Glasgow, 07.11.2018, Ibrox Stadion, Fussball, Scottish Premiership, Glasgow Rangers Imago Images
Stig Inge Bjornebye has been confirmed as Rangers’ performance director on a permanent basis after impressing the club’s hierarchy.
The former Norway international spent the second half of last season working as a football advisor to club chiefs at Ibrox.
Rangers saw enough from the ex-Liverpool defender during that advisory period to offer him a full-time position, according to the Rangers Review.
Bjornebye will oversee both the performance and academy departments, though his primary focus will remain firmly on first-team matters.
Fellow Norwegian and Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard has also been making headlines during the World Cup, revealing a nightly habit to sharpen his language skills.
The 24-year-old, who was born and brought up in England, practices Norwegian every evening before going to bed in a bid to become fluent.
Norway manager and former Fulham star Brede Hangeland praised Aasgaard’s dedication at the international camp, saying: “Thelo has put everything into it to be here. He has some very special qualities that can be very important in certain match situations. You can also clearly see that he has been in the UK for a long time in the way he plays.”
Aasgaard himself explained his personal ambitions within the squad, stating: “I practice Norwegian every night before I go to bed. It’s very important to me.”
He elaborated further, adding: “I want to be able to speak more in the group and on the pitch. I speak English now, but I also want to be able to speak Norwegian while I play. That is my goal.”
The midfielder acknowledged the challenge but remained positive, saying: “My Norwegian isn’t perfect, but I understand most of it. I try my best and am getting a little better all the time.”
Aasgaard also spoke about his wider ambitions for playing time, noting: “I want to play as much as I can. Stale Solbakken is the one who picks the team, and I just have to do my best.”
He added: “At first it was difficult not to speak the language as fluently as the others, but luckily, several of the guys also speak very good English.”
In further positive news for Rangers, teenage midfielder Bailey Rice has signed a new two-year contract keeping him at Ibrox until the summer of 2028.
The 19-year-old had been out of contract and attracted interest from West Ham United, Schalke, and Ajax before choosing to remain in Glasgow.
Rice had stalled on signing due to a desire for first-team football, with Kilmarnock among those keen to take him on loan following the success of Findlay Curtis there last season.
Former Rangers boss Danny Rohl had approved a potential loan move, but new manager Derek McInnes has placed that plan on hold and wants to assess Rice during pre-season before making any decision on his immediate future.
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