Champions League side appoint Rangers-linked

Rangers-linked Croatian manager Nenad Bjelica has been appointed at Union Berlin.

The former Kaiserslautern midfielder will return to the German Bundesliga alongside assistant Daniel Jumic, it has been announced.

Nenad Bjelica replaces the outgoing Urs Fischer, who’d gone from glory to the gutter with emerging Bundesliga force Union Berlin.

Having guided the club to a 4th place Bundesliga finish last season, and the Champions League group stages this season, Fischer was sacked after a run of 14 games without a win.

As a result, Nenad Bjelica comes into Union Berlin with the side in the Bundesliga relegation zone.

The Croatian’s first domestic match in charge will be against German champions Bayern Munich.

Nenad Bjelica joins Union Berlin

Rangers fans will remember the name Nenad Bjelica from the club’s manager search following the sacking of Michael Beale.

Nenad Bjelica was a late addition to the managerial stakes at Ibrox, with reports claiming that a move to Glasgow was possible after the Croatian’s exit from Trabzonspor in Turkey.

Given Trabzonspor reportedly paid £10m to lay off Berlin-bound Bjelica and his backroom staff, there were serious eyebrows raised about potential Rangers interest.

The manager himself would then fan the flames of the links by claiming he was “ready” to get straight back into work after leaving the Super Lig side.

Later going on to claim that he was “never a candidate” to takeover at Rangers, the Croatian manager can now look forward to a stint in the German capital.

Former midfielder with solid managerial record

Whilst Rangers would eventually turn to Belgian manager Philippe Clement, Nenad Bjelica was certainly an interesting option.

The 52-year-old coach had an extensive playing career in Spanish football predominantly, turning out for the likes of Albacete, Real Betis and Las Palmas either side of stints with NK Osijek.

Also turning out in Germany and Austria, as a manager, Nenad Bjelica takes charge of a club in Germany for the first time with Union Berlin.

Having managed extensively in Austrian football, most notably with the likes of Wolfsberger and Rapid Wien, the coach also took charge at Spezia in Italy, Lech Poznan in Poland, and Dinamo Zagreb & NK Osijek in Croatia before taking the job in Turkey.

Now in his first Bundesliga role, Nenad Bjelica is tasked with steering Union Berlin away from relegation and Rangers fans will keep an eye on how the coach’s career develops.