The Rise of the Rangers
http://eldomingoalascinco.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/070712-Loftus-Road-General-View-Stadium-LA-PI_20120707133419967_660_320.jpg
Just three years ago, Queens Park Rangers were laughed off as a joke - a perfect example of how *not* to run a football club.
The club had been relegated from the Premier League, and were facing Financial Fair Play sanctions due to the huge losses they incurred thanks to their reckless transfer policy under then chairman Tony Fernandes.
Thankfully, the club managed to find its way back into the Premier League in its first attempt - not without a struggle, of course.
It was then that QPR underwent the change that has helped it reach the heights of today. Portuguese tycoon
Tomás Coelho took over after Fernandes decided to cut his losses on a team he thought were going nowhere.
The Portuguese has overseen Rangers' success this year
A little over a year and a half, and two managers later, Rangers find themselves sitting on top of the Premier League - albeit second placed Chelsea are only a point off and have two games in hand.
A lot of this has been down to Italian boss
Mauro Tassotti, under whom the club have finally found some consistency in results.
http://www.madridista.hu/web/kepfeltolt/13482_tassotti.jpg
Italian manager Tassotti has instilled belief in his side
Entering the January transfer window, it looked like the club might have an outside chance of making the top four, but those hoped seemed to be dashed when captain Diego Costa left for rivals Arsenal, and star defender Thiago Silva was set for a three month spell on the sidelines. However, this is when the Coelho stepped up to the plate, funding a move for arguably the best player on the planet -
Lionel Messi.
http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/Galeries/futbol/temporada10-11/02/entrenaments/entrenoQPR/2011-02-16_PREVIA_13.JPG
Rangers purchased Messi from Barcelona for around £80m
The Argentine wonder has already scored three hattricks for his new club, and has propelled them up the table. At the other end of the spectrum on fees, free transfer
Vagner Love has proved to be a shrewd acquisition for the club, and the Brazilian has already crossed the 10 goal mark with his treble against Burnley last weekend.
And energy tycoon Coelho insists the club will not stop here.
"We will push them." he says. "It's true that Chelsea are favourites at this stage because of their games in hand. But in the Premier League, anything can happen."
"We have nothing to lose at this stage. But our goal is to go out there and win every game we have left to play and let Chelsea know that we'll be breathing down their necks right till the end."