Rangers F.C.
- Rangers redirects here. See Ranger for other meanings.
| File:Rangers.png | |||
| Full name | Rangers Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Gers, Teddy Bears, Light Blues. | ||
| Founded | 1873 | ||
| Ground | Ibrox Stadium Glasgow Lanarkshire, Scotland | ||
| Capacity | 51,444 | ||
| Chairman |  David Murray | ||
| Manager |  Paul Le Guen | ||
| League | Scottish Premier League | ||
| 2005-2006 | Scottish Premier League, 3rd | ||
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Rangers Football Club are a football club from Glasgow, Scotland, which plays in the Scottish Premier League.
The club's home is one of 29 UEFA five-star stadia, the all-seated Ibrox Stadium in south west Glasgow, with a capacity of 51,444.
Rangers players today are multi-national and of various religions, although the club has traditionally been identified with the Protestant Unionist community of Scotland. For most of its history, Rangers have enjoyed a fierce rivalry with Roman Catholic cross-city opponents Celtic F.C..
The club's correct name is simply Rangers F.C. although it is sometimes incorrectly called Glasgow Rangers, this frequently happens with English commentators seeking to distinguish between them and other similarly-named clubs, particularly Queens Park Rangers F.C..
The club is nicknamed The Teddy Bears, from the rhyming slang for Gers (short for Rangers), and the fans are known to each other as 'Bluenoses'.
History
The Old Firm and Sectarianism
The term sectarian refers to a group who belongs to a religious and cultural sect, and display contempt, hatred or dislike of all others, not belonging to their sect.
In the context of Scottish football, sectarianism is beyond the control of any individual club - it is a much wider issue, rooted in social, cultural, historical and religious circumstances.
The sectarianism which exists between the Old Firm is between Protestants and Roman Catholics. During the late 19th century, many Protestant and Catholic immigrants came to Glasgow from Ireland. This was around the same time that both Old Firm clubs were founded (Rangers in 1873 and Celtic in 1888). Most of the Protestants decided to support Rangers whereas the Catholics supported Celtic. Therefore, the idea of Rangers being the 'Protestant club' and Celtic the 'Catholic club' became popular and the sectarian element to the Old Firm rivalry grew from then onwards.
Both Rangers and Celtic now accept that they have a problem with sectarianism. Both clubs admit that a proportion of their supporters have been, and continue to be, guilty of perpetuating sectarian and partisan beliefs as well as cultural intolerance.
In recent times, both Rangers and Celtic have taken measures to combat sectarianism. Working alongside the Scottish Parliament, church groups, schools and community organisations, the Old Firm has made efforts to clamp down on sectarian songs, inflammatory flag-waving, and troublesome supporters, using increased levels of policing and surveillance.[1]
On 12 April 2006, following an investigation into the conduct of Rangers supporters at both legs of their UEFA Champions League tie against Villarreal CF, the Control and Disciplinary Body of UEFA declared the Rangers fans not guilty of alleged discriminatory chants. [2]. UEFA challenged the ruling, and their Appeals Body partially upheld the appeal [3], fining the Ibrox club £13,500, and warning the club as to their responsibility for any future misconduct by their fans in relation to sectarian and discriminatory behaviour [4].
On 9 June 2006, Rangers F.C., in conjunction with representatives from several supporters clubs, announced that they would comply with three UEFA directives:
- The club is "ordered to announce measurable targets in order to reduce sectarian behaviour amongst its supporters".
- The club is "to control their anti-sectarian activities by producing comprehensive statistics that are communicated to the public".
- The club is "to make a public address announcement at every official fixture, be it international or domestic, stating that any sectarian chanting and any form of the song Billy Boys is strictly prohibited". [5]
UEFA have previously stated that bigotry, which could apply to songs like Billy Boys is not to be permitted at football grounds.
Under Alex McLeish (2001-2006)
For full article about Alex McLeish at Rangers, click here.
Alex McLeish's four-and-a-half-year spell at Ibrox was a turbulent one, coming as it did after the wastefulness of the Advocaat era. McLeish never enjoyed access to the funds his predecessors had been given, and his managership was marked by wildly-fluctuating fortunes, in part caused by forced asset stripping of his best players due to the spectre of debt from Advocaat's spending.
His appointment in December 2001 [6] was met with a lukewarm reaction amongst many Rangers supporters. Some viewed it as symptomatic of the downsizing of the club's ambitions [citation needed], while others saw in McLeish a manager whose mixed fortunes at Hibernian F.C. and Motherwell F.C. left him ill-equipped to cope with the demands of managing Rangers [citation needed].
Some of the honours that Rangers attained while under McLeish include two League Championships, including the fabled 'Helicopter Sunday' [7], two Scottish Cups and three League Cups. During this time, the club became the first Scottish side to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, yet there was still significant pressure on McLeish from fans due to the club's poor position in the domestic league table.
