Who is Andries Ulderink? Rangers coach 'target' is a published author with Ajax credentials

Andries Ulderink is reportedly a target Rangers as the latest addition to Philippe Clement's backroom staff - and he comes with an interesting back story.

Clement has leaned heavily on people who know the club so far with Alex Rae and Steven Davis advising the boss as he adapts to life in Glasgow. But with his feet now under the table, he's set to shake things up, with Rae's contract up and the Glaswegian looking increasingly likely to leave.

His replacement, if reports on the continent are to be believed, will be experienced Dutchman Ulderink, who was in the running for the NAC Breda job last month, but is now allegedly set to drop intentions of a top job in his own right to join Clement at Ibrox. So, it begs one question...

Right-hand man to Mark van Bommel at Royal Antwerp for the last two seasons, 54-year-old Ulderink has only ever really known coaching. His playing career never advanced beyond regional amateur level, and he dived straight into coaching at what he describes as 'an early stage in my career.' That's underselling it - he was manager of Aalten ZSV in the fifth tier by the time he was 25 in 1994

Various coaching, management and scouting roles at youth and senior level followed as he plied his trade. He held a few different positions at Ajax and Jong Ajax (the B-team), which was where he met Jap Staam - who he followed to Reading to be his assistant in 2016.

Manchester United hero Stam said of Ulderink: "I spoke to him about his philosophy, what he wanted to do and it clicked. He has got a lot of experience in coaching, managing, making schedules and everything. That was what I needed; you do not always need to be a professional player to do well in a certain league.”

After they parted ways in 2018,