14 Rangers heroes who were given ultimate Ibrox send-off after Gers icon's 'benchmark' appeal
02/05/2024 14:00
James Tavernier doesn't have his eye on the Rangers exit door β but an Ibrox testimonial is within his gaze.
The Rangers captain might now be 32-years-old but the flying right-back is having his most productive season to date.
As the Ibrox side's season threatened to flatline, a resurgent title tilt and subsequent (near) collapse has brought James Tavernier firmly under the Rangers microscope.
Rangers News broke the story that clubs in Saudi Arabia are genuinely interested in the right-back, with Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq more recently mentioned.
Tav has offered a rebuttal, but in doing so the Rangers captain has floated the idea of a testimonial.
Here, we look at 14 former Rangers heroes from history whose contribution to the club has been so that a testimonial has been organised in their honour.
Tavernier eyes 10 year Ibrox recognition
First, let's look at the conditions associated with a testimonial.
Generally, a player has to have offered over 10 years service to Rangers to be offered a testimonial and in today's footballing world, that's something which is becoming more unique.
Historically, testimonials were also about more than celebrating a player's legacy at a club.
Footballers arranged testimonials to either raise funds for themselves at the end of their careers or for charitable contributions.
James Tavernier is in his 9th season at Rangers and should those pesky Saudi links be overcome in the summer, the right-back looks set to complete the decade.
Like so many before him, tradition dictates a special testimonial clash at Ibrox as a result.
When asked if he'd like to see a testimonial at Rangers, as quoted by the Glasgow Times Tavernier said: "Yes, because it's something you don't really see inΒ footballΒ these days.
"It's a rarity that you get a testimonial for players, and it's another landmark. Ten years at a club is a benchmark, and it's something that I'd like to see."
With that in mind, does James Tavernier deserve to join the ranks of some of those before him who have been given testimonials by Rangers?
Who has had a Rangers testimonial?
John Greig v Scotland β 16/04/1978 (5-0)
Mr Rangers himself John Greig has dedicated his life to the Ibrox side but before the former defender hung up his boots he was given a famous Ibrox testimonial.
Over 65k Rangers fans crammed into Ibrox to watch the 'Greatest Ever Ranger' score twice in a thumping 5-0 victory over a special Scotland XI.
Bobby Russell got a double, with Derek Johnstone also scoring, in a thumping win which brought to an end a 17-year playing career with Rangers.
Colin Jackson v Everton β 15/11/1981 (1-1)
Colin Jackson is one of the greatest servants to Rangers in the club's history, playing for the club for almost two decades between 1963 and 1982.
Making a quite astonishing 506 appearances for the club, the defender also earned eight Scotland caps and this 1981 testimonial clash against Everton.
Derek Johnstone scored the goal for Rangers in a 1-1 draw before the Ibrox side won 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out come the final whistle.
Tam Forsyth v Swansea β 27/03/1983 (6-3)
Tam Forsyth, or Jaws as he was affectionately known, was a legendary Rangers centre-back for whom fans of the era retain a huge respect.
Playing 10 years for Rangers between 1972 and 1982, the Scotland international defender was given a special send-off in 1983 with the centre-back passing away in the summer of 2020.
Gordon Dalziel and Robert Prytz both scored twice in the game, whilst John MacDonald and the man himself Tam Forsyth completed the scoring for Rangers in a 6-3 win.
Derek Johnstone famously made his Rangers debut as a 15-year-old in this match.
Billy MacKay v New Zealand β 31/10/1984 (5-0)
If you're quickly Googling to find out who Billy MacKay is, be rest assured we doubt that you're alone.
The former midfielder made only 37 appearances for Rangers across eight seasons before his career was cut short through injury after a brief spell at Hearts.
Injury dominated the MacKay's career, with the proceeds of this special match v New Zealand donated to the player. Robert Fleck (2), Ally McCoist, Davie Mitchell and Robert Prytz got the goals.
Davie Cooper v Bordeaux β 09/08/1988 (3-1)
Davie Cooper is another bonafide Rangers legend and if anyone deserves a testimonial, then few would argue about the Ibrox wing wizard.
One of the most talented players of his generation, full stop, Super Cooper was seen off in style as Rangers beat French club Bordeaux 3-1.
Whilst Cooper never played in the game, Terry Butcher, Kevin Drinkell and Ally McCoist scored in front of more than 40k fans at Ibrox.
Ally McCoist v Newcastle United β 03/08/1993 (1-2)
A man who needs no introduction, Rangers' greatest ever striker Ally McCoist rather interestingly had an Ibrox testimonial five years before he left Ibrox.
Ten years into his time at the club, the legendary poacher actually missed the game due to a broken leg with Mark Hateley scoring the Rangers goal in a 2-1 defeat.
