Former Celtic playmaker Eyal Berkovic is discussing the prospect of Maccabi Haifa coach Barak Bakhar taking over at Rangers should Giovanni van Bronckhorst lose his job, telling Sport5 that there are pros and cons to life in Glasgow.
Writing in his Scottish Express column earlier this week, ex-Scotland international Charlie Nicolas insisted that it would be ‘madness’ to call for Van Bronckhorst’s head as punishment for a disastrous Champions League group-stage campaign.
That was before, however, the Gers officially became the worst team ever to take part in Europe’s elite club competition; no wins, no points, two goals and a staggering 22 conceded.
Rangers, of course, could only dream of the resources group rivals Liverpool, Napoli and even Ajax enjoy. But an admittedly cavernous financial gap cannot excuse such lifelessness from a side who reached the Europa League final just a couple of months ago. One that, until this term, could boast such a proud continental record.
Should Rangers consider sacking Giovanni van Bronckhorst?
Maccabi Haifa could finish bottom of their group too, but at least the Israeli outfit can look themselves in a mirror and be proud of their efforts. 43-year-old Bakhtar masterminded a famous 2-0 victory over Juventus. His Maccabi side also found the net three times in two games against Paris Saint-Germain.
But will the five-time Israel Premier League winner be one of the names on Rangers’ radar should a difficult decision need to be made with Van Bronckhorst? Would he even grasp such an opportunity, if it was to arise?
“Bakhar for Rangers?” begins Berkovic, who donned the green-and-white of Celtic from 1999 to 2001. “Scottish football is weak. (There are only) two clubs,”
“(But) you are close to England. And if you succeed you can move (south of the border) like Steven Gerrard.”
The Ibrox job comes brings opportunity, yes, but crushing pressure too. And while they do say that diamonds are forged by pressure, Van Bronckhorst’s Rangers were certainly lacking the requisite minerals on the biggest stage; their return to the Champions League ending in abject humiliation.
As things stand, there is no suggestion that Van Bronckhorst’s job is under any immediate threat. Rangers are still picking up results domestically, sitting just four points adrift of Celtic. They will hope to bounce back away at St Johnstone on Saturday.
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