As Steven Gerrard and his staff prepared to depart for Aston Villa over 12 months ago, Michael Beale posted a heartfelt farewell on social media reflecting on his three and a half eventful years in Glasgow.
"One day, I would like to have the opportunity to come back and do it all again," he concluded. Often such carefully constructed words are designed to placate supporters, yet there was a lingering assumption his association with Rangers still had chapters to run.
The only surprising aspect of today’s announcement was the shortage of time between his exit and return. It has been a whirlwind spell for the in-demand 42-year-old, and he departs Queens Park Rangers just weeks after reaffirming his commitment to the West Londoners.
Beale appeared set to become the Head Coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers last month. His reasoning for declining a move to the Black Country was never fully clarified, and his close link with a Premier League club perhaps sharpened the thinking in the Ibrox boardroom. Beale would have been unobtainable for the foreseeable future, possibly for good, if he grasped the Wolves opportunity and exceeded expectations.
Rangers Sporting Director, Ross Wilson, has concluded a second managerial search in just 12 months. He opted for Giovanni Van Bronckhorst last winter and has replaced him with a former coach. His much-mentioned succession plan lacks creativity - both appointees were names already logged in his phonebook - although his most recent recommendation to his superiors was bolder than before.
Rangers have taken a calculated gamble on a manager ranked a notch above rookie level, yet recent history suggests too much focus is placed on experience. Graeme Souness and Gerrard were fresh to the management game when they checked in at Ibrox - and Walter Smith, once a trusty lieutenant to Jim McLean at Dundee United, was also unpractised in leading when appointed in 1991.
Beale may have been third in command under Gerrard, but he was the directive on the training pitch and the tactician on matchdays. He performed a role that belied his status, and rarely have colleagues, players and supporters universally valued the endeavours of a coach. His blueprint, implemented by Gerrard, transformed the Light Blues from also-rans to invincibles.
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The players will again benefit from Beale's thoroughness and attention to detail, but coaching is just a part of his remit. He is now the frontman of an institution, and it is unclear whether he can be the authoritative figure successful Rangers managers tend to be.
Unlike his Dutch predecessor, who was eager for a managerial return after a spell in the wilderness, Beale has been able to dictate terms. He was in an enviable negotiating position, and achieving a meaty transfer budget should have been a pressing priority. Poor recruitment has been a long-standing issue, nonsensical signings stung Van Bronckhorst, and Beale has to ensure he exerts influence over a floundering department.
Beale is inheriting an ageing team in desperate need of a reboot. He has kept abreast of Rangers' fortunes since leaving, time and distance have further increased his fondness for the club, and he will be fully aware of the imbalance in the group. The core of a squad he helped carefully construct requires radical surgery, and tough decisions lie ahead.
Beale's initial aim will be to reduce the nine-point deficit at the top of the table and win both domestic cup competitions, however it will be next season before the squad mirrors his image.
Beale's low-key arrival is in stark contrast to the frenzied hysteria that greeted his former boss over four and a half years ago. His appointment has not captured the imagination of the fanbase, yet in comparison to the other candidates mooted, Beale ticked more boxes than most.
The Englishman has landed his dream job - and he is no longer the support act at the club he loves.
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