Pedro Caixinha was confirmed as Rangers boss this weekend.
New Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha in the stands
Rangers announced yesterday that Pedro Caixinha has been announced as manager, via their official website.
The Portuguese boss joins from Qatari club Al Gharafa, but his main success came with Mexican side Santos Laguna where he led them to a surprise league title.
Santos Laguna have ties to Caixinha’s new rivals Celtic, and the new Rangers boss even credits them with helping him get his big break.
He was reported by The Times to have said: “I got the job at Santos because of the relationship I had with Celtic
“I studied in Scotland [for] the Uefa Coaches’ Licence from 2007 until 2010 because it was well known that the best course for coaches was in Scotland [at Largs].
“While I was working in Portugal, Celtic asked me to do some scouting for them. Through them I met the people of Santos Laguna because of the connection between the clubs, and they asked me to become manager.”
New Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha in the stands with Pedro Mendes
It is no stretch therefore to connect that without Celtic, he would not have taken the career path which has led him to Rangers.
He now has the opportunity to try and take down the Scottish champions. This season it will be too late to deny them the title, but his brief will be clear next season, second place will not be good enough.
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