Rangers-linked Gerardo Seoane profiled: Would Swiss-coach suit Ibrox?

Whether supporters want a technically-able coach capable of implementing a successful philosophy or a standard-setter to raise levels that had fallen before the World Cup break, the need for improvement is obvious.

It's looking increasingly likely that Michael Beale will succeed Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The Herald reported last night the QPR boss is on the brink of being appointed manager at Ibrox.

However, another name that’s appeared on numerous bookmaker’s lists is Gerardo Seoane, the 44-year-old former Bayer Leverkusen and Young Boys manager currently out of work following his spell in Germany.

Realistically the Swiss-born boss may be outwith the budget available and given he achieved a third-place finish in the Bundesliga just last season, fancy his chances in Europe’s big five leagues when the next job comes around. However, the pull of Ibrox should not be underestimated. So who is Seoane and would he prove a good fit?

Seoane earned the Young Boys job off the back of guiding Luzern to a third-placed finish. He won three successive titles during a dominant domestic spell. In his final campaign, Young Boys finished a mammoth 28-points ahead of second-placed Basel, meaning Seoane left the league with the highest-ever average points-per-game ratio at 2.3.

His first season in Germany was a huge success, guiding Leverkusen back into the Champions League with a third-placed finish, the best position they’d achieved in seven years. It was a dissipating start to the current season that saw him replaced by Xabi Alonso in early October.

Seoane plays a direct method of attacking football, more concerned with getting the ball into dangerous areas than constantly retaining possession. He wants his team to play forward quickly into the front line with a tendency for vertical ball progression.

His Young Boys team lined up in a 4-4-2 with wingers coming infield and full-backs providing width. Without the ball they were drilled to press to triggers, trying to force possession wide and either regain the ball or force the opposition to play long. The defensive shape utilised was conducive to solidity without the ball and plenty of central bodies to prioritise attacking transitions.

This is shown in the side's pass network from a 2-0 win over Basel towards the end of Seoane tenure’s. Notice the high positioning of the full-backs Hefti (No.36) and Maceiras (No.24) and narrow location of the wingers Fassnacht (No.16) and Spielmann (No.7 positioned under No.11).

His team looked to play forward quickly and used a double-pivot midfield, which brought balance and helped progress possession forwards. By inverting, the wingers could play off of the forwards and populate the centre, making counter-movements with their full-backs to always stretch the opposition with width and depth.

The team's attacking radar from the 2020/21 season is shown below.

What does this show?

• Across the board, they ranked incredibly high, with 90+ percentiles in most areas.
• Notably not only did they generate plenty of chances (xG and Shots), the quality was also high (xG/Shot and Clear Shots).
• They were extremely threatening at set pieces and earned plenty of shots by pressing high.

Their defensive radar was also impressive.

What does this show?

• They didn't rank quite as well across defensive metrics. With less impressive totals in the quality of shot conceded (xG/Shot) and Clear Shots Conceded. 
• Their Aggression, Defensive Distance and Passes Per Defensive Action numbers were all extremely strong, indicating a team that likes to win the ball back, sit high and be proactive without the ball.

Bayer possessed recognisable traits in comparison to Seoane’s Swiss side. The manager generally favoured a 4-2-3-1 shape and adopted similar principles with and without the ball. The below pass network, taken from a 4-2 win against Stuttgart in February of this year, demonstrates some of these defining features. 

Notice again the full-backs Frimpong (No.30) and Bakker (No.5) providing width with a narrow attacking trio behind central, physical striker Schick (No.14). Adli has inverted from the right (No.31), Diaby from the left (No.19) with Wirtz (No.27) playing as a No.10.

The team's attacking radar from the 2021/22 season is shown below.

What does this show?

• Again the attacking numbers were very impressive. Chance creation (xG) and quality of chance (xG/Shot and Clear Shots) were high.
• It's clear they also excelled in transition with a significant number of Counter Attacking Shots and High Press Shots.

And their defensive radar.

What does this show?

• Their showing against the ball in the Bundesliga was less impressive, with no metrics nearing the 90+ boundaries.

Across Seoane's last two full league seasons we can see some consistent trends. He certainly knows how to coach an attack, make his team effective in transition and aggressive without the ball. The stats show impressive league finishes were fully merited. 

Tactics aside, Seoane is clearly a manager that places a heavy emphasis on how he leads and interacts with his squad.

“I worked with people outside the sport to help me, too,” he said speaking to the Coaches Voice while working in Switzerland.

“One helped me learn how to deal with the media – how to make sure I deliver my message in the way I want. I saw another person to help me with my relationship with the players.

“I think this is a big space today. The way that players interact with the coach has changed completely from when I was playing, and it will continue to change all the time. But the basic thing is always that you care about the players. You care about the people. If you care about the player, he feels that – and he’s going to be confident in his relationship with you. Then you can ask much more from him.

“A coach who is not changing is a coach in danger,” added the manager who is fluent in six languages.

Seoane’s dismissal this season should not cloud the obviously-impressive reputation built in previous years. He has a proven track record of domestic success and given the current squad’s suitability to play with high full-backs and narrow wingers, the Swiss coach would possess the immediate resources to play his favoured system.

While not used to the demands of Scottish football, Seoane ticks the other boxes Rangers require as they enter a new era.

READ MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR 

The inside story of Giovanni van Bronckhorst's Rangers reign

How Rangers' new manager could set-up: Kent infield, two up top and wide full-backs 

Michael Beale's Rangers tactical philosophy in his own words