Pedro Caixnha’s managerial career in Portugal isn’t exactly something to cause excitement, so the Portuguese media haven’t been following the Rangers story very closely.
Now that it looks like a done deal, the reports are growing, and there’s a common theme running through them… Celtic.
From a Portuguese perspective it’s taken that whilst Caixinha’s managerial career may well be a curiosity to them, it will certainly be exciting to have a compatriot in charge of an Old Firm game. That way, when Rangers next face Celtic, and presumably Caixinha will be in some sort of role, the Portuguese have a dog in the fight.
Rangers last played Celtic in December, when an early Kenny Miller goal was cancelled out by strikes from Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair. Whilst it may be Graeme Murty in charge of Rangers when they face Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic on Sunday, Caixinha’s appointment is now considered a matter of time.
It’s very much in the context of the Glasgow rivalry that Caixinha’s expected arrival at Rangers is being seen in Portugal. The country’s press, like many others around the world, celebrated Rangers’ return to the top flight of Scottish football because it brought back regular Old Firm matches.
There’s very much still an interest in Celtic versus Rangers, even if not in Scottish football more generally. Therefore, any big Rangers story in the world sport media will always end up with a Celtic angle, and the same goes the other way.
Even in his native Portugal, Caixinha will likely find his tenure at Rangers pretty much defined by the struggle against Celtic.
