Measuring the best gamers to play for any given membership isn’t any imply feat, particularly for a membership the dimensions of Glasgow Rangers.
The Ibrox aspect have loved loads of success since their formation in 1872, capturing 55 Scottish Premiership titles alongside a plethora of home cups and the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Every profitable period has produced a handful of gamers which have taken the membership to new heights, from the early Sixties to the trophy-laden spell within the 90s. Whereas it’s troublesome to rank the best gamers for any given membership, particularly as there are such a lot of various factors to consider, right here is our try at itemizing the very best to put on a Rangers shirt.
Rating components
- Affect on the membership
- Appearances
- Targets scored
- Trophies gained
Soccer FanCast takes a have a look at the ten biggest Rangers gamers of all time. Some could solely have stayed a couple of years, but they’re nonetheless being talked about right this moment.
Associated
10
Davie Cooper
Winger, 1977-1989
Davie Cooper is among the final nice Scottish wingers. Signing for Rangers in 1977 from Clydebank, Cooper made a complete of 376 appearances for the Gers, scoring 49 objectives within the course of.
13 main honours had been gained by the Scot in these 12 years, together with seven League Cups, nevertheless it was his skill to easily ghost previous those that made supporters arise and take discover.
From his fantastic solo effort in opposition to Celtic in 1979 to his gorgeous freekick in opposition to Aberdeen in 1987, Cooper’s genius was unrivalled. Certainly, Dutch legend Ruud Gullit mentioned Cooper “was among the best soccer gamers I’ve ever seen”. Excessive reward from one of many best midfielders of his era.
Sadly, Cooper died aged simply 39, struggling a mind haemorrhage whereas filming a kids’s teaching video. He will not be forgotten by the Ibrox devoted.
9
Paul Gascoigne
Midfielder, 1995-1998
Of all of the gamers on this listing, Paul Gascoigne’s time on the membership is the shortest, lasting solely three years and compiling simply 104 matches, however boy, what an impression he made.
The 1995/96 marketing campaign noticed Gazza at his perfect, taking video games by the scruff of the neck and main the Gers in direction of their eighth successive league title.
His crowning glory got here in opposition to Aberdeen. He netted a hat-trick at Ibrox with a surprising solo purpose amongst one the best efforts of his profession which sealed the league title.
The following two seasons noticed the Englishman create fleeting moments of pleasure, however there isn’t any doubting he was precisely the signing required by Walter Smith to present the Gers that added edge as they chased immortality.
8
Brian Laudrup
Winger, 1994-1998
Brian Laudrup spent simply 4 seasons at Rangers, but he gained six main trophies and gave the membership the spark they wanted after a troublesome 1993/94 season.
The Dane would go on to make 150 appearances, netting 44 objectives, which included 5 objectives in opposition to Celtic, additional endearing himself to the supporters.
There isn’t any doubt he’s arguably among the best overseas gamers to function in Scotland, if not the very best. How Smith managed to lure him to Glasgow is anybody’s guess, nevertheless it was the best signing he would ever make.
7
Jim Baxter
Winger, 1960-1965, 1969-1970
Jim Baxter was signed by Rangers in 1960 for a payment of simply £17,500. It was a Scottish document on the time – nevertheless it was cash effectively spent.
Between 1960 and 1965, “Slim Jim”, as he was recognized to the supporters, gained three league titles, three Scottish Cups and 4 League Cups, as Rangers turned the dominant pressure in Scotland. Baxter’s impression was spectacular, particularly in ties in opposition to Celtic.
Certainly, throughout 18 Outdated Agency video games, the winger misplaced simply twice, showcasing how good the squad was within the early-to-mid-60s.
He left in 1965, spending time with Sunderland and Nottingham Forest earlier than returning to Rangers in 1969. His second spell wasn’t as form as the primary, however his impression on that fantastic Rangers aspect was merely wonderful.
6
Andy Goram
Goalkeeper, 1991-98
Andy Goram was voted the membership’s biggest goalkeeper in 2001, and it’s laborious to argue. Over seven years at Ibrox, Goram’s shot-stopping skill undoubtedly helped Smith and his group fend off Celtic to win 9 league titles in a row.
