Picture perfect Giovanni van Bronckhorst has joined Rangers' managerial royalty with Europa League heroics

Some time after the euphoric Rangers support had finally and reluctantly left the stadium on Thursday night, Giovanni van Bronckhorst re-emerged from the Ibrox tunnel with some of his nearest and dearest.

Amid beaming smiles and joyful laughter all round, the Rangers manager and his coaching staff gathered with family members and close friends for some group photographs which are sure to be cherished among them for years to come.

As van Bronckhorst shared one of the greatest moments of his career so far with those closest to him, perhaps even he would be finding it difficult to fully process the scale of the achievement he has overseen since returning to Rangers six months ago.

There have been times within that period, as a six-point lead at the top of the Premiership table was lost to a Celtic side who are now on the verge of reclaiming the domestic title, when some supporters raised doubts over whether van Bronckhorst was the right man to bring further success to Rangers after the progress made during Steven Gerrard’s tenure.

But no-one is questioning the Dutchman’s credentials now. He has joined Rangers managerial royalty in becoming only the fourth in that role to lead the Ibrox club to a European final after Scot Symon (1961 and 1967), Willie Waddell (1972) and Walter Smith (2008). Van Bronckhorst’s prospects of now emulating Waddell, the architect of Rangers’ sole final victory when the Cup Winners’ Cup was claimed in Barcelona 50 years ago, appear hugely promising.

Over 10 European matches in charge, starting off with the 2-0 win over Sparta Prague at Ibrox in November which secured progress from the Europa League group stage, van Bronckhorst has displayed levels of coaching nous and tactical flexibility which are