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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Smith

Ex-Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst returns to UK after Ibrox sacking

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been spotted publically back in the UK for the first time since he was sacked as manager of Rangers.

The Dutchman was axed from his Ibrox position back in November last year following a string of poor league results.

Van Bronckhorst has kept a low profile since, but he was pictured last night at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City clashed with Arsenal in the top-of-the-table Premier League showdown.

The former Rangers manager was pictured taking a phone call and talkSPORT presenter Jim White also spotted him taking in the action from the stands.

Van Bronckhorst moved to Arsenal from Rangers for £8million in 2001 and went on to play over 50 times under the leadership of Arsene Wenger.

He won the Premier League title in 2001/02 and also the FA Cup in 2002/03.

Van Bronckhorst also has connections to Manchester City and Pep Guardiola after spending time with him in 2019 after leaving his first management job at Feyenoord.

Since his sacking at Ibrox the 48-year-old has not been linked with many management jobs.

Guardiola insisted there was nothing decisive about Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Premier League rivals Arsenal but acknowledged something big had shifted with the title now in his side’s hands.

City made light of a fixture long billed as a high-pressure title decider, with the dynamic play of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland ripping through the Arsenal defence time and again.

City scored four – Haaland netting the last after twice setting up De Bruyne, who in turn got the assist on a John Stones header – but could have exceeded that in the first half alone on a dominant night. Rob Holding’s late goal was slim consolation for the Gunners.

Arsenal still ended the night top of the table, but their two-point advantage looks particularly vulnerable with a City side who have won seven in a row in the league boasting two games in hand.

“It was an important game, not decisive but important,” Guardiola said.

“We played very good. I know the opponent we played. They’re still top, I know it sounds naive what I’m saying but we are still behind. We are still there.”

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