It was widely felt - and publicised - that chairman David Murray would let McLeish go after the European campaign had finished [citation needed], and a press conference arranged two days after the final group match seemed to confirm this. After signs that supporter unrest was turning on Murray, on 9 February, 2006, two days before the crucial Old Firm match, it was announced that Alex McLeish would leave his position as manager at the end of the 2005-06 season [8], and on 11 March, it was confirmed that former Lyon manager Paul Le Guen would indeed succeed him at the end of the season [9].
A new era
Paul Le Guen replaced Alex McLeish as manager after season 2005-06. Known for unearthing and nurturing young talent, Le Guen made an immediate splash in the transfer market signing South African Under 19 player Dean Furman from Chelsea, and youngsters William Stanger and Antoine Ponroy from Rennes. While allowing Ibrox favourite Alex Rae to move to a new career as player-manager of Dundee, Peter Løvenkrands to go to Schalke 04 and Sotirios Kyrgiakos to Eintracht Frankfurt. Other notable signings include Karl Svensson from IFK Göteborg in addition to Czech national Libor Sionko and Slovakian striker Filip Sebo both signed in early August from Austria Vienna, where they had been part of the previous season's double winning side. Rangers had been strongly linked with a host of other players and signed midfielder Jeremy Clement from Lyon and goalkeeper Lionel Letizi from Paris St Germain as a replacement for the departing Ronald Waterreus. Senegalese midfield player Makhtar N'Diaye signed a one year contract after a short trial period with the club. Also in August, Rangers signed the 19 year old winger Lee Martin and defender Phil Bardsley on loan from Manchester United for a season. On August 31, 2006, Rangers agreed terms with Austria Vienna's Bosnian defender Saša Papac.
Since taking over, Le Guen has told a number of players that they are surplus to requirements, including Nacho Novo, Marvin Andrews, Olivier Bernard, Hamed Namouchi, Bob Malcolm and Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan. Namouchi was the first of these to leave, completing a £450,000 move to FC Lorient on August 24. While Andrews, Bernard, Fanfan and Malcolm were all released from their player contracts at the close of the summer transfer window, effectively making them free agents to sign anywhere without having to adhere transfer dates or receving any compensation from their new prospective clubs.
Stadium
Rangers play at Ibrox Stadium. The ground was inaugurated on December 30, 1899, Rangers defeated Heart of Midlothian F.C. 3-1 in the first match held there. The ground is a UEFA rated 5-star stadium.
The stands in the ground are: The Bill Struth Main Stand (Front and Rear), Govan Stand (Front and Rear), and the Copland and Broomloan Stands (both Front and Rear) which are behind the goals. In addition to these, there are also the East and West Enclosures (between Copland and Govan and Broomloan and Govan Stands respectively), the Club Deck (above the Main Stand Rear) and the new Bar 72 area, situated in the Govan Stand. After work in summer 2006, the total capacity of Ibrox is 51,444. On August 22 2006, Rangers announced that the Main Stand would be renamed The Bill Struth Main Stand in September 2006 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of their manager.[10]
Famous players
Famous present or former players at Ibrox include:
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¹ - Player is included in the Rangers F.C. Hall of Fame.
² - Player is currently playing for the club.
Team managers
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| William Wilton
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1899–1920 |
| Bill Struth
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1920–1954 |
| Scott Symon
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1954–1967 |
| David White
|
1967–1969 |
| William Waddell
|
1969–1972 |
| Jock Wallace
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1972–1978 |
| John Greig
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1978–1983 |
| Jock Wallace¹
|
1983–1986 |
| Graeme Souness
|
1986–1991 |
| Walter Smith
|
1991–1998 |
 Dick Advocaat
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1998–2001 |
| Alex McLeish
|
2001–2006 |
| Paul Le Guen
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2006–Present |
¹- Jock Wallace had two spells as Rangers Manager, his second spell was from 1983 until 1986
Current squad
2006-07 Transfers
For a list of Rangers' 2006-07 transfers, see Rangers F.C. season 2006-07
First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Players in on loan
Lee Martin - from Manchester United- Phil Bardsley - from Manchester United
Players out on loan
Reserve & Youth Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Players out on loan:
- Steven Campbell - to Partick Thistle
- Bob Davidson - to Boston United
- Dany N'Guessan - to Boston United
- Calum Reidford - to Dundee
Non-playing staff
Boardroom
- Chairman: David Murray
- Chief Executive: Martin Bain
