Three Rangers figures who have also shone for Europa League opponents Genk
Rangers are set to face Belgian side Genk in the Europa League, and there is shared history between the two clubs.
Genk and Rangers have never faced each other before, but there are parallels between the two clubs as both managers, Russell Martin and Thorsten Fink are under pressure.
Rangers legend Alex McLeish managed both clubs, and he gave some words of advice to Martin ahead of the clash at Ibrox.
Three other figures have a connection with both clubs, but have a mixed record at Rangers as some failed to succeed in Glasgow.
Thomas Buffel played for Rangers and Genk
Former Belgium midfielder Thomas Buffel played for both Rangers and Genk, but it is at the Belgian side where he is remembered more fondly.
Buffel did win a few trophies in a three-year spell at Rangers, helping win the Scottish Premiership under Walter Smith, while also impressing in the Champions League.
- Buffel made 76 appearances for Rangers across all competitions, scoring 13 goals.
- He spent nine seasons at Genk, making 388 appearances and scoring 59 goals.
- The former midfielder scored six times in 36 games for Belgium.
Now manager of Genk’s reserve team, Buffel made nearly 400 appearances for Genk, and is considered a club legend there.
- Read more: Ally McCoist, Barry Ferguson, Brian Laudrup – Top 10 Rangers legends every fan should know
Philippe Clement managed Rangers and Genk
Like McLeish, Philippe Clement managed both Rangers and Genk, but had varying levels of success at the two clubs.
Clement was sacked by Rangers earlier this year after a disastrous run of form, but he did win the Premier Sports Cup in 2023-24.
The Dutchman played for Genk in the late 1990s, spending three years with the Belgian side, and also became their manager in 2017.
Clement won a league title and guided Genk to Europe in a spell that lasted less than two years, before he moved to Club Brugge.
Rangers bought Ianis Hagi from Genk
Ianis Hagi was a popular player at Ibrox, but his spell at Rangers was marred by injury after an initial bright start.
Hagi joined Rangers in January 2020, on an initial loan with an option to buy, from Genk, with whom he spent just six months there after a fairly expensive move from Viitorul Constanta.
The Romanian now plays for Alanyaspor in Turkey, as Hagi left Rangers at the end of last season.
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