
<p>Rangers relieved manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst of his role as manager on Monday. The Scottish club sits in second in the Scottish Premiership, and failed to make it out of the group in the UEFA Champions League. </p>



<p>While those measurements would not be terrible for most Scottish clubs, it is heavily against Rangers’ ambitions for this season. While the club is firmly in control of <a href="https:\/\/www.skysports.com/scottish-premier-table" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">second place</a> with a eight-point cushion over Aberdeen, it remains nine points adrift of league-leaders Celtic. </p>



<p>Also, that crash out of the Champions League is one of, if not, the worst performances in the competition’s history. In six games, Rangers did not pick up a point. In fact, the Ibrox team only scored twice. On the way, opponents scored 22 goals, second-worst to only Viktoria Plzen. At the other end, Rangers only scored twice.</p>



<p>Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over at Rangers <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/van-bronckhorst-hired-as-rangers-manager-20211118-CMS-357578.html">just over a year ago</a>, on Nov. 18, 2021. In his abbreviated first season at Ibrox, van Bronckhorst led the side to a second-place finish, just six points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic. However, perhaps more impressively, Rangers reached the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/van-bronckhorst-wants-rangers-to-ignore-pressure-in-europa-semis-20220427-CMS-381698.html">Europa League Final</a>, losing to Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties. On the way to that spot, Rangers defeated Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and more.</p>



<p>Additionally, Rangers won the 2022 Scottish Cup over Hearts. The club defeated Celtic in the semifinal to get to that spot.</p>



<h2>Giovanni van Bronckhorst out at Rangers</h2>



<p>During his long career as a player, van Bronckhorst spent three seasons at Rangers. In that time, he scored 22 goals across all competitions, including in Europe. However, he also featured heavily for Arsenal, Barcelona and Feyenoord, where he started and finished his career. </p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rangers Football Club confirms today it has parted company with manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.<br><br>The board would like to put on record sincere thanks to Gio for all his efforts since his appointment as manager.<a href="https:\/\/t.co/ESRS10qpJP">https:\/\/t.co/ESRS10qpJP</a> <a href="https:\/\/t.co/aLGIiXa2sS">pic.twitter.com/aLGIiXa2sS</a></p>— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/RangersFC/status/1594635830722715648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Van Bronckhorst has managerial experience at Feyenoord and in China. However, his lone season at Rangers is certainly his most fruitful. </p>



<p>Douglas Park, chairman of Rangers, said recent results are not up to the standard of Rangers, particularly those set by van Bronckhorst in cup competitions last season.</p>



<p>“Unfortunately, recent results have not met neither our nor Gio’s expectations, and we have taken this difficult decision today,” Park wrote in <a href="https:\/\/www.rangers.co.uk/Article/club-statement-gio-van-bronckhorst/1H3RvTg70DyrKT3rxUefvM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a statement from the club</a>. “Everyone at Rangers wishes Gio every success in the future.”</p>



<p>Rangers is now in the search for a new manager, set to takeover once the club season returns after the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Cup</a>.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


Rangers, currently second in the Scottish Premiership, sacked manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst with Celtic clear away in the league.

Rangers sack manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst

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<p>Rangers’ qualification to the Europa League Final represents one of the historic sides practicing something of a renaissance.</p>
<p>This season, the <em>Kings of Scotland</em> emerged as a nightmare to face in Europe. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men continue to remind the world about Rangers Football Club and their belonging amongst Europe’s elite. Following last season’s end to a ten year title drought, the 55-times champions of Scotland catch eyes and ears ahead of the side’s first European final since 2008.</p>
<p>With a historical semi-final comeback win in Glasgow, the Rangers advanced to the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/">2021/22 Europa League final</a> following a 3-2 aggregate win over RB-Leipzig.<br>
Like their previous elimination ties this season, the <em>Gers</em> refused to back down. In Germany, Rangers lost 1-0 in the first leg. Coming back to Ibrox, the boys from Glasgow needed a two-goal victory to advance without extra time.</p>
<p>An amazing start to the match saw Rangers up 2-0 within the first half hour. Of course, this left plenty of time for RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku to draw his side level. However, it developed into one of Rangers’ great nights in Europe. The Ibrox faithful grew enamored with John Lundstram after the clubs new darling grabbed the game-winner. His 81st-minute strike allowed Rangers supporters to <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/05/rangers-roar-into-europa-league-final/">erupt in their renowned unity</a>.</p>
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<p>Now with redemption at a European cup final, Rangers eyes another German opponent. Eintracht Frankfurt awaits at the Estadio R. Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, on May 18.</p>
<h3>Rangers set for Europa League Final</h3>
<p>Right-back James Tavernier is now the Europa League’s top goal scorer with 7 goals to his name. The 30 year-old Rangers captain has been a massive factor in the teams arrival to the final. What is more remarkable is how he earned the top spot among the Europa League’s goal-scorers. Tavernier scored each of his seven goals in Rangers’ eight knockout stage games.</p>
<p>The club’s two leaders up front, Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe, missed extended periods of time this season. Rangers players responded brilliantly with dividing up the responsibility in-front of goal. Morelos, a Colombian international, is indisputably <a href="https:\/\/www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12582974/alfredo-morelos-rangers-striker-to-miss-rest-of-season-after-undergoing-surgery-on-thigh-injury">out for the rest of the season</a> with a thigh injury. However, Roofe and Aaron Ramsey could well appear in the final. This would be a massive boost for Rangers against a strong Eintracht side.</p>
<h5>Return to prominence</h5>
<p>Throughout this journey to the final, Rangers forced the soccer world to take the Scottish side more seriously. Rangers knocked out Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, SC Braga and now RB-Leipzig in the knockout stage. This exemplifies the growth in confidence of the Ibrox club. Having now knocked out two major Bundesliga sides, Van Bronckhorst’s men surely understand what awaits them.</p>
<p>The club last appeared in the final of this competition back in the 2007/08 campaign. That year, Zenit St. Petersburg defeated the Scottish side at the City of Manchester Stadium, 2-0. Rangers has the opportunity to restore the respect of Scottish soccer in Europe. A victory would automatically bring the Rangers back into the UEFA Champions League, which last hosted Rangers in 2010/11. Plus, it would be Rangers’ biggest European trophy in its storied history.</p>
<p>Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s club also has an upcoming <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/scottish-cup-tv-schedule/">Scottish Cup Final</a> against Hearts on May 21. If anything, that accentuates the rediscovered sense of belief and ambition in the Rangers camp.</p>
<p>Current Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard revived the excitement back into this football club. He led them back to a Scottish Premiership a season ago. Giovanni van Bronckhorst picked up right where he left off with the club. Rangers’ brilliant attacking play keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Rangers should have that on full display in the Europa League Final.</p>
<p><em>Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images</em></p>


Rangers earned a spot in the Europa League Final for later in May. It is the resurgence of one of the most dominant sides in Europe domestically.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Giovanni van Bronckhorst"

Leagues: Scottish Premiership

Rangers sack manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Leagues: Europa League

Rangers takes aim at redemption in Europa League Final