Giovanni van Bronckhorst has revealed the proudest moment in his managerial career was reaching the Europa League Final...because of the recent passing of Ibrox kitman Jimmy Bell.

The Dutch coach was axed by the Ibrox side last month after a disappointing season, just months after he guided Rangers to a stunning Europa League Final spot.

They reached the final by beating RB Leipzig in the semi-finals in an emotionally-charged second leg at Ibrox just two days after long-serving kitman Bell had died.

And van Bronckhorst, in an interview with Dutch magazine Helden, insisted the poignant nature of that game meant more to him than the actual final in Seville, which Rangers lost in a penalty shootout to Eintracht Frankfurt.

He said: "I have played many finals as a player and as a manager, including winning a Champions League Final with Barcelona, losing a World Cup Final with the Dutch national team, winning two cup finals with Feyenoord as a player and winning two cup finals and the Johan Cruyff Schield as Feyenoord manager.

"But remarkably, I think actually reaching the Europa League Final with Rangers meant more to me than the actual Final itself.

"And that was because our kitman had just died.

"Of course, I was disappointed that we lost because of a missed penalty, but I got over that quickly,

"Beating RB Leipzig in the semi-final  together with Feyenoord winning the Eredivisie in 2017 are my finest moments as a manager."

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