Derek McInnes has reached a significant milestone at Rangers, arriving back at the club where he grew up as a supporter and previously played as a player. His 100-day tenure has been nothing short of tumultuous, marked by a dramatic turnaround from a shaky beginning that saw European elimination and domestic defeats to a period of resurgence that includes consecutive victories over fierce rivals Celtic. The journey from crisis to confidence has been swift, reshaping perceptions of both the manager and his young squad as Rangers look to bridge the gap at the top of the Premiership standings.
McInnes' opening month proved testing for Rangers faithful and the manager alike. Taking over from Danny Rohl in June following his departure from Hearts—where he narrowly missed the Scottish Premiership title on the final day—McInnes inherited a squad requiring substantial overhaul. His debut ended in disappointment as Thelo Aasgaard's equaliser earned Dundee United a 1-1 draw at Tannadice, with McInnes admitting Rangers were "not good enough to win the game." Worse followed in European competition, as a costly trip to Poland resulted in a 2-1 defeat to Jagellonia Bialystok. A 2-1 home loss to Hibernian—sealed by Callum Wright's late strike—compounded early frustrations, while Youseff Chermitti's ACL injury further dampened optimism. These setbacks were followed by Rangers' elimination from European football for the first time in a decade, first at the hands of Jagellonia on aggregate, then via a penalty shootout loss to Czech side Jablonec, with McInnes describing the performance as "embarrassing."
The turning point came with an emphatic 5-1 demolition of St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup, Rangers' first win under McInnes after five attempts. From there, a winning streak began to materialise, with successive Premiership victories at Pittodrie against Aberdeen, Falkirk, and Motherwell setting the platform for September's defining moment. McInnes' Old Firm managerial debut proved transformative, with tactical ingenuity yielding a memorable Premier Sports Cup victory. Inspired performances from Dan Neill, who scored twice, and debuts from new recruits like Kim Min-Su began justifying the summer recruitment drive. The momentum continued at Celtic Park on September 20th, where a Naderi goal stunned 60,000 home supporters and moved Rangers to within two points of their Glasgow neighbours. Former interim boss Barry Ferguson praised the team's resilience and ability to find ways to win, particularly following their European exit, noting impressive reactions from both management and players.
As McInnes enters the international break, Rangers have transformed from a team facing European disappointment and supporter discontent into genuine contenders. His tactical flexibility, evident in the Old Firm victories, has begun unlocking the potential of a squad he described as young but capable. While the squad overhaul continues and improvements remain necessary in several areas, McInnes appears to have found a winning formula at precisely the right moment. With Rangers sitting just two points behind Celtic and a Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden on the horizon, the manager's opening 100 days—despite their chaotic beginning—have positioned the club for what could be a pivotal second chapter of his Rangers reign.