Giovanni van Bronckhorst came agonisingly close to equalling the most famous result in Rangers' history just six months ago - yet confirmation of his dismissal this morning was met with widespread relief by followers of the Ibrox club.
Van Bronckhorst’s reign spiralled out of control, and it was apparent for some time that his presence was to the detriment of the dressing room. The Dutchman was allowed to stumble on long after the situation had become terminal, and numerous unwanted records tumbled before definitive action was reluctantly taken.
Rangers' 17th permanent manager, who served the club with distinction as a player, has overseen an abject title bid that is likely beyond resuscitation by the midway point of November. The hierarchy would perhaps concede they were too loyal to a man they admired and entrusted, but their indecision has ensured a season of transition.
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When Steven Gerrard opted for Aston Villa, the unanimous fan choice was the Dutchman. His three trophy-rich years in blue and his managerial success with perennial underachievers Feyenoord made him a natural choice. Dissenters were minimal after sporting director Ross Wilson opted for the obvious candidate - and an immediate upturn in results masked doubts surrounding the stuffy nature of performances.
Rangers recorded victories in Edinburgh over Hibernian and Hearts last December, yet the approach was unnecessarily negative on both occasions. The opposition was permitted too much respect, and there was a reluctance to grasp the initiative and dictate.
Sure enough, results began to match the lacklustre displays. A one-sided thrashing at Celtic Park followed a drab draw at Pittodrie. A team with more endearing traits - aggression and tenacity - exposed glaring deficiencies in Rangers’ hesitant approach, and it proved to be the night Ange Postecoglou’s hastily-cobbled-together side wrestled control.
Van Bronckhorst’s unexciting methods were tailor-made for the assertive Australian and, from a position of promise, Rangers' title quest meekly fizzled out. Outstanding European results kept the Dutchman insulated, and he was a Europa League penalty shootout victory away from having a statue commissioned in his honour.
The anticipated summer rebuild failed to materialise. Prized assets Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo exited, but an old guard in decline remained. New deals for Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Scott Arfield suggested sentimentality had overruled logic, and a much-needed squad reboot was unnecessarily delayed.
The board would like to put on record sincere thanks to Gio for all his efforts since his appointment as manager.
£15 million worth of purchases arrived during the previous window, but there has been minimal return on the investment so far. In recent seasons, the number of substandard signings considerably outweighs the success stories - and inadequate recruitment has led to an ageing squad depreciating in value.
A dogged victory over PSV in Eindhoven secured Champions League group-stage qualification for the first time in 12 years. It was a milestone moment in the club's recovery, and the Dutchman masterminded a memorable result.
Van Bronckhorst hinted that a return to Europe’s premier competition would lead to further arrivals before the end of the transfer window, yet fresh faces were not attained. The 47-year-old was content to suppress his disappointment and defend the inactivity when, instead, he should have vocalised his displeasure in a manner akin to his predecessor. His endeavours in continental competition earned the club significant finance, but he appeared unwilling to use his lofty status for greater leverage.
Eindhoven proved to be the optimum high in a season that has disintegrated. Rangers have suffered nine defeats in 27 games, and dire performances and results led to the inevitable. Van Bronckhorst managed to withstand the backlash after another Old Firm mauling in early September, but a manager who struggles to win derby duels in a two-horse race will always have a limited lifespan.
The Champions League campaign, even accounting for the calibre of the opposition, was a source of embarrassment for everyone associated with the club. The quality gap was stark, and the lack of resilience on the pitch mirrored the defeatist outlook of the manager. From the first whistle on matchday one, Rangers looked insufficiently prepared, and a horror campaign ensued.
A never-ending injury crisis also proved problematic, and the sheer volume of physical issues led to questions regarding the effectiveness of fitness work carried out in pre-season. The list of absentees was in double figures for the St Mirren draw last weekend, and the overworked ever-presents have wilted under an increased load.
Antonio Colak deserves pass marks for his goal contribution, but the rest have been sluggish and distracted. It is unusual for a squad to be collectively poor for so long, and the majority appear miserable at work. The absence of a discernable style contributed to a lack of cohesion - and variation was not a word in the Dutchman's vocabulary.
Ineffective loopy corners and a barrage of aimless crosses are lasting memories from the final throes of Van Bronckhorst's topsy-turvy tenure. The manager had run out of ideas - he looked spooked on the touchline in Paisley - and the players, bereft of confidence, recognised his shortcomings.
On reviewing Van Bronckhorst's track record, Wilson should have concluded the cautious Dutchman was unsuitable for a managerial role at Rangers, yet the Europa League final run at least made his appointment worthwhile.
The glaring mistake, though, was dithering and not removing him from his post sooner.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
