Former midfielder Kevin Thomson has admitted that he was “impressed” by Pedro Caixinha after being interviewed for the assistant role at the club.
The Portuguese manager was appointed boss of the Ibrox giants back in March following the departure of promotion winning manager Mark Warburton.
He had little knowledge of the Scottish leagues and it was well reported at the time that Caixinha was looking for someone with both knowledge of the country and the famous club.
Ex-striker Jonatan Johansson has since been appointed in the role, but Thomson holds no ill feeling towards Caixinha and has told that the intensity the manager demands will see Rangers fit next year, while his summer recruitment is going to prove key.
“I was put forward by the board as a candidate — and then I was asked to put my CV in,” explained Thomson to the Scottish Sun.
“I never thought anything of it at first but the more I thought about it the more I thought I’d love an opportunity like that.
“And when I was asked to go in I thought as soon as I sat in front of him and told him my ideas about football, and the passion I have as a young coach, I would be the man for his job.
“We had a great chat — I knew previous players who had been in and they felt the interview had gone pear-shaped! Whereas we sat for an hour and half, there was no awkwardness, we spoke about football and I thought I had a good opportunity.
“When I was driving home I was thinking: ‘how is my academy going to work?’
“I had coached every single day for five and a half months, I’d stood in the rain and built up this reputation.
“But I felt it would be a great coup for my academy that the kids would be being coached off my plan, my ideas as the Rangers No3.
“So it was a win-win either way, it was a great honour for my academy for me to be asked in, and if I eventually got it then it was still great publicity for us.
“So I was relaxed about it either way.
“I was impressed with Pedro. I liked the way he spoke about football.
“He likes his graphs and pyramids and he is precise in what he wants and where he sees other teams weaknesses.
“I think with the intensity that he demands, he’ll have Rangers fit next year but his recruitment is going to be key.
“If he signs five players this summer, four have to be playing in the team every week and contributing.
“That will be Pedro’s biggest challenge — he has to get that right.”
Thomson, 32, was part of a successful Rangers team between 2007 and 2010 and he helped the club lift two Premiership titles, one Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups during his time in Glasgow.
He ended up leaving the Gers for Middlesbrough in 2010 for a £2million fee and he has since gone on to play for Hibernian and Dundee.
Meanwhile, Rangers fans will be hoping Caixinha can help return the club to it’s former self and improve on their current third placing with a solid summer window.