Giovanni van Bronckhorst has hinted he was unhappy at how he was sacked by Rangers, admitting “that hurts” when discussing his departure from Ibrox, where he was replaced by Michael Beale.
The Dutch manager has been speaking to Algemeen Dagblad about his former club Feyenoord and their success this season, during which the subject of Rangers was brought up.
Van Bronckhorst was Rangers manager from November 2021 to November 2022, arriving at Ibrox to replace Steven Gerrard when he moved to Aston Villa.
He lasted just a year at the club, though, eventually being replaced by Michael Beale after Rangers had fallen nine points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
The move came as something of a surprise for the Dutch manager, who had led Rangers to success in the Scottish Cup, as well as the Europa League final, in his first season in charge.
His second season saw them fall behind Celtic domestically, though, as well as losing all six group games in the Champions League, leading those in charge at Ibrox to make a change and eventually bring in Beale.
Van Bronckhorst is now enjoying time out of the game and his relationship with Feyenoord, somewhere he appears to think he is better thought of.
“I appreciate that very much, that there is appreciation for what you have meant for the club,” he said regarding several visits to Feyenoord since 2021.
“It is also the case that I have served out my contract, that there has never been any hassle with the club. That makes a difference.
“At Rangers, I was sacked in November and that hurts. We won the cup, reached the Europa League final in Sevilla and only lost to Eintracht Frankfurt after penalty kicks.
“And then we made it to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in a very long time.”
