'They will be bursting': Rangers predicted to go on trophy tear under Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish believes Scottish Cup victory can be the launchpad of a sustained trophy-winning era at the Ibrox club for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Like McLeish back in 2001, van Bronckhorst was appointed midway through a season by Rangers. After the disappointment of losing the Premiership title to Celtic and the agony of last Wednesday’s Europa League final penalty shoot-out defeat against Eintracht Frankurt in Seville, the Dutch coach secured his first piece of silverware in the job with the 2-0 extra-time win over Hearts at Hampden on Saturday.

“At Rangers, it’s so important that you win trophies,” said McLeish who claimed seven major honours in his four-and-a-half year tenure at the club.

“I was speaking to people last Saturday morning over breakfast and we were saying ‘what if Rangers don’t win anything this season?’

“Rangers had to show such resilience to lift themselves after the Europa League final and going again just a few days later in another final.

“Losing the penalty shootout in Seville was horrendous for them and everyone wondered if they would have the stamina to go again.

“But they certainly did that on Saturday. It’s not the first time they have done it though.

Video: Connor Goldson thanks the Rangers fans after Scottish Cup semi-final win against Celtic (Daily Record)

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