Rangers manager search: Journalist shares what van Bronckhorst told him about Ibrox job, ‘not long ago’

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Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan has told Sky Sports that Gio van Bronckhorst told him ‘not long ago’ he would love to manage Rangers.

The 46-year-old has emerged as the front runner to take over at Rangers, after Steven Gerrard left the club to join Premier League side Aston Villa.

The Record report that following an outcry from fans to hire van Bronckhorst, the Rangers board are seriously considering a move.

It would see the Dutchman return to Ibrox, 20 years after leaving in 2001. He won five trophies, including two Scottish titles, playing 117 times.

Speaking to Sky Sports, van der Kraan spoke of how a move to Rangers would be “perfect” for van Bronckhorst – as it would be closer to his family.

Not only that, but van der Kraan says van Bronckhorst told him during an interview that he would love to return to Rangers as manager.

“It is the perfect time for Rangers to snap Gio up. Manchester City offered him the chance to manage in Melbourne or New York,” van der Kraan said.

“But he turned them down to stay close to his family. Rangers, being in Glasgow, is perfect as it is closer to his family. Rangers is a club in his heart.

“He still has a lot of friends there, he knows people. Not long ago, I had an interview. He told me: “I’d love to be Rangers manager, or back at the club.”

Will Rangers board do what makes sense, and get van Bronckhorst?

It just makes utter sense. Of all the out-of-work candidates available, van Bronckhorst’s CV is the one that fits the profile Rangers need.

They need a man that knows what it means to be Rangers – van Bronckhorst certainly does. Rangers need a man with calibre, he has it.

A 2010 World Cup finalist, van Bronckhorst won two titles with Barcelona and 106 Netherlands caps. As a manager, he is doing it, too.

Winning the 2016-17 Eredivisie with Feyenoord – he won five trophies in four seasons. His attacking style will fit well with Gerrard’s blueprint.

It makes sense. The fact he wants the job makes it a no-brainer – Ross Wilson has got to bring him in and it will be silly to look elsewhere.