Former Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha has been pictured with supporters in Portugal as the Ibrox club prepared to face Braga in the Europa League.
The Portuguese boss, who had an ill-fated spell in charge at Ibrox back in 2017, was in attendance after leaving his previous role at Mexican club Cruz Azul.
Despite being an outright failure at Ibrox, the ex-Rangers coach appeared to be generally warmly welcomed by the Ibrox support.
Pedro’s presence at the match was also a timely reminder of how far Rangers have come under the stewardship of Steven Gerrard.
Under Caixinha, Rangers suffered their worst ever European defeat, losing to Luxembourgian outfit Progres Niederkorn 2-1 over two legs.
Under Steven Gerrard, the club has just be guided into the last 16 of Europe’s second most prestigious club competition.
Pedro’s spell in Glasgow was defined by defeats such as that against Progres, but also by numerous domestic scoldings and wasting gargantuan sums on foreign signings on gargantuan wages.
Despite his failings, it wasn’t too long ago Caixinha was being linked with a move to Braga’s Primeira Liga rivals Sporting Lisbon [Glasgow Times].
The 49-year-old former Santos Laguna manager has been out of work since leaving Cruz Azul in September last year [ESPN].
Caixinha enjoyed a considerably better spell in Mexico than he did in Scotland, winning the Apertura Copa MX with his new side in 2018 and reaching the Liga MX final the same season.
Pedro’s reception from the Rangers fans proves that old adage correct – once a Ranger, always a Ranger.
