Greatest Rangers XI Of All Time
Rangers FC is one of the biggest football clubs in the UK. They have followers all over the world, as a result of their trophy-laden history. Many great players have contributed to the success of the club over the years. In this article, let us have a look at the greatest Rangers XI of all time.
Based on legacy, dedication, impact, success, fans and critics’ opinions, here are the greatest Rangers XI of all time.
GK – Andy Goram
Andy is arguably the greatest goalkeeper to ever pull on the Rangers number 1 shirt. The Scotland international earned the moniker “The Goalie” and was voted as Rangers’ greatest ever goalkeeper.
A brilliant shot-stopper with magnificent positional sense, he enjoyed a remarkable run of 44 games in the 1992-93 season without defeat lasting seven months in both Scottish and European competition.
Another way of measuring his outstanding talent is that he kept 107 clean sheets in his 258 games for Rangers. A brilliant record by anyone’s standards. Goram was in goal for the last six of Rangers Nine-In-A Row Championships.
RB – Sandy Jardine
Jardine had true athletic prowess that could rival many of the best left-backs in current world football, even after 90 minutes he never looked tired. His versatility for Rangers was one of his greatest assets, along with his overall ability and his calm demeanour on the ball.
He played for Rangers from 1965 to 1982. Jardine won the Scottish Football Writers Association Player of the Year award twice. He was also a part of the Rangers team that won the 1971–72 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Jardine went on to play in two World Cups, winning 39 caps for Scotland. He made 674 appearances for Rangers -the third-highest of all time after Dougie Gray and John Greig – and scored 77 goals. He won three Championships with Rangers, five Scottish Cups, five League Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
CB – Richard Gough
Richard Gough was the captain of the Rangers side which won the famous “Nine in a Row” consecutive league titles. He has whooping 427 appearances for the Glasgow Rangers and won 18 trophies over that period.
Gough was the first Scottish player to be signed for over £1,000,000. The Scot was a good defender who used to make his performance stand out and made sure his presence was known while he was on the pitch.
He also played in two World Cups with his country and also played as a captain for Scotland national football team in the 1992 European Championships. He, without a doubt, deserves a place among the greatest Rangers XI of all time.
CB – Derek Johnstone
Derek Johnstone was a star for Gers for almost 14 years, making 546 appearances for the Glasgow team over two spells. He was an outstanding Rangers player who was so versatile he could play with equal ease at centre-half, centre forward or in midfield and did so for both club and country.
Famously scored the winner at 16 in the 1970/71 League Cup final and triumphed in Europe two years later. He went on to score more than 200 goals for Rangers as well as appearing over 500 times for the club. He finished his career with three Scottish League First Division titles, five Scottish Cups and five Scottish League Cups.
LB – John Greig
The Scottish defender played his entire career with the Rangers. He was voted as the greatest Ranger ever by the fans in 1999. Greig has also been elected to the Rangers’ Hall of Fame. He has 755 appearances for the Rangers, the most by any Rangers player.
Greig started his career with the Gers as a forward, later moving to the midfield and finally as a left-back. He scored 120 goals for the club. He was known for his leadership qualities and the fighting till the end attitude.
Greig was also captain of the side when they won the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup, which is the only European trophy they have ever won.