Sparta Prague boss has Rangers defeat to thank for top job chance as he picks out Gers star who could prove a 'handful'

Brian Priske admits he does not have fond memories of Ibrox.

But a defeat there on his last visit as FC Midtjylland boss ended up giving him his start in management. a 3-1 Europa League second leg qualifying defeat in Govan saw the Danes crash out 7-3 on aggregate to Steven Gerrard's side. Kenneth Anderson stepped down from his post a few days later, allowing Priske to make the step up to the top job, and he's been a boss ever since.

He's hoping to create better memories with Sparta Prague this week. The Czech champions know a win in Glasgow could propel them to the top of a tight group, which is likely to come down to a final game shoot-out, potentially between all four clubs depending on results. A 0-0 draw in Prague the last time out was probably a better result for Philippe Clement, but more will be expected of the hosts on Thursday.

"It was definitely not a good experience from a football perspective," said Priske, who revealed midfielder Jakub Pesek did not make the trip to Glasgow as his wife is due to give birth. "We lost as a team and as a club and crashed out of Europe in that game so it was definitely a tough experience.

"Afterwards the manager decided to step down a few days later after one of the league games and since then I have been working as a head coach. No doubt about it (being a chance I had been looking for). I had been working as an assistant coach for seven, eight years and was for sure aiming and had the ambitions to become a head coach but obviously it is a colleague and a good friend who was stepping down.

"But when you start your career as a coach I think it is obvious that you will slowly build on your ambitions and take it from there."

After watching Rangers beat Hearts at the weekend,