While the prospect of a Jose Mourinho – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rivalry admitted had our collective mouths a-watering, the big announcement coming out of Turkey on Wednesday at least gave those of a Rangers persuasion something to look forward to.
It was not Solskjaer in the end. But instead Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Back in business. Back in business at Besiktas.
His appointment confirmed by the Super Lig giants on an initial two year deal – with an option for a third – the Dutchman is returning to management two years after he was fired by Rangers on the back of a Champions League group-stage campaign so disastrous it went down in history for all the wrong reasons.
Former Rangers manager lands Besiktas job
In truth, barring that stirring run to the Europa League final, Van Bronckhorst’s managerial career has been stuck in neutral somewhat since he went from zero to 60 at Feyenoord. It is seven years since he guided the Dutch giants to their first Eredivisie title of the 21st century.
Since then, he’s had an ill-fated spell in China before lasting only 12 months at Ibrox; that European march and that Scottish Cup success not enough to offset the disappointment of Rangers underwhelming league form and those humiliating defeats to Ajax, Napoli and Liverpool on the biggest of stages.
The challenge now facing him at Besiktas after two years out of the game, meanwhile, feels like the equivalent of a man ending dry January by downing a bottle of whiskey as soon as the clock ticks over into February.
Besiktas finished well off the pace in Turkey last term, 46 points adrift of champions and neighbours Galatasaray.
Fellow Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, meanwhile, have just hired a certain Portuguese coach. You might have heard of him. Jose Mourinho?
One-time Ibrox target will work with Van Bronckhorst
Van Bronckhorst does, at least, inherit a squad with quality, even if taking Besiktas back to the summit of Turkish football is likely to be a challenge far beyond his means.
Besiktas have the former England, Arsenal and Liverpool ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. They’ve got one-time AC Milan striker Ante Rebic, ex-Bundesliga flyer Milot Rashica and Omar Colley, who was seen for a time as one of the finest centre-halves in Serie A.
Another name that may be a little more familiar to Rangers supporters, meanwhile, is that of Daniel Amartey. Van Bronckhorst was still in the Ibrox dugout – albeit not for long – when Rangers reportedly showed an interest in the then-Leicester City utility man back in 2022 (Sports World Ghana).
Two years on, Van Bronckhorst and Amartey will be working together. The 29-year-old Ghana international played 27 games last season at centre-half and in midfield despite missing chunks of the campaign through injury and due to the African Cup of Nations.
He will be key, then, if Besiktas are to challenge for the top three again next term under a manager who’s reputation may not survive another disappointing spell in the dugout.
