Giovanni van Bronckhorst is the name many Rangers fans want to takeover from Steven Gerrard at Ibrox and the legendary Dutchman has previously said he would “love” to take up the role.
Aston Villa are reportedly in the final stages of preparing a deal which would take Stevie G and his backroom staff to the Premier League.
Former Gers star Gio, 46, is currently out of work following a spell in the Chinese Super League but does boast an impressive stint at Feyenoord on his managerial C.V.
The ex-Ibrox full-back spent four years at De Kuip, winning three major honours including the Eredivisie title in 2017 despite Ajax boasting better finances than the Rotterdam side.
Some time with the City Group followed but after a challenging spell in China – dominated by the pandemic – Gio is back in Europe and has revealed he’s back on the job hunt.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst ready for “great challenge”
“I’ve had a lot of time lately to be at home and spend a lot of time in my foundation,” said Gio [Herald].
“That was a bit more difficult in recent years. Now I have the sense and energy to take on a great challenge.
“It is important in that regard – which club is it, and does it suit me?
“It was great fun in Asia, but after a month I noticed that it was becoming very difficult because of Corona.
“It was therefore important to return to the Netherlands as soon as possible.
“But I have always been interested in new cultures. It was great to work in China, but it was impossible with Corona.”
An internationally renowned ex-footballer who played 106 times for the Dutch national team – even reaching a World Cup Final in 2010 – and who turned out for Arsenal and Barcelona, there’s pedigree here.
Not only that, but GVB’s early success at Feyenoord hint that there’s more than enough managerial nous with Rangers’ talented squad surely appetising to any manager currently out of work.
Sky Sports journalist Andrew Dickson has also been discussing those links to Gio and has presented some interesting quotes which more than back-up the assertion van Bronckhorst would be “keen” to return to Rangers.
“I’d love to be a coach again in the future. I had drive as a player to compete in the best teams possible, it’s the same for me now as a coach,” said Gio [Dickson].
“That’s why you work hard and develop yourself, to earn those opportunities.
“I want to be working in the best leagues and that is still very much a goal of mine. I’ve always said I’d love to coach all the teams I played for.
“I had so many good times as a player and I have good memories of being with Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona.
“I’ve already gone back to Feyenoord after playing there. I very much enjoyed that. Now I want to enjoy my time at a club, to work hard developing players and make a team successful.
“That can be anywhere, but the clubs you played for always have a special appeal.”
Reports coming out of the Netherlands are now also suggesting that Gio van Bronckhorst is in the running for the Rangers job with his agent confirming to AD that there has yet to be any contact.
Couple this with these comments which suggest he’d be more than willing to take the reins at Ibrox, then the ex-Gers midfielder is looking more and more like the prime candidate by the hour.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst spent three years at Rangers between 1998 and 2001, playing 117 times, scoring 22 goals and lifting the SPL twice, the Scottish Cup twice and the League Cup once.
But whilst the Dutchman may be emerging as a popular choice for manager, another ex-Rangers player linked to job has been subject to a club insider update.
