Rangers cult hero Rino Gattuso set for return to management with French crisis club Marseille

The 45-year-old spent a season at Ibrox as a youngster and is set for a dug-out return.

Former Rangers star Rino Gattuso is being lined up to take over at French crisis club Marseille.

The Italian World Cup winner has been out of management since leaving Spanish La Liga outfit Valencia just seven months into a two-yer deal. The 45-year-old also had spells in charge of Napoli in Serie A and AC Milan, where he enjoyed major success as a player, including lifting the Champions League.

Gattuso has often been touted as a potential boss at Ibrox having played there as a youngster when Walter Smith signed him from Perugia. However, he found himself out of favour under Smith’s success Dick Advocaat and returned to Italy with Salernitana before earning a big move to the San Siro where he earned legendary status.

Now Gattuso, who has a Scottish wife, looks set to return to the dugout with reports in France stating he has touched down in the south of the country as he prepares to be named Marseille manager. The Ligue 1 side were plunged into crisis when Marcelino Garcia Toral quit just six weeks into the season with the club toiling.

The 58-year-old Spaniard succeeded Igor Tudor but they crashed out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round to Greek side Panathinaikos and fans were left raging following a poor display in a goalless draw against Toulouse which saw the former Sevilla, Villarreal, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao boss quit. Now Gattuso is widely expected to be named his successor.