RANGERS sporting director Ross Wilson has revealed he spoke to former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman about the prospect of hiring Giovanni van Bronckhorst as Steven Gerrard’s successor at Ibrox.
Van Bronkhorst was installed as the new manager of the Premiership champions on Thursday, less than a week after Gerrard upped sticks and sealed a move to Aston Villa after three-and-a-half years in Govan.
Wilson – who worked alongside Koeman at St Mary’s when the Dutchman was Southampton manager – admits that he remains in regular contact with Koeman, and that he approached him during negotiations with Van Bronkhorst to get his take on his compatriot.
However, the Ibrox chief insists that his mind was just about made up before making the call.
Wilson told Sky Sports Scotland: “I wouldn’t say he played a part in luring him but he is certainly someone I spoke to about Gio because I knew how much respect he had for him.
“So to be honest, it was a phone call I was making when I probably already knew a lot of the answers.
“Gio is somebody that Ronald always spoke highly of and someone I keep in regular contact with, someone whose opinions I would trust wholeheartedly as well.
“He is a great man himself, he has high standards and when he gives me positive insight into someone else then I can take that as something I trust a lot.”
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