Next Rangers Manager: Former Brighton target a contender to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst with surprise 'favourite' confirmation

Rangers sacked van Bronckhorst following a run of form this season that has “not met expectations.”

He paid the price for a poor start in which Rangers endured humiliating Champions League group stage and fell nine points adrift of city rivals Celtic at the top of the Premiership.

A statement from the Ibrox club on Monday morning read: “Rangers Football Club confirms today it has parted company with manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

“The board would like to put on record sincere thanks to Gio for all his efforts since his appointment as manager.

“Unfortunately, results and performances over recent months haven’t met expectations and the decision was made today by the board to terminate the contract of the manager. The search for the new manager is now underway.”

Rangers have just over three weeks to find a successor for Van Bronckhorst, with their first match after the World Cup break at home to Hibernian on December 15.

Among the early favourites is Kjetil Knutsen – who was linked with the job at Brighton following Graham Potter’s exit to Chelsea. Brighton in the end opted for Roberto De Zerbi, while Knutsen continued his fine work at Bodø/Glimt.

The 53-year old has been with Bodø/Glimt since 2019 having previously managed Norwegian lower league sides Fyllingsdalen and Åsane.

He has caught the eye of many football fans across Europe due to the performances of Bodø/Glimt in European football, most notably in last season’s UEFA Europa League where they beat Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma 6-1 in the group stage.

Queens Park Rangers boss Michael Beale is the favourite at at 13/8 with former Burnley boss Sean Dyche also in the running at 2/1. Steven Gerrard, who was at Rangers before his struggling spell at Aston Villa, is 8/1 and Knutsen is at 10/1. Ex-Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is 20/1.