FANS BROUGHT ME OUT MY SHEL
Gio learned how vital they were against Irish part-timers
IT took Gio van Bronckhorst just 90 minutes to “get” the Rangers fans as a player and they have never left him.
Van Bronckhorst might have started and finished his playing career at Feyenoord and shone like a beacon for Arsenal and Barcelona as he picked up his 106 caps for Holland.
But he’s never forgotten a rollercoaster Rangers debut at Tranmere’s Prenton Park against Shelbourne in the summer of ‘98.
Three goals down to the Irish part-timers after 58 minutes, Rangers, under new boss Dick Advocaat, rallied to win 5-3 with van Bronckhorst netting the equaliser after Jorg Albertz and Gabriel Amato had clawed the Scots back into contention.
The German and Argentine scored again after van Bronckhorst’s 74th-minute strike and the Dutchman has never forgotten the UEFA Cup clash.
Van Bronckhorst insisted Rangers fans can expect a continuation of the free-flowing attacking football that carried the side to the title last season.
He said: “I am looking forward to seeing the fans again, to feel the atmosphere they bring.
“The first moment for me was the away game with Shelbourne, after World Cup 1998, I already sensed the impact they had.
“In all the games after that, especially in Ibrox, they are very important for the team, so I am looking forward to work again and be successful at this club.
“I’ve always been connected with the club. After I left in 2001 to go to Arsenal and onwards in my career, I always watched the results. I have very good relations from my time with Rangers.
“I still speak with a lot of ex-team-mates, so Rangers has always been a special club. For me, to be able to come back when the job was offered to me was very exciting.
“I was brought up in the Dutch system, playing with teams who try to attack and be dominant.
“We had it in the Rangers team, the Dutch team, with Barcelona, all were capable of being very dominant.
“I like to be dominant as a coach as well. That philosophy doesn’t change, on the training pitch, in games. I look forward to bringing that into the team.”
Van Bronckhorst was in the stand for yesterday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final loss to Hibs but gets to work as Gers boss properly from this morning, ahead of Thursday’s vital Europa League with Sparta Prague.
Having kept a close eye on Rangers under Gerrard, he’ll initially adopt an “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” policy.
He told Rangers TV: “The team is in a good moment.
“Steven did a great job in helping them become as strong as they are now. It’s just the case of continuing this positivity, to help the team become even better. We are always a club who wants to win trophies.
“Winning the title last season has given the team confidence.
“We are working hard to achieve more for this club.”
Van Bronckhorst will be working closely with director of football Ross Wilson and he said: “We have had very good contact. Sometimes you can feel how people are and we are getting along well.
“I think that is a good base for our working relationship.”