Comparing Celtic FC Greatest XI v Rangers FC Greatest XI Of All Time
ST – Henrik Larsson
ST – Jimmy McGrory
James Edward McGrory is often regarded as the greatest Celt of all time, renowned for his remarkable goal-scoring ability despite standing at only 5 feet 6 inches tall. His signature move was an almost horizontal, bullet header, earning him nicknames like the “Human Torpedo” and the “Mermaid.” Signed by Celtic’s first manager, Willie Maley, McGrory was initially loaned to Clydebank, where he scored 13 goals in 30 appearances. Upon his return to Celtic Park, he became the club’s all-time leading scorer, netting an astonishing 469 goals in 448 games, including a record 57 goals in a single season.
In 1928, McGrory famously turned down an offer from Arsenal to become the highest-paid footballer in Britain, choosing loyalty to Celtic over financial gain. The Celtic board, hoping to profit from his transfer, secretly reduced his pay, but McGrory remained undeterred, stating, “Well, it was worth it just to pull on those Green and White Hoops.” For him, scoring goals for Celtic was far more valuable than any monetary reward, highlighting his deep commitment to the club.
Now, let us look at the Rangers XI;
GK – Andy Goram
Andy Goram is often hailed as the greatest goalkeeper to don the Rangers number 1 shirt, renowned for his exceptional shot-stopping ability and remarkable positional sense. During the 1992-93 season, he achieved an impressive streak of 44 consecutive games without defeat across both Scottish and European competitions. Goram recorded 107 clean sheets in 258 appearances for Rangers, a testament to his outstanding talent. He was instrumental in the club’s last six championships during the famous Nine-In-A-Row period, providing a solid foundation that instilled confidence in the defense.
His career was marked by numerous remarkable saves, often leading to debates over whether he or Peter Schmeichel was the best goalkeeper in Britain at the time. Goram’s impact was so profound that former Celtic manager Tommy Burns famously remarked, “On my gravestone, it will read Andy Goram broke my heart,” underscoring his pivotal role in Rangers’ success and his ability to thwart opponents.