Say what you want about Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s qualities as a Rangers manager, however, there is no doubting where he stands as a man.
The former Gers boss conducted himself with dignity and respect throughout his second spell at Ibrox and was inches away from immortality in Seville.
Compare and contrast his 12-months to that of Michael Beale’s at Rangers and only Giovanni van Bronckhorst can hold his head up high.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst deserved better from Rangers
It might not have worked out for him but, I’d imagine that, should he return, he would still be welcomed back to the club with open arms.
I’ll stand by the opinion – and argue with anyone who disagrees – that it wasn’t Gio who cost us the league title in 2021/22 but a mixture of luck, poor officiating and, more importantly, individual errors from players.
And then, of course, there was the run to the Europa League final.
On more than one occasion, he gave Rangers fans one of the best nights of their lives including, arguably, the greatest ever atmosphere seen and heard, at Ibrox.
Speaking to Four Four Two, Gio clearly still isn’t happy about his successor sitting in the stands whilst he was under pressure for a poor start to the season:
“I don’t think you should really do that as a fellow manager. You shouldn’t sit in the stands at a match when your colleague is feeling the pressure at that moment. I would never have done that.”
I’ve no doubt that Gio would never do such a thing to a fellow manager.
Beale, on the other hand, despite only being a manager for less than a season and a half in total, has already shown a few red flags.
He told QPR that he was “all in” when Wolverhampton Wanderers wanted to speak to him before jumping ship for Rangers just weeks later.
Then, there was the treatment of Glen Kamara and Fashion Sakala, both players, who had never done anything wrong in their time at the club, were made to train on their own whilst they waited for transfers to come off.
In comparison, I don’t think you will ever see a bad word written or said about Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
It’s safe to say that Beale won’t be on his Christmas card list.
