Gio van Bronckhorst 'magnificent' Rangers success caveated by key Steven Gerrard factor claims Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

As room mates at the 1998 World Cup with Holland neither really contemplated a future in management. Why would they when they were still to reach the peak of their wonderful playing careers with, at that stage, Rangers and Leeds United as well as their national team?

But when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink looks back he can now recognise the characteristics in his old pal Gio van Bronckhorst which meant he was destined to be a success in the dugout. The calmness, the aura, the understanding of the beautiful game.

Their country gave birth to the concept of Total Football and Hasselbaink reckons van Bronckhorst is implementing his own attractive version of the sport at Rangers. The Burton Albion boss has been blown away with his pal’s impact in just six months in charge at Ibrox – and insists the best is yet to come.

The 50-year-old is adamant van Bronckhorst is just getting started in Govan and that his brand of football – something he reckons is already a step up from the Steven Gerrard era – is about to get even more exciting. Asked about his pal’s impact at Rangers, Hasselbaink said: “He’s done absolutely magnificently, hasn’t he?

“Rangers fans obviously want to win the league and he wasn’t able to do that but for them to reach the final of a European cup, and then lose on penalties is very bitter, very hard. Overall I think he’s going to implement his style even more.

“You’ve seen it already, it’s a little bit more attractive than Steven Gerrard, in the football eye. That’s not me being negative about Gerrard, he’s done absolutely magnificent as well. But the styles are a little bit different. The only thing is, can you get that balance of the beautiful style, and still win trophies?

“Because at the end of the day,