His save in opposition to Pierre van Hooijdonk in 1995 needs to be seen to be believed, as he stored out a goal-bound effort from simply yards away to forestall the Dutchman from scoring.
Such was his stature for the Gers, former Celtic supervisor Tommy Burns acknowledged that “Andy Goram broke my coronary heart” would seem on his headstone.
Nicknamed ‘the goalie’ by these at Ibrox, Goram handed away in July 2022 after a brief battle with most cancers. There hasn’t been a ‘keeper like him since.
5
Barry Ferguson
Midfielder, 1997-2003, 2005-2009
Reared from the academy, Barry Ferguson made his senior debut on the ultimate day of the 1996/97 season and didn’t look again.
He slowly turned a key determine within the membership’s latest historical past, serving to the Gers to trebles in 1998/99 and 2002/03, captaining the aspect through the latter.
A £7.5m move to Blackburn Rovers didn’t precisely work out and Ferguson was again at Ibrox 18 months later. His second spell wasn’t as productive, but he nonetheless led the membership to the UEFA Cup closing in 2008 and gained one other six main trophies.
Some say the Mild Blues have by no means produced one other academy expertise like him, with Ferguson among the many biggest gamers to adorn the shirt.
4
Richard Gough
Defender, 1987-1997, 1997-1998
Richard Gough is one among solely three gamers to have performed an element in each single one of many nine-in-a-row title wins, establishing himself among the many biggest gamers within the membership’s historical past within the course of.
Gough was a no-nonsense centre-back who was a commanding presence on the coronary heart of the defence. He typically performed by means of the ache barrier for the membership, additional endearing himself to the Ibrox devoted. Throughout 11 years on the Mild Blues, Gough gained 18 main honours.
He left in the summertime of 1997, simply weeks after lifting the coveted ninth league title in succession, transferring to America. Such is the mark of the person, Gough returned to Rangers a couple of months later to assist Smith as an damage disaster engulfed the squad, exhibiting his true ardour for the membership.
3
Sandy Jardine
1966-1982
Sandy Jardine ranks second within the listing of all-time appearances for Rangers, simply behind John Greig, demonstrating how a lot of an impression he had throughout a number of generations.
Jardine’s 674 video games came visiting a 16-year interval, taking in three many years and 5 completely different managers. Throughout this spell, he gained 14 trophies, together with the 1972 Cup Winners’ Cup, because the membership battled for home supremacy with Celtic throughout his spell.
Jardine handed away in 2014, together with his lasting legacy having a stand named after him, with the Govan Stand renamed the Sandy Jardine Stand in his honour.
2
Ally McCoist
Ahead, 1983-1998
Ally McCoist is Rangers’ greatest-ever goalscorer. Throughout 581 aggressive matches, ‘Tremendous Ally’ scored a staggering 355 objectives for the Gers.
The impression of a few of his objectives can also be legendary. Take the winner within the 1993 League Cup closing, for instance. Getting back from a damaged leg, McCoist netted a surprising acrobatic effort to say the cup for the Gers.
His header in opposition to Leeds United in 1992 helped the membership safe a spot within the Champions League group phases, whereas few can neglect his closing Outdated Agency purpose within the 1998 Scottish Cup semi-final and the emotional celebration that adopted.
McCoist might rating from anyplace, such had been his ending expertise. His legacy stretched into teaching and administration with the Ibrox aspect too, helping Smith between 2007 and 2011 earlier than managing Rangers from 2011 to 2014.
The Mild Blues won’t ever have one other striker like him.
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1
John Greig
Defender, 1961-1978
John Greig is the epitome of Rangers Soccer Membership. Making his debut in 1961, Greig amassed a club-record 755 appearances over the subsequent 17 years, main the membership to a few home trebles whereas captaining the group to their solely main European honour in 1972.
Greig’s impression stretched approach past his enjoying days. He managed Rangers for 5 years between 1978 and 1983, successful two Scottish Cups and two League Cups, though he wasn’t capable of win a league title in that spell.
Greig was named the ‘Biggest ever Ranger’ in 1999 earlier than being named the membership’s honorary life president in 2015.
