Ex-Rangers manager avoids captivating Ibrox grudge match as new era beckons – report

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the former manager of Rangers,

appears to have finally secured a position as manager of Besiktas.

There are rumours circulating in Turkey that the 48-year-old Dutchman is nearing a

transfer to the Istanbul giants, where he would take Riza Calimbay’s place.

Since leaving the Rangers in November 2022,

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been unemployed.

Besiktas has not yet made an announcement on a deal,

but there is a lot of reporting in Turkey indicating that one is expected to be reached.

Even though Gio’s 12-month tenure as Rangers manager ended in tragedy,

the team’s supporters will be sending their former manager their best wishes in Turkey.

Van Bronckhorst Giovanni to Besiktas?

Before receiving his marching orders, the former Rangers midfielder led

the team for over a year after taking Steven Gerrard’s place in November 2021.

Even though Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s troubles at Ibrox were often exacerbated by injuries,

the Dutchman was accused of using deceptive techniques at home.

After losing to Ange Postecoglou by seven points in the Australian’s debut season as Celtic manager,

the former Rangers manager faltered in the early half of the subsequent season as

the disparity between the two teams grew.

Notwithstanding this, Rangers managed to win the Scottish Cup in 2022 and get to

the Europa League Final in Seville under Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s leadership.

For the first time in more than ten years, the squad also advanced to the Champions League group stages,

despite suffering a crushing defeat in front of Europe’s best.

The Super Lig team Besiktas presents an intriguing challenge,

and you can be sure that the Bluenoses will be keeping an eye on

their former manager’s development from a distance.

Van Bronckhorst’s reaction to the team winning the League Cup

under Philippe Clement earlier in the season showed that the sentiment is undoubtedly reciprocal.

Grudge match avoided between the former Rangers manager and

relief that Giovanni van Bronckhorst appears to be a lock for the Besiktas position.

When the heat mounted on the then-Ibrox gaffer,

the former Steven Gerrard assistant famously irritated GVB by showing up at Ibrox for a match against Aberdeen.

The Rangers supporters saw both managers quite differently,

despite Beale’s insistence that there was no malice behind the visit.

Gio had to leave when he did, but Beale spoke a greater game than he played,

and the Dutchman helped the team win trophies and advance to the European Final.

Van Bronckhorst was connected to the Swansea position,

and there were rumours of a possible manager resentment match following

the Ibrox with the Englishman at Sunderland.

As things have turned out, the former Rangers manager will be playing in

Turkey rather in South Wales as Giovanni van Bronckhorst arranges a contract with Bestikas.

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