s first team until the end of the season. Philippe Clement left the club, and a new permanent manager will be appointed in the coming months ⁴.

In conclusion, while there’s no evidence of a former Rangers star being appointed as the new head coach of the Italian national football team, Mike Keenan’s appointment as the coach of the Italian men’s national ice hockey team is a notable development in Italian sports.