Rangers’ Europa League opponents Royal Antwerp have appointed a new manager.
Franky Vercauteren has been confirmed as Ivan Leko’s replacement after the Croatian jumped shipped to Chinese outfit Shanghai SIPG last week.
Vercauteren, who has won the Belgium league three-times, will be in charge of the Belgians when they take on Steven Gerrard’s side in their Europa League last 32 encounter.
Rangers make the trip on 18 February with the second leg taking place at Ibrox a week later.
Vercauteren represented Belgium 61 times and helped them reach the last four of the 186 World Cup.
At club level, he made more than 400 appearances for Anderlecht as well as having two spells as manager at the Konstant Van Den Stock Stadion, where he won the title twice before repeating the trick with Genk in 2011.
The 64-year-old, nicknamed “The Little Prince” also counts Sporting Lisbon amongst the clubs he’s managed, having also had spells in Russia and Suadia Arabia.
His last job saw him lead Cercle Brugge to promotion and he’ll start working with the Antwerp squad as soon as he’s completed the necessary Covid protocols.
A club statement said: "As soon as we comply with all Covid 19
protocols, Franky can lead the training sessions in preparation for the games.
"He has signed a contract until the end of the season."
