One year ago Kevin Muscat was interviewed to become the new Rangers manager. Now, though, the "ship has sailed" on an Ibrox move with the 51-year-old settled at Shanghai Port.
The former Australia internationalist was pipped to the Rangers job by Philippe Clement after he was amongst the final candidates for the role.
Then at Yokohama F Marinos, Muscat had won the J1 League title and Japanese Super Cup following a trophy-laden spell at Melbourne Victory.
Muscat lifted two A-League Championships, the A-League Premiership and FFA Cup during his time Down Under.
As a result, Muscat was a genuine contender for the post at Ibrox given his trophy-winning credentials but Clement was preferred by the Ibrox board.
With pressure now mounting on Clement after a sticky start to the season, Rangers supporters have cast their mind back to Muscat's connection with the club and close call to being named manager some 20 years on from a spell at Ibrox as a player.
Muscat continued in his role as Yokohama boss until the end of the 2023 season in Japan. The manager announced his decision to resign two years after succeeding Ange Postecoglou as manager at the Japanese side.
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Muscat has since been appointed as manager of Chinese club Shanghai Port where his side are in a title race.
Shanghai are the highest scorers in the league with 90 goals in 28 matches this term and the side having only drawn three times and lost just twice.
Muscat's men sit second behind Shanghai Shenhua by one point with two matches left this season.
Shanghai are also competing in the AFC Champions League - with three outings in the competition so far; a 3-0 loss to Pohang Steelers, 3-2 win over Central Coast Mariners and 2-2 draw with Johor Darul Ta'zom.
Muscat's side have the Chinese FA Cup final upcoming next month against Shandong Taishan with a domestic double still possible.
Muscat's close friend and ex-team-mate Craig Moore previously stated Muscat was "devastated" to miss out on the Rangers gig but the chance of a move to Ibrox is gone after his move to China.
Speaking on Go Radio, Moore said: “He had two interviews at the time and he lost out and he was devastated to lose out at the time to Philippe Clement.
“He thought it was a great opportunity for him and it would have been a great job but Kevin now is doing a great job in China and that ship has well and truly sailed.”
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