10 ‘Most Talented’ Rangers Players in Football History [Ranked]

Rangers are a club with a proud and long heritage. The Scottish giants are one of the most successful clubs in world football when it comes to honours won. With Celtic, they take part in one of the greatest sporting rivalries in history, not to mention one of the longest running.

The club’s fans have created a special atmosphere at Ibrox over the years, making it one of the great British stadiums. This environment has been the catalyst for great players to flourish. Yet it does take a certain sort of player to do well at the club, given the pressures to succeed, while all the time existing in the goldfish bowl that is football in Glasgow. With the titles they have won, Rangers have been driven by great and talented players. This list ranks the 10 most talented Rangers players in football history.

Ranking factors

• Status – the esteem a player was held in by Rangers fans for their talent.
• Special moments – the individual moments a player created through their ability.
• Wow factor – the overall impression a player’s talent has had on games and the fans.

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10

Claudio Caniggia

2001 to 2003

Argentine striker Claudio Caniggia was in his thirties when he came to Ibrox, but he was still full to the brim with talent. He ended up winning the treble with the Gers in 2003. By this time, the striker was wily and more than capable of netting crucial goals at vital times for the club.

He scored two in the final of the 2002 League Cup final, as Rangers beat Ayr United 4-0. In the following season’s final, he scored in Rangers’ 2-1 win over Celtic. Although not as quick as he had been in his younger days, which saw him knock Brazil out of the 1990 World Cup, Caniggia was still a mercurial presence at Ibrox.

9

Gabriel Amato

1998 to 2000

At times, the ball seemed glued to Gabriel Amato’s feet, such was his close control and ability. During his two years at Ibrox between 1998 and 2000, the Argentine showed both fantastic skill and the stomach for the big occasion. This included goals and scintillating performances in the big games against Celtic.

Composed in front of goal, Amato was a superb dribbler of the ball. He had bags of heart and was not afraid to get stuck in either. During his time at Rangers, the club excelled, winning the title and Scottish Cup final, with fans warming to his courageous and determined play in front of goal. Amato was a great example of how to win over Rangers fans with a mixture of bravery and audacity.

8

John Greig

1961 to 1978

John Greig certainly goes down as one of the hardest players in Rangers’ history. Outside Ibrox is a statue of the man – to many, he is one of Rangers’ greatest ever players. Although he was a no-nonsense kind of player, there was talent in consistently turning out performances to help the club succeed.

This is a man who made over 750 appearances for the club. He also captained Rangers to the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup, winning 3-2 in the final over Dynamo Moscow. En route saw a fantastic two-legged semi-final win over a Bayern Munich side that had the backbone of the West German team that won the World Cup in 1974. A club legend.

7

Michael Mols

1999 to 2004

Dutchman Michael Mols was a hugely popular figure for Rangers’ supporters. A player blessed with great finesse, he scored a brace in a memorable 4-1 Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven. He was more than happy to finish goal-scoring chances first time.

He had a particular talent when it came to volleying. He scored on his Old Firm derby debut against Celtic and almost always looked comfortable in front of goal. Like all the best players, he seemed to have more time on the ball than everybody else. Aided by a wonderful first touch, he was able to glide past players as if they weren’t there.

6

Ally McCoist

1983 to 1998

Ally McCoist never tired of scoring goals. No matter what the type of goal or who it was against, he always looked thrilled to have scored it. He is the club’s all-time top scorer with an incredible 355 goals.

So, it’s no surprise to see McCoist’s name mentioned when people talk about the greatest ever player to wear the Rangers shirt. This is a man who is intrinsically linked with the club, having won 10 Scottish titles at Ibrox.

When it comes to talent, he has to be listed here, such was his fantastic ability to finish chances time after time for the club. Without him, Rangers wouldn’t have had the huge success they did in the 1990s.

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5

Ian Durrant

1985 to 1998

Ian Durrant continues to be something of an underrated player for Rangers outside of Ibrox. He is perhaps best known for a wonderfully controlled strike against Marseille at the Velodrome in the Champions League. That was in 1993, the year Marseille won the competition, not to mention the season Rangers came close to reaching the final themselves.

Gifted and visionary, Durrant very nearly had his career ended when he tore knee ligaments against Aberdeen in 1988. This after a particularly poor challenge from Aberdeen’s Neil Simpson. He was sidelined for nearly three years, but returned to the great Rangers sides of the early and mid-1990s to win plenty of silverware.

4

Brian Laudrup

1994 to 1998

Brian Laudrup was quite simply sensational for Rangers. He played with such verve and free spirit, he helped the Gers dominate Scottish football. It was the Dane who scored the Rangers goal that won them their ninth Scottish title in a row. A bullet header saw Laudrup score the winner against Dundee United at Tannadice in 1997.

When running with the ball he at times looked unstoppable. Rangers fans will remember his goals against Celtic. Arguably the best was his strike against their rivals in the 1996 Scottish Cup semi-finals, when he played a one-two and lobbed the ball in, much to the delight of Ger fans.

3

Jim Baxter

1960 to 1965 & 1969 to 1970

Jim Baxter is one of the greatest attacking midfielders in British football history. A true Scottish great, Baxter was supremely confident on the ball. He famously goaded England players by doing keepy-uppies in Scotland’s 3-2 win at Wembley in 1967. It led many fans to cheekily call Scotland world champions, what with England winning the World Cup the year before.

Baxter was a key part of the Rangers side that won the 1961, 1963 and 1964 Scottish titles. He was invited to play for the rest of the world XI versus England at Wembley in 1963. He was joined by Alfredo di Stefano, Denis Law, Ferenc Puskas and Eusebio. Not bad company to keep.

2

Davie Cooper

1977 to 1989

Davie Cooper was very talented when it came to beating his man. He was a player who could excite fans and torment opponents. In 1979, Cooper scored what many Rangers fans consider to be the greatest Rangers goal in an Old Firm derby. The winger knocked the ball over three Celtic players’ head before calmly putting the ball into the net.

Cooper was also blessed with a hammer of a left foot. One of his memorable strikes came against Aberdeen in the 1987 League Cup Final. That goal saw him nearly rip the net off at Hampden Park. Tragically, Cooper passed away in 1995 aged 39.

1

Paul Gascoigne

1995 to 1998

Paul Gascoigne won back-to-back titles with Rangers in 1996 and 1997. He is one of the most technically talented players in British football history. He joined the club from Lazio for more than £4m. The move was perfect for Gazza, as he quickly won the hearts of the Rangers fans at Ibrox. Arguably, his greatest moment at Ibrox came with a stunning hat-trick against Aberdeen that sealed the 1996 title.

He was often seen driving forward with the ball using his strength, power and skill, often over great distances of the pitch. He almost always had the composure to finish calmly after making such long runs with the ball, making Gazza a Rangers hero and quite probably the club’s most talented player ever.

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