Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks to have finally landed himself a new manager’s job as the ex-Rangers boss closes in on a move to Besiktas.
Reports are emerging in Turkey that the Istanbul giants are closing in on a deal for the 48-year-old Dutchman to replace Riza Calimbay at the club.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been out of work since leaving Rangers in November 2022 and although Besiktas are yet to announce a deal, widespread reporting in Turkey expects it to be concluded.
Rangers fans will be wishing their former manager all the best in Turkey even if Gio’s 12 month stint in charge ended in heartbreak.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst to Besiktas?
The former Rangers midfielder replaced Steven Gerrard in November 2021 and lasted about a year in charge of the club before being given his marching orders.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst was perhaps a victim of circumstance at times at Ibrox, but whilst injury issues compounded his problems, the Dutchman stood accused of negative tactics on domestic soil.
Surrendering a seven point lead to Ange Postecoglou in the Australian’s first season as Celtic manager, the ex-Rangers boss collapsed in the first half of the following campaign as a gap widened between the two squads.
Despite this, there were notable successes during Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s tenure, with Rangers reaching the Europa League Final in Seville and winning the Scottish Cup in 2022.
The club also reached the Champions League group stages for the first time in over decade although the team was cruelly humiliated amongst Europe’s elite.
Super Lig side Besiktas certainly represent an interesting challenge and you can be rest assured bluenoses will be watching their former manager’s progress from afar.
The feeling is certainly mutual, as evidenced by Van Bronckhorst’s response to the club lifting the League Cup under Philippe Clement earlier in the season.
Ex-Rangers manager grudge match avoided
One person who might be breathing a sigh of relief that Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks set for the Besiktas job is former Rangers manager Michael Beale.
The former Steven Gerrard assistant infamously irked GVB when he showed up at Ibrox for a match against Aberdeen as the pressure mounted on the then Ibrox gaffer.
Whilst Beale insists there was no ill-intention surrounding the visit, both managers have decidedly different reputations in the eyes of the Rangers support.
Gio had to go when he did but the Dutchman has contributed to the club’s trophy legacy and got us to a European Final whereas Beale spoke a better game than he played.
With the Englishman at Sunderland, there were suggestions of a potential post-Ibrox manager grudge match as Van Bronckhorst was linked to the job at Swansea.
As it’s transpired, it’ll be Turkey and not South Wales for the former Rangers manager as Giovanni van Bronckhorst lines up a deal with Bestikas.
