You might not have seen his name on the betting markets but there is one name that stands out should Giovanni van Bronckhorst not be appointed as the next Rangers manager.
Kjetil Knutsen has led Bodo Glimt to the forefront of Norwegian football, if you think they ring a bell it’s because they recently demolished Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 in the Europa League.
It’s not just that he is on the verge of delivering back to back league titles, it’s how he goes about it that would make him a good fit for the Ibrox hot seat.
Like Van Bronckhorst, Knutsen prefers a variation of 4-3-3 with a high press and a domination of possession, sounds familiar right? It’s no coincidence that when we are in full flow, we defend from the front and look to turnover the ball as quickly as possible in transition.
Ross Wilson has spoken before about a succession plan and how a manager’s style of play is very much top of the agenda when selecting a replacement for Steven Gerrard and that – similar to Southampton model – players should be purchased to fit the system to that the squad doesn’t need ripped up with very new appointment.
To get an insight into what Knutsen would bring, Patrick Berg, Bodo Glimt’s midfielder told the New York Times how he “listens to his players“, an attribute shared by both Gerrard and Van Bronckhorst.
Knutsen himself explained the ethos that has made him so successful and why he has recently been linked with Norwich City as well as Rangers prior to his side’s dismantling of Roma:
“Dominating doesn’t just mean scoring but also having the possession of the ball and dictating the rules of the game.
“We want to create a team identity that encompasses everyone; players, staff, managers, fans. We must confront ourselves to be able to create this ‘Bodo model’.”
At this stage of the season, in the position we’re in, with the players we have, it’s about minimising disruption. Van Bronckhorst and Knutsen share many similarities in terms of how they approach the game and would be a great fit, compare and contrast with the style of Derek McInnes and it’s not much of a contest really, is it?