LUIGI RICCIO insists Rino Gattuso would be "delighted" to return to Rangers one day.
Gattuso is currently manager of Napoli in Italy with Riccio as his assistant.
And the pair this week toppled Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus as they lifted the Coppa Italia following a penalty shoot-out victory.
The win saw Gattuso lift his first major trophy as a manager, following stints at Sion, Palermo, OFI Crete, Pisa and Milan.
And ex-Rangers teammate Riccio reckons Gattuso, 42, would not rule out a return to Ibrox in the future if the Ibrox position became available.
Speaking to the Sunday Post, he said:"Winning the Italian Cup was really important for us.
"It is a prestigious trophy and was a boost for everyone in the group's confidence, and awareness of our own abilities to succeed in the game.
"Rino is at the forefront. He is an excellent coach. He has charisma, attention to detail and a lot of determination.
"When we talk about him, we always say that he has a strong and gritty character. But behind that he is a real student of the game.
"He thinks a lot about tactics and motivation. He is a coach with the ability to get inside the mind of his players - that is one of his biggest strengths.
"At the moment we are 100 per cent focused on this experience at Napoli, but we don't know what will happen in the future.
"We are professionals, we evaluate the job, and the offers. We are always ready for new challenges.
"In my opinion, Rino would be a perfect fit for the English Premier League.
"And, of course, I think I can say with certainty that Rino would be delighted if he could return to Rangers as a coach in the future.
"It is no secret the club is close to his heart.
"When Rino remembers his time at Ibrox and the games he played, the emotion is clear to see in his eyes."
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