Rangers return to Champions League group stages
The Ibrox side beat PSV 1-0 away from home to seal their spot
Last updated 24th Aug 2022
Antonio Colak scored the winner as Rangers beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 to reach the Champions League for the first time in 12 years.
After a 2-2 draw against the Dutch side in the first leg of the play-off at Ibrox last week, another absorbing encounter was played out in the Philips Stadium.
In a game that swung to and fro at times, Colak tapped into the empty net on the hour mark for his fifth goal in six matches before the Light Blues held out for a 3-2 aggregate win.
The Croatia striker had scored twice to help loan side Malmo knock Rangers out of the Champions League qualifiers last season but he repaid his current employers and then some following his move from PAOK as his side made it to the promised land for the first time since 2010.
Rangers and Celtic will be in Thursday's Champions League draw for the first time since 2007/08.
Most of the pre-match discussion and debate was about the absence of Alfredo Morelos but in-form Colak, who has been keeping the Colombia striker on the bench, led the line again.
The visitors showed one change from the first leg with midfielder Glen Kamara in for Steve Davis.
PSV boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former Netherlands team-mate of Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, kept the same team from Glasgow.
The Rangers boss revealed a request for the kick-off to be put back after PSV fans had surrounded Rangers' team bus and delayed them getting into the ground was rebuffed.
The raucous home fans enjoyed the early stages where the Dutch side looked slick and confident.
However, Rangers steadied and, in a 13th-minute break, attacker Ryan Kent had a drive saved by keeper PSV keeper Walter Benitez.
The Light Blues grew in confidence and in the 25th minute, after an assured build-up, Malik Tillman set up midfielder John Lundstram who fired just wide.
PSV came back to life, however, and captain Luuk de Jong just missed a cross from Jordan Teze 10 yards from goal before the unmarked Ibrahim Sangare head a Cody Gakpo corner over the bar.
Rangers wobbled all the way to the interval.
Three minutes from the break De Jong got away from defender Connor Goldson but his close-range effort was well saved by Jon McLaughlin and just moments later Gakpo fired over the bar from 16 yards with the keeper well off his line.
Xavi Simons replaced the injured De Jong for the start of the second half and the home side resumed control.
The Light Blues struggled to break free but when they did in the 55th minute Tom Lawrence cracked the crossbar with a thunderous 20-yard drive and Rangers came again moments later with even greater effect.
When Tillman robbed the dithering Andre Ramalho inside the PSV box after the defender had taken a risky pass from keeper Benitez, he had the easiest of tasks to roll the ball to Colak to knock into an empty net.
PSV roared back with increasing desperation but after a Rangers break Benitez was forced into a good save from Tillman's drive.
Rangers had to defend for their lives in the final stages and Philipp Max missed the target with a drive while McLaughlin made a brilliant save from Gakpo.
Scott Arfield, Scott Wright and Fashion Sakala came on and helped the visitors see out the nervy ending to get back among the big boys of European football.
William Wilton
William Wilton was Rangers' first manager who served the club in this post for over 20 years from 1899 to 1920. In his time at Rangers he brought home eight league titles and one Scottish Cup before passing away while still in his position as manager on the 2nd May 1920.
Bill Struth
The most decorated and longest-serving Rangers manager to-date Bill Struth, managed Rangers from 1920 all the way up to 1954. He won 18 League titles and 10 Scottish Cups as well as 2 League Cups and seven wartime League Championships.
Scot Symon
Scot Symon managed Rangers from 1954 to 1967 and guided the team to six League titles, five Scottish Cups and 4 League Cups. He was also the first Rangers manager to have previously played for the club and helped the club win a League title in 1939.
David White
Having previously played for Clyde, David White became manager of Rangers in November of 1967 and was the first Rangers manager not to win any major honours while in charge. He then became one of the three managers dismissed by the club in 1969.
William Waddell
Ex-Rangers player William Waddell took the helm at the end of 1969 and led the side to a League Cup win and to their only continental trophy victory in the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup Final 3-2 against Dynamo Moscow.
Jock Wallace
Jock Wallace managed Rangers from 1972 – 1978 and then again from 1983 – 1986, where he won the Treble of winning the League title, Scottish Cup and League Cup in the seasons 1975-76 and 1977-78.
John Greig MBE
John Greig MBE spent his entire professional career with Rangers, from starting off on the pitch as a Defender to becoming Manager in 1978. During his five-year managerial stint, he won the Scottish Cup and League Cup twice. He was also voted 'The Greatest Ever Ranger' in 1999 by the club's supporters.
Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness became a player-manager at Rangers with Walter Smith assisting him at the helm. Within his five years in charge, from 1986- 1991, aside from winning 3 league titles and 4 league cups, he broke down barriers by signing Mo Johnston, the first Roman-Catholic addition to the Rangers team.
Walter Smith OBE
From 1991 – 1998, Walter Smith OBE stepped away from his previous Assistant Manager role and led Rangers to achieve League titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups. He then came back to manage Rangers from 2007- 2011, winning eight more major prizes for the club.
Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat managed Rangers from 1998 – 2001 and won two League titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup. Notably, in his first season at Rangers, he led the team to finish six points above Celtic, who they defeated 1-0 in the Scottish Cup final.
Alex Mcleish
Notably winning the domestic Treble in his second season, Alex McLeish in total achieved two League titles, two Scottish Cups and three League Cups. He was the Manager of Rangers when they clinched the Scottish Premiere on goal difference.
Paul Le Guen
French player and manager Paul Le Guen took over from McLeish in 2006 before leaving in mid-2007 without winning any prizes for the club. At the time, this made him Rangers' shortest serving manager.
Ally McCoist MBE
In May 2011, Ex-player Ally McCoist took to the helm of Rangers and saw them through entering administration in 2012. He described the position as a 'dream job at a nightmare time' and left the position in December 2014.
Mark Warburton
From June 2015 – February 2017, Mark Warburton managed Rangers where he notably came out on top of an Old Firm victory in the Scottish Cup Final where the team won 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 game.
Pedro Caixinha
Pedro Caixinha managed Rangers from March 2017- October that same year. He failed to obtain any prizes before he was dismissed by the club.
Graeme Murty
Graeme Murty was the caretaker manager for Rangers from February – March 2017 before being appointed as the official manager in October that same year. He was in the role until May 2018.
Steven Gerrard
From June 2018 – November 2021, ex-Liverpool player Steven Gerrard managed Rangers gaining the team their first League title since 2011. He then stepped down to manage Aston Villa.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Former player Giovanni van Bronckhorst returned to Ibrox to take over from Steven Gerrard in November 2021. The Dutchman led the Ibrox side to the Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup in his first season in charge. He left late in 2022 after a poor string of results and performances.