Comparing Celtic FC Greatest XI v Rangers FC Greatest XI Of All Time
CM – Jim Baxter
Baxter quickly became the star of the Rangers side of the early 1960s which dominated Scottish football. He would only stay for five years but left with an everlasting impact.
The Scottish midfielder joined the club in 1960 for £17,500 and went on to win 10 trophies in the five years with the Rangers including 3 Scottish League First Division, 3 Scottish Cup, 4 Scottish League Cup.
He is also included in the Scottish Hall of Fame. He didn’t quite get the world-class career he potentially could have due to his gambling and drinking problems which forced him to retire at the age of only 31.
CM- Barry Ferguson
Ferguson was one of the greatest players to feature for Rangers in recent times. In the Heart of the midfield on his day Barry was one of the best midfielders to wear the number 6. With his vision and coolness, Barry was an asset to the midfield.
He led the Light Blues to a glorious Treble and their 50th title in 2003 but he left under a cloud having fallen foul of Walter Smith by misbehaving while on Scotland duty.
He totalled 431 games and 60 goals for Rangers, whom he captained from 2000. Ferguson won the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup five times apiece for Rangers, including a treble in 2003 which earned him the honour of SFWA Footballer of the Year. He also helped them to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.
CAM- Brian Laudrup
The Great Dane is one of the greats indeed he terrorised defences in Scotland for years and is the best foreigner to ever pull on a Rangers shirt. Ask fans of any club and they will tell you that seeing Laudrup in his heyday, was as impressive to watch as any homegrown hero.
Astonishing close control, vision and pinpoint accuracy meant that Laudrup took Rangers to another level. He could score with either foot – he scored 45 goals – and it was his header that clinched 9 in a row. A true genius with a football. He was the complete master, terrifying defences any time he was near the ball. Premier League opponents had no answer to his skills.
His close control was extraordinary. The ball just obeyed his wishes. And because he had such electrifying acceleration, he could tear through midfield, release a pass and have time to reach an entirely different area of the pitch to be in for the kill. The “Prince of Denmark’ left Rangers with a huge hole that many since have tried, and failed, to fill.