Cult hero Sasa Papac said that once Rangers gets into your heart it stays there and Leon Balogun was back at Ibrox this week proving that true as the defender watched the club overcome USG.
The Bosnian left-back was a consistent presence down that side for Rangers for six years and Sasa Papac remains a popular player in the club’s history and retains a relationship at Ibrox.
Even playing at the recent Weekend of Legends clash, Sasa Papac is a testament to his own self-fulfilling Ibrox prophecy.
“It is simple really, this club grows in your heart and stays there forever,” said Papac [Rangers].
And there is perhaps no more recent example of this than Nigerian international defender Leon Balogun, who was pictured back at the famous stadium for the Champions League qualifier.
In amongst the Rangers fans, the 34-year-old centre-back showed no bitterness towards being shown the exit door at the end of his contract and was there amongst the fans to cheer on his old teammates and our club.
Leon Balogun back at Rangers for Champions League clash
A gentleman who represented Rangers with class over two seasons, other than Mainz back home in Germany Leon Balogun has often struggled to find a home in football.
Between stints at Hannover 96, Werder Breman, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Darmstadt 98, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan Athletic the big man had something of a journeyman career.
But after finding a home with Rangers – and helping the club to a legendary 55th title, the Scottish Cup and Europa League Final – Balogun left when his contract expired this summer.
Not that the defender wanted this to happen; Balogun channeled his inner Sasa Papac with some inspirational quotes of his own when asked about his Rangers future.
“Everyone who watches me around the club knows I’ve fallen in love with this club,” said Leon after the Scottish Cup Final win over Hearts [Herald].
“What I said about getting knocked down and getting back up – that’s something I’ve had in my career.
“I’ve had a lot of downs in my career. That’s why me and Rangers are a good fit.
“Even in the final, I had to go through this and the support was outstanding.
“I would love to stay. I hope they know that and I hope I can announce something soon.”
Unfortunately, there is no room for sentiment in football or at Rangers and Leon Balogun was released this summer.
Rangers have also announced a new contract with vice-captain Connor Goldson, signed Scotland international John Souttar on a new deal and splashed £4m on Liverpool defender Ben Davies.
This means that Balogun was unlikely to earn a new deal at Ibrox but it’s superb to see him back at Rangers proving that, as Sasa Papac says, once the club gets into your heart, it stays there.
Leon Balogun isn’t the only Rangers defender who has left the club this summer either.
