Gio van Bronckhorst on Villarreal shortlist as ex Rangers boss set for talks with La Liga outfit

Former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst could be set for a return to management after making the shortlist to fill the vacancy at La Liga outfit Villarreal.

The ex-Ibrox manager turned down a chance to take control at Utrecht in his homeland this week, preferring to take on a new challenge at a club in Europe. And the Dutchman will met with Villarreal chiefs after previous boss Quique Setien was sacked this week after three losses and just one win into the new season in Spain.

River Plate's Marcelo Gallardo was their first choice to the job and they attempted to persuade him to make the move from Buenos Aires, but he immediately said he had no interest in a switch to Spain and the Yellow Submarine have now made ex-Arsenal and Netherlands star van Bronckhorst their main target. Van Bronckhorst led Rangers to the Europa League Final last year, but was axed by the club after a disastrous, record breakingly-bad Champions League campaign and falling nine points adrift of Celtic.

He has since rejected offers to move to Saudi Arabia and is waiting for the opportunity to get back in the game and Villarreal could be set to offer him the chance.

He spent four years in Spain with Barcelona and helped them win the 2006 Champions League Final against former club Arsenal.