Is Kenny Miller a Rangers legend?
It’s a sentence that will have many supporters raising an eyebrow, and many nodding along in agreement.
The situation with Miller is a tricky one to get a bearing for. The fans will always love what the forward did for the club in three different spells at Ibrox. But, there was also the dreadful way in which the striker departed, and it really soured that good relationship.
If you’re looking solely at football matters, then in the opinion of this writer, he certainly is. An incredible professional who’s managed to bag a total of 116 goals in an eight-year association with the club. It’s a very solid return, and Miller’s certainly done and won it all.
The Scotland international won the Scottish Premier League, the Scottish Cup, and the League Cup at Rangers. As well as that, he’s bagged goals in the Champions League too.
It’s not just his goals, however. The former Wolves striker was a natural leader during his spell at Ibrox. It was no surprise that the supporters gave him a standing ovation after being sent off last week for Dundee at Ibrox.
There are a few things that hurt Miller’s chances of acquiring the label of legend, however. His tenure at Celtic was disappointing for all connected with Rangers. Sure, he made up for it with double-digits in Old Firm goals. The fact he would make the move to Parkhead in the first place, however, still irritates some.
The spat
Miller also felt the need to take the club to task over his treatment last season. An argument with manager Graeme Murty led to a fine and suspension for the front-man. It was a hugely disappointing saga for all involved, and it ended in a sour taste.
It wasn’t conduct that fitted Miller’s professional attitude, and a very uncharacteristic saga for him.
Yet, that shouldn’t get in the way of the achievements the veteran forward had at Rangers. Throughout his time at the club, he always had the club’s best interests at heart. Even his outburst with Murty came after a dreadful display against Celtic in a Scottish Cup clash. It was ill-advised, but it was from the heart.
Andy Halliday arguably had an even worse tirade at the former manager in the same game. He stormed off and publicly vented his anger towards Murty’s direction. Fans are still taking to him and happy to see him back amongst first-team affairs again.
Miller cannot be judged on what he did on a one-off occasion. He also can’t be judged on a move to Celtic he deemed correct for his career at the time.
What he should be judged on is his ability to score goals for Rangers. Of that he had it in bags. A club legend? That’s down to your own personal views of Rangers heroes of old.
But considering Miller’s contribution to Walter Smith and co’s different Rangers sides, he’s fully deserving of the label.
