The ex-Rangers manager grudge match no-one knew they wanted could be about to take place if Giovanni van Bronckhorst joins Michael Beale down south.
It comes with rumours swirling around Dutch coach Van Bronckhorst and the vacant manager’s job at Swansea City in the English Championship.
Whilst as things stand there is no clear candidate to replace Michael Duff in South Wales, there’s been much talk if not anything official around Giovanni van Bronckhorst who is still out of a job after leaving Rangers in 2022.
We must stress that the sounds surround rumours and stories on betting odds but there is plenty of online conversation around the ex-Arsenal and Barcelona star with regards the post.
Michael Beale – who was sacked less than a year on from replacing Van Bronckhorst last November – has also just been confirmed as the manager of Sunderland.
The situation will pique the interest of Rangers supporters, who may well be in for some sort of handshake-less post-Ibrox grudge match.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst v Michael Beale grudge match?
Englishman Beale was sacked in October after taking the Rangers manager’s job following the sacking Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the run up to the World Cup.
Whilst the Dutchman had just guided Rangers to the Europa League Final and won the Scottish Cup, a devastating run of injuries contributed to humiliation in the Champions League, capitulation in the title race, and heavy criticism over negative tactics.
Ex-Ibrox assistant Michael Beale, who’d been replaced by Van Bronckhorst and his backroom staff when Beale followed Steven Gerrard to Aston Villa, would then come in to replace Gio.
But before that happened, Beale showed up in the crowd during a 4-1 Van Bronckhorst victory over Aberdeen in a Grim Reaper-esque moment which lingered over the former QPR boss during his time in Glasgow.
Van Bronckhorst himself reportedly told sources that he was “disappointed” with the coach’s presence at the game, which was at the height of the Rangers pressure on the coach, the appearance coming four weeks before the the ex-Feyenoord manager’s sacking.
For that reason something tells us there would be no love lost should Giovanni van Bronckhorst take over at Swansea City and face Michael Beale at Sunderland.
Tale of two former Rangers managers
This post-Rangers grudge match is a tantalising proposition for Ibrox supporters who eventually turned on both managers during their separate stints in charge.
Of the two, ex-player Giovanni van Bronckhorst certainly has more credit in the bank with that Europa League run and Scottish Cup win cementing some legacy as Ibrox boss.
Beale – who always spoke a good game but failed to deliver any success at Ibrox – has been the subject of heavy, and often personal, criticism from Rangers fans since his exit.
Whilst the situation at Swansea remains unresolved, Giovanni van Bronckhorst isn’t the only name being mentioned in the new manager running at the Championship side.
Notts County boss Luke Williams is viewed as a frontrunner, whilst Spurs coach Chris Davies and interim manager Alan Sheehan Are also prominently mentioned.
