Dick Advocaat on his main Rangers 'regret' and the other reason he's roaring on Gio van Bronckhorst in Seville

Dick Advocaat remembers being caught between a rock and a hard place in Manchester 14 years ago.

On the one hand, he was leading an exciting Zenit St Petersburg outfit into their first ever European showpiece, looking to crown off a coaching career of his own that would eventually span 34 years and 24 different postings with his one and only UEFA prize.

The trouble was that to do so, he’d have to break the hearts of a club he had built up genuine fondness for during four years in Glasgow.

Even if he won, the Little General knew he’d end up losing to some degree.

By beating Walter Smith ’s men at the City of Manchester Stadium, Advocaat realised the affection of the fans who came to idolise him after his Dutch revolution swept through Ibrox, rampaging to five domestic trophies out of six during his first two dominant campaigns in charge, would never be the same again.

In the end, he did was he was paid to do and masterminded Zenit’s moment of glory but it was a victory tinged with regret at what it meant for his old side.

Fourteen years on, Rangers are back at the business end of Europe’s second-tier tournament and Advocaat is just relieved he will not have his loyalties tested this time.

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