ON THE BRONCK
Ex-Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst REJECTS offer to return to dugout – but could be appointed new gaffer at rival club
He's been on the radar of several clubs in recent times
LAST night Giovanni van Bronckhorst admitted he never wanted to leave Ibrox.
The Dutchman opened up on his exit from Rangers during TNT Sports' coverage of the big Europa League showdown with Fenerbahce.
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Van Bronckhorst, 50, was axed by Gers chiefs in 2022 just months after leading the club to the Europa League final.
The Barcelona and Arsenal legend spent a year-and-a-half away from the dugout following his dismissal before eventually making his return when Besiktas came calling last summer.
His role in Turkey didn't last long either though as he found himself being booted out once again in November following a string of poor results.
Now he's on the hunt for another managerial job.
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There were suggestions from the Netherlands that he was a shock outsider to potentially return to Feyenoord before they appointed Robin van Persie.
That position has of course sailed but another has since opened up elsewhere in the Eredivisie.
Two jobs are currently available in the league as a matter of fact.
SC Heerenveen are one of the club's looking for a new boss and Van Bronckhorst was an option.
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Club chiefs entered talks with him to discuss a potential appointment but they didn't manage to land their target as he dramatically rejected their approach today, according to Dutch journalist Sander de Vries.
He states the search continues after both Van Bronckhorst and Rene Heke refused to enter a second stage of negotiations.
Turkish Rangers fan with kids called Red, White and Blue
However, Van Bronckhorst could still return to the Eredivisie.
That's because he's also one of the leading contenders on NEC Nijmegen's shortlist too.
Voetbal International suggest the ex-Rangers and Besiktas boss is one of the gaffers they're considering but the frontrunner is former team-mate Mark van Bommel.
It's believed he could have a meeting with the club in the coming days.
Van Bronckhorst, 50, last night expressed his heartache at being sacked by his old team Rangers in 2022.
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He said: "Of course, as a coach you want to win prizes, you want to develop the team and sometimes it doesn't go your way, the results.
"But as long as you are all on the same page in the way you want to go and how you want to go there…sometimes you are not on the same page, it's almost every time the coach will leave.
"I'm frustrated because I had to leave because I am a fighter, I was a fighter as a player and also as a coach.
"I think I have done everything in my power to manage the club.
"If you have to say goodbye to a club, and a club I mean players, the fans to leave, that is not a nice feeling to leave something you love.
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"But you have to live with it, you have to deal with it and you have to move on because life goes on.
"I am now in a very positive place where I enjoy life, I enjoy my family and enjoy watching really good games. We all move on."
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