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Former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst in shock swoop for ex-Celtic coach who’s only been in current post 6 months
He has worked for some high profile managers in his time - and several countries
FORMER Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst will use his Scottish football connections to bolster his backroom team at Besiktas, according to a report.
It's being reported that the Dutchman, who took over at Turkish club Besiktas earlier this month, has his eyes on a former Celtic coach to join his new staff.
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Van Bronckhorst, 49, has already been linked with transfer swoops for Rangers stars James Tavernier, Ridvan Yilmaz and Tom Lawrence.
Now, according to the Daily Record, the former Ibrox hero is targeting ex-Celtic sports scientist Anton McElhone.
He joined the Parkhead club in September 2021 during Ange Postecoglou's reign, after spells as an assistant boss at Morton, Bradford City and New England Revolution. He was also briefly interim manager at Morton.
McElhone started his career at Queen's Park and returned to the club six months ago to become Head of Academy Coaching for the Hampden outfit.
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He has also worked at Hibs and Tottenham Hotspur, with his role at the latter focusing on fitness, initially for the academy and then the first team.
It's being said that van Bronckhorst is aware of McElhone from his own time in Scottish football and sees value in bringing him to Turkey with him, considering him one of his top candidates.
McElhone quit Celtic soon after Postecoglou's departure, describing the role as his !dream job".
That move came as incumbent Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers brought back Glenn Driscoll to head up his sports science department.
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After returning to Hampden with the Spiders, the club's academy director Tommy McIntyre (another former Celtic youth coach) said: “I am delighted to bring Anton into our Academy as soon as I knew I was taking on the role of Academy Director.
"I am delighted that he has agreed to do that as bringing him on board is a bit of a coup for Queen’s Park.
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“He has vast experience in the philosophy, methodology, periodisation and player development processes having worked with some of the best players in the world including Harry Kane at an under-15 level.
“Anton has also worked on development with some of the best managers and coaches in the world such as including John Collins, Andre Villas Boas, Mauricio Pochettino, Brad Friedel and Ange Postecoglou as well as the renowned John McDermott, who was his Academy Director at Tottenham Hotspur before becoming FA Technical Director and Alex Inglethorpe who is the Liverpool FC Academy Director.
“He will add a lot of value to The Queen’s Park Academy.”
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