In the colossal 153-year history of Rangers Football Club, there have been some seismic moments and memorable days to mention.
Winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972 and the clinching of 9IAR in 1997 are the club’s greatest triumphs, but Rangers are an institution built on consistent success over a century and a half.
Fresh US investment into Rangers will try to restore the club to its glory days after financial complications which led to a disaster back in 2012 from which the club is still recovering.
Rangers may limit their expectations with the 49ers amid suggestions the Americans will tread carefully but the Ibrox side have been in similar circumstances before and come back stronger than ever.
Back in the 1980s the club was also fraught with issues and 29 years ago today did former chairman David Holmes make a decision which would forever transform Rangers as we know it.
On this day in 1986: Graeme Souness appointed player/manager of Rangers
Back on Tuesday 8th April 1986, Rangers announced the arrival of the magnificent Graeme Souness as the club’s new player/manager.
Souness, who was 33 at the time, was one of British football’s best players and arrived at Ibrox on an £350k deal after a stint with Sampdoria in Serie A.
The legendary former Scotland and Liverpool midfielder got straight to work at Ibrox, ushering in an era of glamour and glory which lasted well into the 1990s.
Spending five years at Rangers, Souness ended a nine-year wait for the Scottish championship title in his first season and put in place the building blocks of Walter Smith’s eventual tilt for 9IAR.
The Rangers legend won the first two championships of that legendary run and eventually left for Liverpool in February 1991, Souness since admitting he regrets moving to Anfield.
Souness also signed the first high-profile player of Irish Catholic descent for generations at Ibrox, pinching Maurice Johnston from under the noses of Celtic back in 1989.
In total, Souness won seven major honours with Rangers (five as a player) made up of three Scottish titles and four League Cups.
Another Graeme Souness Rangers moment on the horizon?
Make no mistake, the day Graeme Souness was appointed at Rangers remains one of the most important in the club’s history.
Souness too, at the ripe old age of 71, remains a prominent figure on the boundaries of the club and one of the Gers’ most high-profile public ambassadors.
The legendary Rangers manager helped recruit Philippe Clement although Souness leant towards Frank Lampard being appointed at Ibrox.
The appointment of a fresh-faced Steven Gerrard in 2018 certainly had shades of Graeme Souness and the Liverpool legend went on to deliver 55 in 2021.
Ahead of that 49ers Enterprises takeover in the summer, Rangers are once again on the hunt for a new manager and fans will be hoping the next appointment has a similar impact as the magnificent one.