- Football Administrator: Andrew Dickson
- Director of Finance: Donald McIntyre
- Operations Executive: Laurence MacIntyre
- Director: John Greig
- Non-Executive Director: John McClelland
- Non-Executive Director: Alastair Johnston
- Non-Executive Director: David Cunningham King
- Non-Executive Director: Donald Wilson
Management
- Manager: Paul Le Guen
- Assistant Manager: Yves Colleu
- Reserve Coach: Ian Durrant
- Under-19 Coach: Billy Kirkwood
- Coach: Tommy Wilson
- Head of Youth Football: Jim Sinclair
- Goalkeeping Coach: Billy Thompson
- Community Coach: Craig Mulholland
- Club Doctor: Dr Ian McGuiness
- Physiotherapist: Joel Le Hir
- Physiotherapist: Davie Henderson
- Fitness Coach: Stephane Wiertelak
- Kit Controller: Jimmy Bell
Club records
Record home attendance: 118,567 .v. Celtic, January 1939
Record victory: 13-0 .v. Possilpark, Scottish Cup, October 1877
Record league victory: 10-0 .v. Hibernian, December 1898
Record defeat: 2-10 .v. Airdrieonians, 1886
Record league defeat: 0-6 Dumbarton, May 1892
Record appearances: John Greig, 755, 1960-1978
Record league appearances: Sandy Archibald, 513, 1917-1934
Record Scottish Cup appearances: Alec Smith, 74
Record league cup appearances: John Greig, 121
Record European appearances: John Greig, 64
Record goalscorer: Ally McCoist, 355 goals, 1983-1998
Most goals in one season: Sam English, 44 goals, 1931/1932
Most league goals: Ally McCoist, 251 goals
Most Scottish Cup goals: Jimmy Fleming, 44 goals
Most League Cup goals: Ally McCoist, 54 goals
Most European goals: Ally McCoist, 21 goals
Shutout record: Chris Woods, 1196 minutes, 1986/87 (British record)
Most capped player: Frank De Boer, 112 caps for The Netherlands
Highest transfer fee received: Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, £8.5m, Arsenal, 2001
Highest transfer fee paid: Tore André Flo, £12.5m, Chelsea, 2000
Greatest team
Goram
Jardine
Gough
Butcher
Greig
Cooper
Gascoigne
Baxter
Laudrup
Hateley
McCoist
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| Rangers Greatest Ever Team |
The following team was voted as the greatest-ever Rangers team at an awards ceremony in 1999. Thousands of Rangers fans voted:
- Andy Goram
- Sandy Jardine
- Richard Gough
- Terry Butcher
- John Greig
- Davie Cooper
- Jim Baxter
- Paul Gascoigne
Brian Laudrup- Mark Hateley
- Ally McCoist
Honours
- Rangers hold the world record for number of domestic league championships won [11], racking up 51 titles.
- They hold the record for domestic trebles[12], with seven so far.
- Rangers won their 100th major trophy in 2000, the first club in the world to reach that milestone.[13]
- First British club to reach the final of a European tournament.
- Have competed in European competitions in more seasons than any other British club, 46 times as of and including 2006-07.
Major honours
- European Cup Winners Cup Champions: 1972; Runners-up 1961, 1967
- Scottish League Champions (51):
| 1891 | 1899 | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1918 | 1920 | 1921 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 |
| 1930 | 1931 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1937 | 1939 | 1947 | 1949 | 1950 | 1953 | 1956 | 1957 | 1959 | 1961 | 1963 | 1964 |
| 1975 | 1976 | 1978 | 1987 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1999 | 2000 | 2003 | 2005 |
- Scottish Cup Winners (31):
| 1894 | 1897 | 1898 | 1903 | 1928 | 1930 | 1932 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1953 | 1960 | 1962 |
| 1963 | 1964 | 1966 | 1973 | 1976 | 1978 | 1979 | 1981 | 1992 | 1993 | 1996 | 1999 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 |
- Scottish League Cup Winners (24):
| 1947 | 1949 | 1961 | 1962 | 1964 | 1965 | 1971 | 1976 | 1978 | 1979 | 1982 | 1984 |
| 1985 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1991 | 1993 | 1994 | 1997 | 1999 | 2002 | 2003 | 2005 |
Other honours
- Emergency War League (1): 1940
- Southern League (6): 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946
- Milk Cup (3): (Premier) 1984, 1992; (Junior) 1985
- Drybrough Cup (1): 1979
- Tennents' Sixes (2): 1984, 1989
- Glasgow Cup (44): 1893, 1894, 1897, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1918, 1919, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1969, 1971, 1975*, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987
*1975 trophy shared with Celtic after 2-2 draw - Glasgow Merchants and Charity Cup (32): 1878-79, 1896-97, 1899-1900, 1903-04, 1905-06, 1906-07, 1908-09, 1910-11, 1918-19, 1921-22, 1922-23, 1924-25, 1927-28, 1928-29, 1929-30, 1930-31, 1931-32, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1938-39, 1939-40, 1940-41, 1941-42, 1943-44, 1944-45, 1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48, 1950-51, 1954-55, 1956-57, 1959-60
- Glasgow League (2): 1895/96, 1897/98
UEFA ranking
Current Club Ranking
- 56 Sochaux
- 57
Udinese - 58 Rangers
- 59 Paris Saint-Germain
- 60
Sparta Prague - Full List
Current National League ranking
- 10
Ukrainian League - 11
Belgian League - 12 Scottish League
- 13
Bulgarian League - 13
Turkish League - Full List
External links