There’s a feeling that Giovanni van Bronckhorst was hard done by at Rangers.
The Dutch manager had guided the club to the Europa League Final in Seville just six months before receiving the chop in November 2022.
Gio also lifted the Scottish Cup and qualified for the Champions League.
There was a sentiment from some that the legendary former Rangers star had won enough credit to survive the stormy seas of the club’s Scottish Premiership form.
But the swell of fan frustrations over the club’s league form and playing style eventually proved too strong.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst also wasn’t helped by the injury crisis which continues to envelop the club to this day whilst many believe the Dutchman was never backed financially.
At least not to the same extent as Michael Beale.
But 18 months on from the ex-Arsenal and Barcelona star’s sacking, finally the manager looks all set to take another job.
Van Bronckhorst back in management
Giovanni van Bronckhorst was at one stage one of the most revered young coaches in the game.
Having won Feyenoord – another of the Dutchman’s former clubs – their first league title in 18 years, a spell in China followed.
Whilst this was less successful, Van Bronckhorst also spent time with the City Group and had been primed as a long-term Pep Guardiola replacement at the Etihad.
But that stint in charge of Rangers, where the manager blew a seven-point lead v Celtic in his first season, has somewhat scarred the coach.
Whilst Gio’s exploits in Europe were legendary it is on domestic soil where the coach struggled to withstand Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic team.
But after an 18-month hiatus the manager is set to return to the dugout with Turkish side Besiktas.
Triple Rangers reunion in Turkey?
The Turkish Super Lig side have been strongly linked with a move for Van Bronckhorst over the last few seasons.
In fact Gio is believed to have turned the Turkish side down at the turn of the year before their ill-fated appointment of Fernando Santos.
From our point of view, it is great to see Giovanni van Bronckhorst back in the dugout with his time at Rangers a sore one for fans too.
We can’t rewrite history; Gio’s playing style and Premiership capitulation were the straws that broke the camels back and fans wanted the Dutchman gone.
But there were several mitigating circumstances which have since been poured over time and again.
The lack of investment in the Dutchman despite Champions League qualification was a real blow whilst the club failed to land several of Gio’s top targets.
The Gers also had that devastating run of injury problems, an issue which continues to hamper Philippe Clement to this day.
Interestingly, the former Rangers manager could link up with three of his former players in Turkey.
Ex-Gers star Ryan Kent has just been handed a boost by the appointment of Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce.
Freshly released Ibrox pair John Lundstram and Borna Barisic are also reportedly set to complete moves to Trabzonspor.
All three players were part of the Europa League Final squad which were beaten on penalties by Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville.
