Caixinha must not make the same mistakes as Dickie Advocaat
SAYS ARTHUR NUMAN
PEDRO CAIXINHA stands a better chance of being a success as Rangers manager if he mixes with the club’s supporters.
The message comes from Light Blues legend, Arthur Numan.
He saw first hand the mistakes made by one of the previous incumbents of the Ibrox hot- seat, Dick Advocaat, when he arrived in Scotland a s Wa lt e r Sm it h’s successor in 1998.
Numan joined the club at the same time, and remembers regularly mixing with the Gers legions during a five- year stint when he helped deliver two Trebles.
Advocaat was boss for the first three years of that period and was a big success for most of that time.
But Numan felt his fellow Dutchman distanced himself too much and should have built more of a rapport with the fans.
Now, as Caixinha gets ready to overhaul the current first- team in his pursuit of success, Numan wants to see him engage with the supporters as part of his remit.
The former Holland full-back is back in Scotland for today’s Old Firm game, and told the Sunday Post: “When I joined Rangers, I had no idea what to expect.
“Fo r some re as o n I was expecting it to be cold and raining, and I had visions of Coronation Street. Strange, yes, I know.
“But from the moment I arrived, I had a good feeling because the people were warm and welcoming.
“This is a good country to feel a part of, and it says it all that after playing for Rangers for five years and then hanging up my boots, I decided to live in Hamilton for seven more years.
“My two daughters were born here.
“When I’m back, it feels like home. Indeed, recently I played in a tournament for former international players f ro m different countries, and Pedro Mendes, Jorg Albertz, Michael Mols and Frank de Boer also played.
“We all spoke about Rangers and the memorable moments we had at the club.
“The lifestyle is nice and it’s a beautiful country. In my first two years, I jumped in the car many times to visit Loch Ness or Stirling Castle and other famous sights.
“The scenery is stunning and the history is very interesting. There are also the most fantastic golf courses in Scotland, the best in the world.
“When Dickie Advocaat came here, however, he just used to eat, sleep and breathe football.
“During his three years as Rangers manager, I think he only went into Glasgow for dinner three or four times.
“He found it difficult to switch off. I think if you had to ask him now about his time in Scotland, he would say he maybe should have had more of a balance in his life between work and unwinding.
“Pedro Caixinha should look for that balance. Yes, he must be committed and focused but also able to find a little bit of down time.
“He should go into town and sample the nice restaurants, and let the Rangers supporters see who he is. He should not live behind a closed door for 24 hours.
“You have to remember that only a select few will get inside the inner-sanctum of the club.
“So for tens of thousands of Rangers supporters, all they will have to go on is one or two minutes of seeing him on the television being interviewed, or listening to him on the radio.
“He needs to be visible and they must be able to see his personality shine through.
“Of course, I understand Pedro Caixinha won’t have too much time for that kind of thing in the first few months. His objectives are to perform and win games.
“If he does that and shows he is giving 100%, then he will have the support and backing of the fans.
“If he comes here to show off and not be a man of the people, then he can forget it.
“The Rangers supporters value hard work and honesty.”
The 46-year-old Portuguese has moved to Glasgow from Al-Gharafa in Qatar.
Numan was over there taking in some games recently, and was far from impressed with the standard.
He said: “I want to see Pedro doing well, but I think he is in for a shock in Scotland.
“I was at a few games in Qatar recently and the standard was terrible. There were also very few supporters inside the stadium.
“So, coming to Scotland, the size of Rangers, and the rivalry with Celtic will all be something new for him, and not what he has been used to for the past year or so.
If he comes here to show off and not be a man of the people, then he can forget it
“I’m certain he has no idea of what to expect. Yes, he was at Largs on coaching courses around 10 years ago, but this will be a whole new thing.
“When I roomed with Pierre van Hooijdonk during the 1998 World Cup in France, he’d had a couple of season with Celtic.
“I asked him what the Old Firm games were like, and he told me that he couldn’t put it into words, and that I’d have to wait and find out for myself.
“I found that strange, I have to admit.
“But a few weeks later, from the moment I arrived at Celtic Park for my first Old Firm, we had hundreds of Celtic fans booing us as we got off the bus.
“Then there was the unbelievable atmosphere inside the stadium, and the 90 minutes that followed.
“It was only then I knew what Pierre meant. He was spot on. The impact was incredible, the best ever.
“The p re ss u re on Pe d ro Caixinha will be enormous because there is an urgency to start competing properly again, and bring a level of consistency back onto the park.
“Everybody connected with Rangers is desperate to catch up with Celtic, and I understand the frustration. I also feel it.
“But it will take time because the gap is very big.
“The current Rangers team misses real quality. I was at the Old Firm game at Ibrox at Hogmanay and could see it for myself.
“Hopefully the new manager will know one or two gems in Portugal and he can sign them.
“When Dickie took over at Rangers, I bet not many had heard of Arthur Numan, or Gio van Bronckhorst or Michael Mols.
“So if the new man can bring similar quality, then the club will start going in the right direction.
“There needs to be a good balance between promising youngsters and experienced professionals.”
And also, as Numan pointed out, life and work.