Outgoing Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has shown his class with a special message to supporters following his exit from Ibrox.
The Dutch coach was sacked from his role as Rangers manager just one year into the job despite guiding the club to the Europa League Final, winning the Gers’ first Scottish Cup in 13 years and qualifying for the Champions League Group Stages for the first time in over a decade.
But despite these achievements – and as admirable as they certainly are – a downturn in domestic Premiership form and disjointed showings on the park have ultimately cost the manager his job.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is no fool and made mention of the unacceptable slide in the Premiership in his message, with the Dutch coach acknowledging the results have not been good enough on Instagram.
However the coach gave Rangers fans food for thought with mentions of “unique challenges” and “very difficult circumstances”.
“This season, like every year at Rangers, the first priority is domestic success,” reads an excerpt of the Van Bronckhorst message.
“I understand the hurt when wins become draws, and worse, when we experience defeat. That isn’t acceptable at a club of Rangers’ standing, no one understood that and felt that more than I did.
“I faced unique challenges and some very difficult circumstances to operate in.
“Rangers FC will always be in my heart and I wish the club all the success for the future. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.”
Classy Van Bronckhorst highlights Rangers shortcomings and successes
When Van Bronckhorst came into the club Rangers were six points ahead of Celtic, by the end of the season they’d be four behind. By the World Cup break this season Rangers were nine points off their great rivals.
Draws against Livingston and St Mirren, as well as defeat to St Johnstone, acted as the final nails in Van Bronckhorst’s coffin with the humiliating showing in the Champions League – and a shell shocked Gio’s poorly considered post-European night soundbites – acting as something of a hammer.
But nonetheless there have been some conditions behind the manager’s slide this season; Rangers are in the midst of a horrific injury crisis which has raised questions about player conditioning, the club’s transfer policy and the relentless pre-World Cup schedule.
The Ibrox side also failed to invest in the squad post-Champions League qualification despite the insistence from supporters it was required.
The insistence from the club – and Gio himself – that the squad was both strong enough for Champions League football and a Premiership title tilt has since backfired spectacularly.
No-one can take Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s achievements at Rangers away from him – and there were some big ones – but a change was clearly necessary as domestic results eventually followed uninspiring, tepid domestic performances.
But kudos must go to Van Bronckhorst the man for a classy goodbye message to supporters which reinforces the fact that whilst things didn’t work out this time, Rangers will always be a part of the legendary former Ibrox star’s life.
Meanwhile, Van Bronckhorst’s successor has reportedly been secured by Rangers.
