Rangers supporters have been forced to endure some exceptionally grim managerial spells over the course of a turbulent post-2010 era.

Yet even in a decade and a half marked by costly missteps and structural upheaval, Pedro Caixinha managed to stand out above almost all of them as one of the most disastrous appointments in the history of the club.

Now, the 55-year-old Portuguese coach has returned to the dugout once again, taking charge at Belgian Pro League side Cercle Brugge on a contract until the end of the season. He has replaced Lars Fariis.

Caixinha inherits a difficult rescue mission in Belgium, taking over a team languishing in the relegation zone in second-last place after picking up just six points from their opening 10 league matches. The move marks his eighth managerial position in nine years since his sacking at Ibrox in October 2017, highlighting an extraordinarily nomadic coaching career since his infamous exit from Scottish football.

Pedro Caixinha returns to Europe for first since Rangers exit with Cercle Brugge

Caixinha’s reign at Rangers lasted just 229 days, making him the shortest-serving permanent manager in the club’s history at the time – a record later surpassed by Russell Martin (123 days) last year. Across his 26 games in charge, Caixinha oversaw a series of humiliating setbacks, including a record 5-1 home defeat to Celtic and an embarrassing European exit to Luxembourg outfit Progres Niederkorn.

His post-Rangers career has been defined by rapid turnover. Across his seven managerial appointments prior to moving to Belgium, Caixinha managed to last longer than his 26-game Rangers spell at only three clubs: Mexican side Cruz Azul (86 games), Argentine outfit CA Talleres (34 games), and Brazilian side RB Bragantino (124 games).

Unsurprisingly, Caixinha’s legacy in Glasgow remains heavily tarnished. In a recent poll conducted by Rangers News on TalkingPoints, fans were asked to name the worst-ever manager to take the helm at Ibrox.

While Russell Martin dominated the vote with an overwhelming 75% selection out of 1,735 votes following his disastrous stint, Caixinha still secured 16% of the total vote. Reflecting on Caixinha’s legacy in the poll comments, supporter Stewart John summed up the sentiment of many: “Pedro without a doubt.”

As Caixinha prepares to navigate another high-stakes battle against relegation in Belgium, Rangers fans will be watching on with familiar curiosity as one of their most chaotic former managers returns to Europe for the first time since his Ibrox exit and embarks on chapter eight of his post-Light Blues career.