‘Total privilege’ – Crichton confirmed as Rangers head coach

Leanne Crichton has been given a three-year contract to lead the Rangers’ women’s coaching staff.

After winning 72 caps for her country during her successful playing career, the 37-year-old former Glasgow City, Celtic, and Hibernian midfielder regularly appears on BBC Scotland’s radio and television coverage.

She now makes a huge leap into management as Jo Potter’s replacement after spending time coaching at Motherwell and Glasgow City.

In her two years in charge, former England international Potter chose to switch to Crystal Palace, and Rangers finished SWPL runners-up twice.

One of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make was Crichton, who had three spells as a player for City, said.

She is now concentrating on delivering silverware at Rangers in Potter’s footsteps.

What will she bring to the role and why have Rangers trusted Crichton to continue Potter’s success?

Rachel Corsie, Crichton’s long-time friend and former Scotland team-mate, told BBC Scotland, “There’s no doubt she’s ready.”

“I believe you have to step up at some point to get your first role,” she said.

She simply exhibits this unyieldingness. It’s a tremendous opportunity, a tremendous role, and it’s a fantastic representation of Leanne’s work.

Crichton is familiar with big stages and high pressure, having witnessed an exhilarating expansion of the women’s game throughout her professional career.

She spearheaded Scotland’s first victory at a women’s major tournament with a start in midfield that gave Caroline Weir the decisive goal against Spain in 2017.

Crichton won a number of notable awards with Glasgow City, including the first Women’s FA Cup final to take place at Wembley with Notts County.

Everyone knew about Corsie’s fierce personality and unwavering resolve.

Corsie believes that coaching has given Crichton’s personality a more tender side in addition to the “authoritative” side of the player.

Crichton made a player-coach debut at Motherwell in 2021, joining Glasgow City alongside Leanne Ross.

She “has given her a whole new dimension”: “She’s a natural leader, but you take on a different level of care as a coach, and she’s thrived in that area,” Corsie said.

Coaches sometimes experience the most trouble when doing that. If you don’t have that kind of relationship with the players when these difficult conversations occur, it can quickly deteriorate.

When Corsie was asked what her team’s stylistic preference would be for Rangers, she responded that she wanted a mix of substance and style.

Leanne was a player like that, so there is a natural desire to play football.

She enjoyed playing the ball on the ground and would willingly put a challenge in. She appreciates that, in my opinion, as a coach.

Corsie is aware that there will be certain standards that players must adhere to, even though she admits she isn’t aware of Crichton’s preferred formation.

Corsie praised her former teammate, saying, “She’s very well connected to that Scottish football feel.”

“And she’s going to have a passion for you,” she said.

You don’t want to be outworked, you don’t want to be outrun. Leanne would not accept those things in her life.