As Rangers look at to the Premier Sports Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden, fans will reflect on the last time the Gers overcame their Old Firm rivals to lift the trophy.
Under the management of the late, great Walter Smith, Rangers defeated Celtic 2-1 after extra time to record a memorable League Cup victory for the Ibrox supporters.
As the Gers prepare to return to Hampden to face their eternal Old Firm rivals, it took 12 long years for Rangers to reclaim the League Cup with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen last season.
With Rangers set to defend the trophy on Sunday afternoon, the goalscorer the last time they overcame Celtic in the League Cup Final could be about to take his first foray into management.
Nikica Jelavic a Rangers League Cup Final hero
Nikica Jelavic’s time in Scotland might’ve been brief but it certainly was memorable for Rangers supporters.
The Ibrox side have a long history of Croatian heroes with Nikica Jelavic one of the club’s most fondly remembered players from the Balkans nation.
On that fateful afternoon at Hampden, it was Jelavic who was the hero on the day as he pounced on Vladimir Weiss’s quick free kick to trundle the ball into the net off the post.
Steven Davis had given Rangers an early lead with a fantastic first half strike of his own, only for Joe Ledley to equalise on the day from a corner.
But the League Cup Final hero was to be Croatian hitman Jelavic, whose extra time goal proved decisive in what was ultimately Walter Smith’s final trophy as Rangers manager.
Rangers hero follows in Walter Smith’s footsteps
Having spent two seasons at Rangers between 2010 and 2012, Nikica Jelavic eventually went on to carve out a half decent career for himself down south.
Starring for Everton, Hull City and West Ham in the Premier League, Jelavic eventually moved on to China and then back to his native Croatia with Lokomotiva Zagreb.
And it’s with Lokomotiva Zagreb that Nikica Jelavic, who is only 39, is to take his foray into top club management.
According to the likes of Gol in Croatia, Jelavic is set to take over at bottom of the table Lokomotiva after the Croatian First League side sacked Silvio Cabraja.
Jelavic has impressed as the coach of Lokomotiva’s youth team and is being considered as the main candidate to takeover the top team during the country’s winter break.
As Rangers prepare to face Celtic at Hampden, the club’s last Old Firm Final hero could be about to start earning his stripes in management.
Walter Smith would be proud!
