Caixinha, who was manager of CD Nacional during the Sheffield Wednesday striker’s first year at the club, is the new favourite to succeed Mark Warburton at Glasgow Rangers – nearly a month after the Englishman’s departure from Ibrox.
Prospective Rangers manager Caixinha
It’s not what you know but who – as the old saying goes.
Mark Warburton relied heavily on past contacts after taking the Rangers job in 2015, with several key players and staff joining him from previous clubs.
And the chances are Pedro Caixinha – or any new Rangers boss for that matter – will be no different if appointed.
The Portuguese is the new front runner to succeed Warburton at Ibrox, having reportedly held talks with the Gers’ hierarchy in London last week.
Prior to taking the reins at Qatari side Al-Gharafa in 2015, Caixinha was in charge of Santos Laguna, Uniao Leiria and CD Nacional.
And it was at the latter, a Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit based on the island of Madeira, that Caixinha’s path crossed with a 23-year-old striker by the name of Lucas Joao.
Not quite 18 when Caixinha arrived at Nacional, it took until the season after the 46-year-old’s departure in autumn 2012 for Joao to break into the club’s senior set up. Although, with the young Portuguese already on his country’s radar since the start of that year, it would be reasonable to assume that his club boss was also well aware of his talent.
After a couple of bright campaigns, Joao was picked up by English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, for a fee which could eventually reach £4 million.
However, despite an explosive start to his Hillsborough career, in which he was twice capped by Portugal having scored seven goals before Christmas – including one against Arsenal in the EFL Cup, Joao’s progress has stalled over the past 14 months, with injury and confidence perhaps equally responsible.
Lucas Joao heads home Sheffield Wednesday’s second goal against Arsenal
After Wednesday finally landed Jordan Rhodes in January this year, Joao was allowed to join the Owls’ divisional rivals Blackburn Rovers on loan, but has soon found himself crowded out by the impressive Danny Graham and Sam Gallagher partnership.
It is extremely likely, therefore, that the six-foot-three-inch front man will be on the move again this summer, and with each of Rangers’ strikers having failed to exceed six goals this season, the new Gers boss is sure to be looking.
And if it is indeed Caixinha, don’t be surprised if Joao follows him Ibrox.
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