Andy Cole and Scott Sellars scored for the Magpies, with McCoist going on to break Rangers' scoring record (355 goals) and cement himself in Ibrox history.
Scott Nisbet v Rangers International Select β 01/05/1995 (3-2)
Scott Nisbet might not be as well known as others on this list, but Rangers fans of the 9IAR era will remember the former midfielder, who spent 11 years in total at Ibrox.
A Rangers team took on a special Rangers international select, with the Ibrox side winning 3-2 and the goals coming from Alexei Mikhailichenko, Mark Hateley,Β Ally McCoist.
Kevin Drinkell and Scott Nisbet himself scored for the select, with the midfielder playing 90 league games for the club in total.
Richard Gough v Arsenal β 03/08/1996 (3-0)
Over Richard Gough's astonishing 10 years at Rangers, the legendary former defender grew into one of the best centre-backs of his generation anywhere.
One of the club's greatest servants and objectively one of our greatest ever players, Gough's send-off saw goals from Ally McCoist, Peter Van Vossen, and one Jorg Albertz, who was playing his first game at Ibrox.
The defender would return for one season after this send-off, but it's for his achievements before a brief stint at Kansas City Wizards is the Swedish-born defender most fondly remembered.
Walter Smith v Liverpool β 03/03/1998 (1-0)
Whilst testimonials are ordinarily reserved for players, Rangers legend Walter Smith got this special Ibrox clash against Liverpool to recognise his immense contribution.
The legendary 9IAR boss isn't any ordinary person and as if fate has decreed it, Rangers won the game 1-0 courtesy of a goal from one Alistair Murdoch McCoist in front of a packed Ibrox.
Sir Walter's legacy is legendary at Rangers and, after returning for a second spell in the 2000s, the great man is to be immortalised with a statue at Ibrox in the coming weeks and months.
Ian Durrant v Sheffield Wednesday β 28/04/1998 (2-2)
Another Rangers 9IAR icon, many fans believe Ian Durrant would've gone on to be one of the greatest Scottish players of all time had it not been for that horrific Neil Simpson challenge.
Nonetheless, the direct midfielder had a legendary career at Rangers spanning 13 seasons and in 1998 the Owls rolled into town to give him a send-off.
Ian Durrant would score, along with Jorg Albertz, as Paolo di Canio and Benito Carbone found the net for the Hillsborough club in a 2-2 draw.
Ian Ferguson v Sunderland β 21/07/1999 (3-1)
Alongside Richard Gough and Ally McCoist, Ian Ferguson is one of only three Rangers players who have a winners' medal from every season of 9IAR.
A midfield enforcer who was a mainstay and stalwart at Ibrox for 12 years, Ferguson was given an Ibrox send-off against Sunderland in 1999.
Barry Ferguson and Giovanni van Bronckhorst scored for Rangers in a 3-1 win, with an own goal and a strike from one Kevin Phillips completing the scoring at Ibrox.
John Brown v Anderlecht β 21/07/2001 (1-2)
John Brown is another bonafide Rangers legend and one of the Ibrox side's most decorated and famous players.
Still at the club in a scouting capacity, versatile defender Bomber was synonymous with the 9IAR side and remains a hero to Rangers supporters of a certain generation.
Given a send-off against Belgian side Anderlecht, Argentine icon Claudio Caniggia scored the Rangers goal in a 2-1 defeat.
Fernando Ricksen v All Star XI β 25/01/2015 (4-7)
Fernando Ricksen's story is unique, inspiring and heartbreaking in equal measure and a special testimonial match during the ex-Rangers captain's battle with MND took place in 2015.
Several Rangers heroes came together to play a special All-Star XI with the scoreline winding up 4-7 and 41k Ibrox fans watching the likes of Gennaro Gattuso, Ronald de Boer, Jorg Albertz and Arthur Numan return to Ibrox.
Sadly losing that battle with the degenerative condition in 2019, Rangers fans turned Ibrox orange for a Europa League clash with Feyenoord and Sheyi Ojo scored a screamer to win the game 1-0.
We're not entirely sure if this counts as a testimonial, but we're sure Rangers fans will agree it deserves a place here.
Allan McGregor v Newcastle United β 18/07/2023 (1-2)
Allan McGregor was given a final Ibrox send-off last summer in the most recent testimonial match for a Rangers legend.
An icon between the sticks over two spells at the club, McGregor came through the Gers academy and was a mountain whose highlight reel at Rangers is as good as anyone's.
Newcastle United would run out 2-1 winners on the day, Miguel Almiron and Harrison Ashby scoring either side of a rare Sam Lammers Rangers goal.
