If you were to pick one player Philippe Clement would bend his strict rules for in the Rangers squad, record-breaking club captain James Tavernier would be a safe bet.
The Ibrox skipper is celebrating becoming British football’s highest scoring defender EVER after he netted his 131st strike in football against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.
It’s a remarkable record which sees James Tavernier topple ex-Scotland international and penalty-taker extraordinaire Graeme Alexander.
It also sees Tavernier climb to up to 6th in the top scoring defenders of all time charts, although he’s 122 off Barcelona and Netherlands legend Ronald Koeman (253) in first spot.
Still, it’s some rather exceptional company the Rangers legend is keeping and see the top 10 scoring defenders of all time listed below.
Top 10 scoring defenders of all time:
- 1 – Ronald Koeman (253)
- 2 – Daniel Passarella (175)
- 3 – Fernando Hierro (163)
- 4 – Laurent Blanc (153)
- 5 – Sergio Ramos (138)
- 6 – James Tavernier (131)
- 7 – Graeme Alexander (130)
- 8 – Steve Bruce (114)
- 9 – Paul Breitner (113)
- 10 – Roberto Carlos (113)
Philippe Clement on James Tavernier record
Philippe Clement has been clear he doesn’t enjoy singling out individuals after matches, but in the case of James Tavernier’s record-breaking goal, he’s made an exception.
The Rangers manager spoke glowingly about his side’s performance in the 3-1 victory over Hibs at Easter Road but special praise was reserved for the club’s 32-year-old skipper.
“It’s an amazing achievement,” said Clement. “Also because he still has a couple years to go so he can only make this record bigger and bigger.
“If you speak about the whole history of football, you cannot imagine how many good defenders and how many defenders with a lot of attacking qualities have played the game.
“So to be there on top is an amazing achievement and we’re all proud of him.
“I said it in the dressing room also after the game. I don’t point out too much individual players, I don’t like it too much, but I had to do it this time.
“All the players are really proud of him, all staff also, and all fans and everybody on the board and everybody involved with Rangers because it’s really quite exceptional.”
Rangers captain “very proud” of exploits
Philippe Clement strikes as the type who is a stickler for standards so it’s no mean feat that James Tavernier’s latest exploits have forced the Belgian to abandon one of his fundamentals.
The Rangers captain netted a stunning volley to open the scoring against Hibs in at Ibrox.
This was after the right-back had missed a penalty moments earlier, a strike which was rebounded into the net by Scott Wright only for the goal to be ruled out for encroachment.
The goal was Tavernier’s 122 for Rangers – and 21st this season alone – with his other goals in football coming at Rotherham United and Bristol City.
Taking to social media after the match, James Tavernier claimed he was “very proud” to break the record and you can see it means a lot to the Rangers skipper.
Well done James Tavernier on an extraordinary set of achievements; firstly becoming British football’s record scoring defender, but also getting Philippe Clement to – if only briefly – abandon his principles.
