VAN'S THE MAN

De Boer hails Gio for filling Gerrard's boots and taking Rangers to a whole new level

- ANDY NEWPORT

STEPPING into the shoes left behind by Steven Gerrard at Ibrox was always going to come with a serious risk for the new incumbent that they would end up falling flat on their face.

Gerrard walked the walk, delivering the trophy the club had waited a decade for.

But Rangers legend Ronald de Boer reckons Gio van Bronckhorst can swagger his way into the hearts of Rangers fans if he delivers the club's first European prize for 50 years.

De Boer reckons his old Rangers and Holland colleague must have had reservations about replacing Gerrard. Taking over after he'd written his name into Ibrox folklore by securing the club's 55th title last season is akin to having Frank Sinatra passing you the mic and telling you to give it laldy.

If van Bronckhorst had doubts, however, he's kept them to himself.

Confidence in his abilities to do the job may have wavered a little as Rangers' grasp on the title slipped but de Boer has been impressed by the assured way his friend has gone about reshaping his line-up in order to make them serious contenders on the continental stage.

Now only Eintracht Frankfurt stand in van Bronckhorst's way as he looks to prove once and for all the Ibrox shoes fit by leading his team to Europa League immortality.