It was twenty years ago this year that Rangers managed to secure their ninth league title in a row and in doing so they equalled the record held by Jock Stein’s great Celtic team of the sixties.

So I thought I’d give you the best team of that era. Obviously it’s biased as it’s my selection but please feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments section.

ANDY GORAM

In my opinion during the early to mid nineties Andy Goram was one of the world’s best goalkeepers.

He had an absolute gift in producing wonderful saves and usually in the biggest of games. As Celtic started to mount a serious challenge during the Fergus mcCann years, at times it seemed as though Goram was the only man standing in their way.

His save against Pierre Van Hoojidonk is the one that stands out the most. The big Dutchman found himself alone in the six yard area when the ball arrived at his feet he directed it via a volley towards the Goalie’s goal. Goram just stayed big and produced a world class one handed save to deny what seemed an obvious goal!

He produced top-class saves time and time again against Celtic. It was as if he kept them up his sleeve just to annoy his club’s greatest rivals. So much so that then Celtic gaffer Tommy Burns would stated:

“Put it on my tombstone: Andy Goram broke my heart.”

Andy was small for a keeper and he also had a stalky frame (sometimes overweight) but he had a terrific leap and was always aware of any danger. That meant he would often fling himself across the goal-line or up to the top corners to claw aways balls usually destined for the back of the net.

One of the Goalie’s best traits wasn’t just producing the save but his ability to get the ball away from danger. By that I mean he would use strong fists to push the ball either away from the middle of his penalty area or behind for a corner.

A superb goalkeeper!

GARY STEVENS

Gary was a hard tackling right-back who cost Rangers £1.25m in 1988. He’d stay in Glasgow for six years and win as many league titles as well as appearing in 187 league games for the club.

Stevens was more of an old school full-back and he was always committed to the art of defending. The England international did posses decent pace but he was more known for his consistently good defensive work.

He would often give Rangers assured performances.

Not the most spectacular of players from this era but he stuck to the task in hand!

DAVID ROBERTSON

If Stevens was of his time as a defensive full-back, then Davie Robertson was ahead of the game with his bombing runs down the left. His engine and eagerness to get forward are more reminiscent of Brazilian defenders than his Scottish counterparts.

He joined from rivals Aberdeen, where he had played over 100 times for in the league. At Ibrox he was soon installed as the club’s left-back and he’d wrack up 183 league appearances and score fifteen times.

He struck up a memorable partnership with Brian Laudrup, when the Danish international arrived in 1994. They seemed to have a telepathic relationship with Robertson often seen overlapping the winger and then covering for him if in the odd occasion Laudrup lost the ball.

Robertson’s pace to get forward and commitment to get back were admirable qualities back then but he’d have also been able to fit into today’s style of football without many problems at all.

A fantastic attack minded left-back for Rangers!

RICHARD GOUGH 

The central defender was the club captain who would go on and lift the ninth league championship back in 1997.

A solid defender who also had the brains to know where to position himself inside the penalty area.

Played with the badge covering his heart and had the passion needed to drive the club on towards their nine league titles in a row.

Was a dominant figure in the air and would often head away any dangerous crosses that flew into the Gers box. The tall defender also had an assured touch and a clam head to distribute the ball out of defence.

Gough was the only player to win a medal in all nine league triumphs during the club’s golden era.

The perfect leader to galvanise those around him and make sure they knew that above all they had to win!

JOHN BROWN 

This was a tough choice as you could make arguments for Terry Butcher and Alan McLaren.

I always thought Butcher was more of an England legend than a Gers one and injury played a part in McLaren not reaching his full potential at Ibrox.

So I’ve picked John ‘Bomber’ Brown.

I think Bomber was often underrated as a footballer. He could play anywhere in the backline and would give his all in a Rangers jersey.

Often seen as a squad player, Brown would come into his own during the 92-93 season. He played in the majority of the league games and in every single cup game that season. He would help the club secure the treble that year and they were also unbeaten in the first ever season of the Champions League.

A passionate, touch tackler who would give his all and win plenty of medals with Rangers. How he was never selected for Scotland is beyond me.

A true warrior for that Rangers side!

STUART MCCALL

I always loved Stuart McCall. Compared to most of his teammates he was quite unassuming (apart from his Ginger hair-do).

The midfielder was a smart performer who knew his role (especially latterly) was to break-up play and then give it to the magicians or the forwards.

He had a tremendous engine on him and would often make box-to-box runs to help out those ahead or behind him. Although good in the tackle, he wasn’t often suspended and didn’t see red in a Gers top, showing you just how smart he really was.

Had a tireless work ethic, would do anything for his teammates and even popped up with some goals too.

Stuart was the player in midfield who would have no problem doing the basics and the dirty jobs. That meant he was often overlooked when the awards were dished out but he was invaluable to the team.

McCall had so much endeavour and was a born winner!

