If there is any Pedro Caixinha legacy at Rangers, it’s probably feisty, Colombian, and Alfredo Morelos-shaped.
Whilst it was Jonatan Johansson who famously urged the Ibrox side to move for a young El Bufalito during his time with HJK Helsinki, it was the Portuguese manager who ultimately snared his signature.
In one of the club’s most bonkers transfer windows of the modern era, the Pedro Caixinha revolution in 2017 saw Alfredo Morelos join the Gers amongst a number of Latin footballers.
But whilst the likes of Carlos Peña and Eduardo Herrera had memorable stints for the wrong reasons, the Colombian went on to etch himself into Ibrox history for all the right ones.
Now, Morelos – who is Rangers’ record European goal scorer (29) and the club’s most red-carded player ever (8) – has just overcome the man who brought him to Ibrox as bullfighter Pedro Caixinha fails to shackle a resurgent Bufalo in Brazil.
Alfredo Morelos helps dump Pedro Caixinha in Brazil
Pedro Caixinha has had quite the journey in football management and after working in Portugal, Mexico, Qatar, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina, he’s now plying his trade in Brazil.
Taking over at Red Bull Bragantino in December 2022, the Portuguese boss appears to have found a home in Sao Paolo and is contracted there until 2025.
Alfredo Morelos is currently at Brazilian second division side Santos, and the two faced off against each other in the Campeonato Paulista.
And it was the Colombian who wound up the happier of the two, coming off the bench with 12 minutes to play in the game, which Santos went on to win 3-1 despite being reduced to 10-men.
The result has fired Alfredo Morelos and Santos to the Final of the competition, where they will face either Palmeiras or Novorizontino.
It’s quite the result for Santos, who’ve punched up the divisions to overcome the Brazilian top flight side.
Ex-Rangers pair now central in South America
For someone who got it so wrong at Rangers, Pedro Caixinha has managed to carve out a solid career since leaving Ibrox.
Working as part of that famous Red Bull group of clubs – which encompasses RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls – it’s a cushty number for the ex-Rangers boss even if he’s crashed out of the cup here.
Caixinha took over at Rangers in March 2017 but lasted just over seven months in an expensively disastrous stint in charge of the Ibrox club.
Alfredo Morelos, who had a disappointing first spell with Santos in the second half of last season, is now getting back to form and fitness in Brazil as Pele and Neymar’s old club look to bounce straight back up from last season’s historic relegation.
The Colombian striker made 269 appearances for Rangers over six seasons, scoring 124 goals and laying on 58 assists.
The Brazilian league season will start after the completion of the Campeonato Paulista with the campaign kicking off in mid-April.
