Jorg Albertz reveals difficult relationship with Dick Advocaat at Rangers
Former Rangers favourite Jorg Albertz has opened up about his hostile relationship with ex-Gers manager Dick Advocaat.
The 50-year-old wrote in the Daily Record about how the two never saw eye to eye but insisted it was never a footballing issue.
Advocaat brought current Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst to Ibrox to rival Albertz’s place in the side which started the hostility.
“Everyone knows we didn’t see eye to eye. But it had nothing to do with football,” Albertz wrote
“Being a left-sided midfielder, I knew he [van Bronckhorst] wanted my shirt. And in that Advocaat era, it wasn’t new to me. Dick brought a lot of players in to play in my position.
“We just didn’t get on. But that was because of things that went on behind the scenes.
“It was definitely personal with me and Dick. But in a football sense, what he brought to the club was incredible.”
Advocaat’s Influence
Albertz can see a lot of Advocaat’s management style in van Bronckhorst’s methods as the Dutch compatriots worked together often.
The German suggests that things at the Rangers training ground have become much stricter since his former teammate has taken over the helm from Steven Gerrard.
van Bronckhorst couldn’t have many better mentors when it comes to management with the 74-year-old Advocaat having more experience than most in the dugout.
He was even employed as recently as November before he resigned from the lead role with the Iraqi National Team.
While a strong hand is important to maintain control over a dressing room full of testosterone, van Bronckhorst needs to be careful in balancing strictness and leniency to keep the squad happy.
His methods are working so far with the Gers top of the Scottish Premiership but whether it can be maintained long term is still to be seen.
In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist has revealed his transfer window predictions at Ibrox.