Betting latest: Title-winning manager has odds slashed to be hired by Rangers
By James Black
Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst is now second-favourite to replace Pedro Caixinha as Rangers manager, according to the latest bookmaker odds.
SkyBet have slashed the odds on the Dutch icon taking the Ibrox hotseat to 6/4 after not even listing him among the candidates in the immediate aftermath of Caixinha’s sacking two weeks ago.
Derek McInnes (1/2) remains the strong favourite with interim boss Graeme Murty (12/1) a distant third.
Van Bronckhorst is enjoying an increasing reputation as a coach after taking Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title since 1999 last season.
The 42-year-old also lifted the Dutch Cup in 2015/16 in his first season in charge of the Dutch giants.
Before taking over from Fred Rutten, van Bronckhorst spent four years as assistant manager – first alongside Ronald Koeman then a year with Rutten – and also had a spell working with the Dutch national team.
Van Bronckhorst spent three years at Ibrox as a player between 1998 and 2001 as part of Dick Advocaat’s overhaul of the squad in the wake of the club’s failure to win a tenth Scottish title in a row.
The classy midfielder scored 22 times in 117 appearances for the Gers and lifted two Scottish titles, two Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup.
The Dutchman left Rangers to join Arsenal for £8.5million and also played for Barcelona – where he won the Champions League – and Feyenoord after leaving Ibrox.
Football Insider Verdict
Van Bronckhorst would be a really impressive appointment by the Ibrox board. The Dutch legend has put together a really good Feyenoord side over the last few years and – despite a poor start this season – has shown he has the makings of a really good boss. He’s played at the highest level in Scotland, England, Spain, Holland and internationally and has worked as a coach at a similar level. He might cost a few Euros more than the Rangers directors were hoping to spend on bringing a new manager in but while he’s still a big gamble, it would be a really serious show of intent by the board.
In other Rangers team news, Graeme Murty has praised Kenny Miller
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