DAVIE COOPER

Another hard position to fill.

Coop only played a small part in the nine in a row era but very few wingers came in after him and had half of his ability. Mark Walters and Pieter Huistra spring to mind but they didn’t do it consistently enough in my opinion.

So purely on ability I’ll select Davie Cooper. He had a magical left foot and he could turn defenders inside out. He also had such an explosive shot on him, Rangers fans didn’t see power like that again until Jorg Albertz arrived in 96.

By the 88-89 season Davie was no longer an automatic starter but he was still a footballing genius.

He had a terrific shimmy and could easily step inside and take on defenders with his close control and then bear down on goal. Was just one short of getting fifty league goals for the Govan side.

A truly gifted individual, who loved playing football and always seemed to turn up for the big games!

PAUL GASCOIGNE

Everyone knew Paul Gascoigne when he arrived on a sunny afternoon back in July 1995. He was England’s most gifted player of his generation.

The midfielder didn’t need to seek any trouble off the park as it followed him around like a bad smell but on the pitch he was a magician. Like Cooper before him, Gazza had sublime close control. He would do things on the park that others could only dream of.

In his first full season at Ibrox, Gazza shone and helped the side to a league and Scottish Cup double. He scored nineteen goals in all competitions that year, scoring his first against Old Firm rivals Celtic.

His performance against Aberdeen at Ibrox in 96′ that helped clinch eight in a row was the best solo performance I’ve seen from a Gers player. He practically won the fixture single handedly with a stunning hat-trick.

Could easily become the class clown on the field, famously he was booked after jokingly showing the ref a yellow card which Gazza hand found on the pitch after it had fallen out of the officials pocket.

Gascoigne could probably walk into any Gers team with his natural ability and his talent with the ball at his feet.

When focused he was an amazing maestro. Will argue with anyone that 1995-96 was the best season of his entire career.

A cult hero at Ibrox, who could unlock any domestic defensive on his day!

ALLY MCCOIST

My own Gers hero.

Coisty was one of the best goalscorers to ever grace Scotland’s top flight. He just seemed to always be in the right place at the right time.

If Goram was the man that kept Celtic out, then Super Ally was the man to twist the knife and go on and grab a winner. Always loved scoring against the Parkhead side and in total he scored seventeen league goals against Glasgow’s green half.

Two goals standout for me when I think of McCoist.

The first was his diving header that clinched Rangers qualification to the first ever group stages of the Champions League back in 92 in a Battle of Britain clash against English champions Leeds Utd.

The second was a spectacular over-kick winner against Hibs in the Scottish League Cup final. He was working his way back into the team after suffering a horrific leg break while appearing for Scotland, so was a sub for the cup final. He came on with the score level at 1-1. The ball would find him in the box but with his back to goal, with his first touch of the game Coisty controlled the ball with his chest and then he struck an acrobatic effort with his right foot and it went beyond Jim Leighton.

His celebrations often showed you the joy in which McCoist had for the game and for Rangers Football Club.

Deserves to be remembered as Rangers greatest ever goalscorer.

A scoring sensation who had a golden-boot award for each foot!

MARK HATELEY

The tall Englishman was the perfect foil for Ally McCoist. So many times Hateley would win the knock down and Ally would then usher the ball into the back of the net.

Hateley was a great header of the ball and always made it hard for the opposition defenders with his aggressive and powerful style.

Another star for the big occasion he enjoyed a decent scoring record against both Aberdeen and Celtic. He was also one of the best performers in the sides 92-93 Champions League run scoring against Leeds and Olympique Marseille.

Didn’t receive the same acclaim Super Ally managed but a player who gave the team everything and who could mix it up against big bruising centre-halves.

A tremendous target man, who along with McCoist enjoyed the best ever striking partnership at Ibrox.

BRIAN LAUDRUP

Laudrup was simply sensational. It took Scottish defences a full season to just get used to his immense talents.

He often seemed to do the same trick; basically run fast down the wing, check back and then carry on. He’d maybe check back two or three times in the one move and no matter how many times he did this trick he always seemed to make the opposition look silly as they fell at his feet.

Like Coop, Brian had away of just gliding along the turf and act as though defenders were just cones and not really there to tackle him.

When at his best no one else in the country could touch him (almost literally). He seemed to join Rangers and just settle in right away. It seems odd as he looked the ideal professional footballer that he’d be so relaxed with a Gers team known for their partying ways, but Laudrup ended up being just one of the lads.

Although he could score terrific solo goals, his lovely chipped goal on the byline against the Dons instantly comes to mind, he was actually a very unselfish player and seemed to be happier making goals rather than scoring them himself.

Only Celtic’s Henirk Larsson comes close in being on his level when it comes to foreigners in Scottish football folklore.

An elegant, classy and versatile attack, Laudrup was the Rangers wing wizard!

Posted on May 31st, 2017 by scott
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