After the dramatic climax of last season’s competitive calendar, with two cup finals in the closing week of Rangers’ 21/22 season, a break for summer was well earned by the squad who had battled through a very taxing schedule of fixtures in the run in. This could be seen the most in now former Ger Joe Aribo, as he racked up the most games, and minutes, than any other player in world football (this including his run of games for Nigeria.) Therefore, it’s fair to say, a break from proceedings was long due for our boys.

However, with summer comes arrivals and departures, and the aforementioned Joe Aribo made a heartfelt exit from Rangers as he went onto pursue his Premier League ambitions at Southampton.

The emotional goodbyes weren’t done there either, as Ajax came calling for the young powerhouse himself, Calvin Bassey. The Nigerian international made the switch over to Dutch football for a fee which is the highest in Rangers’ history, and with the world at his feet, everyone at Rangers wishes him well.

Although it’s good making money from talented footballers, Rangers fans were eager to see some serious reinvestment in the squad, as the Ibrox faithful were hoping 22/23’s Rangers side would be a team of Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s players, and not merely a hangover from the Steven Gerrard era. Some concerns may have been murmured at the start of the window as Rangers quietly went about their business, but then the signings began to flow.

With John Souttar finally joining up with Rangers after a pre contract signing of the former Hearts man, Rangers fans were eager to see what followed. Along came Antonio Čolak, Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo, Malik Tillman, Ben Davies and Ridvan Yilmaz, 6 fresh new signings, all bristling with talent and ready to take the new challenge of Rangers by the scruff of the neck.

Competitive football returns on Saturday, as Rangers travel away to Livingston for our opening fixture of the league campaign, shortly followed by a crucial UCL qualifier against Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, despite facing the challenges of being thrown into a close title race, a Europa League campaign, and a Scottish Cup which was to begin shortly after his arrival, pulled a team together and went on a historic run to the Europa League final, and also claimed Rangers their first Scottish Cup since 2009. Now, he enters the season with a squad of his own desired talent, and the support of all Rangers fans by his side, who believe the time is now for Rangers to push onto dominance once again in Scottish Football.

The trial period is over, it’s time for the ‘Gio Era’ to truly begin.