Van Bronckhorst delivers Rangers' final step on epic 10-year journey

Ten years ago this week, a Rangers side containing luminaries such as Emilson Cribari and Anestis Argyriou stepped out at Shielfield Park before being held to a 1-1 draw by Berwick Rangers in the old Third Division.

The Journey, as it became known, was a protracted and occasionally painful process but any debate about its decisive end point is no longer relevant. The final step has been taken. Rangers have arrived. The restoration is complete.

A place in the Champions League proper was the one item yet to be ticked off following the cathartic Premiership title success of season 2020-21. 

On a balmy night in Eindhoven, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side grabbed the pen and applied ink with a flourish. It was epic, historic stuff.

This was another hugely significant European feat to add to the Dutchman's growing CV. Nothing, he said on Tuesday, would make him prouder than bringing *that* pre-match music back to Ibrox on a regular basis by winning in his homeland. He was entitled to savour every moment of the celebrations that followed.

Of course, Rangers' credibility on the continent had already been revived through successive Europa League campaigns - culminating in last season's epic run to the final in Seville and its heartbreaking conclusion. Even so, the club and its supporters still hungered to back among the game's true aristocracy.

Under Steven Gerrard, the Malmo qualifier 12 months ago was a painful debacle. 

Losing the title to Celtic then cost another chance to make the Champions League. As did that penalty shoot-out defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in Andalusia just 98 days ago.

Fourth time lucky? A little fortune is always required but Rangers showed more meaningful reserves of composure, strength and desire to