Giovanni van Bronckhorst is tipped for success at Liverpool, working with Arne Slot, as he's poised to join the coaching staff following John Heitinga's move to Ajax.
The Dutch tactician, who has managed Feyenoord, Guangzhou, Rangers, and Besiktas, is seen by former teammate Colin Hendry as making a smart move in becoming an assistant coach at Anfield. Hendry believes that for Van Bronckhorst, the chance to team up with compatriot Slot at the Premier League champion was too good to pass up.
Despite Van Bronckhorst's managerial accolades, including triumphs at Rangers, Feyenoord, and Besiktas, Hendry doesn't view the switch to an assistant role as regressive.
"I think the opportunity to go and work alongside his fellow Dutchman Arne Slot at the Premier League champions was too big an opportunity for Gio to turn down," said Hendry.
"People may think it's a backwards move for him because he's been a successful manager in his own right.
"He won things at Rangers.
"He won things at Feyenoord and he won things when he managed Besiktas in Turkey.
Arne Slot with Van Bronckhorst in September 2023
Arne Slot with Van Bronckhorst in September 2023 (Image: Getty Images)
"Maybe he thought, you know what, I'm experienced enough but I might go and try and be a number two and see what else I can learn or perhaps he feels like he's accomplished what he wanted to as a manager in his own right, because he did fantastically well."
In a conversation with Coin Poker, Hendry remarked: "If you look at Gio's career, both as a player and manager, he won things wherever he went.
"I think joining Arne Slot's coaching team would be difficult for anyone in football to turn down.
"I can see those two working brilliantly together as they share the same philosophy about football and they will have a lot in common.
"There's a huge difference from being the assistant manager to being the boss, but I actually think that given Gio's experience, he'll be perfect for the role and he'll be respected by the Liverpool players.
"There will be less pressure on him in some respects and perhaps he'll enjoy the role more than he did managing.
"I think it's a great move for him and I hope he does well at Anfield."