Van Bronckhorst has been reluctant to jump back into the saddle as he awaits the perfect offer to return to the game
09:28, 11 Mar 2025
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst at de Kuip
Gio van Bronckhorst has reportedly said no to another prominent Eredivisie gig as the Rangers hero stays true to his word – waiting for an offer that will blow him away.
The Dutchman has been picky since leaving the Ibrox hotseat in 2022, knocking back several offers to get back in the saddle before taking over Besiktas six months later. But his Turkish delight quickly descended into dismay; he was sacked in November after Europa League humiliation at the hands of Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Speaking back in February, he ruled out the possibility of a return to Feyenoord, a job which Robin van Persie has since left Heerenveen to step into. Van Bronckhorst was then linked with replacing the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker, but he has said no to that chance as well, according to Voetbal International in the Netherlands.
The 50-year-old has made it clear he is biding his time for the perfect offer, and a return to Rangers in some capacity, whether that be as manager or in another role, would likely offer that.
His former teammate Barry Ferguson is in interim charge and steered them to a victory over Fenerbahce – a job he has the chance to finish against Jose Mourinho's team this week. Ferguson (6/1) is currently third in the betting behind Russell Martin (6/4) and Steven Gerrard (11/4) to land the job permanently, while Van Bronckhorst is a comparative outsider at 33/1 with most oddsmakers.
Whether the pending new American owners would go back there, or whether fans would be open to it after how how meekly things ended, are both live variables which cast obvious doubts. But as far as Van Bronckhorst himself is concerned, he hinted at some unfinished business after his sacking left a sour taste in his mouth.
Speaking during TNT Sports' coverage of Rangers' win over Fenerbahce, he said: "I'm frustrated because I had to leave because I am a fighter, I was a fighter as a player and also as a coach. I think I have done everything in my power to manage the club. If you have to say goodbye to a club, and a club I mean players, the fans to leave, that is not a nice feeling to leave something you love. But you have to live with it, you have to deal with it and you have to move on because life goes on.
"I am now in a very positive place where I enjoy life, I enjoy my family and enjoy watching really good games. We all move on."
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