Rangers paid a touching tribute to Trevor Francis sad passing as the football world mourned the loss of another legend.
A two-time European Cup winner who scored the only goal for Nottingham Forest in a 1-0 win against Malmo in 1978/79, he was a hero to a generation of fans.
Rangers only had Trevor Francis for one season towards the end of his career but, at 33-years old, the class was there for all still to see with football finance expert Kieran Maguire explaining how much he would be worth in today’s money.
Accounting for inflation, as explained by Maguire, the 52-cap England international would now be worth a staggering £253.5m based on his world record £1.15m fee in 1978.
On top of a stellar career in England, before joining Rangers, Trevor Francis played in Serie A for Sampdoria alongside his future manager Graeme Souness.
If you aren’t old enough to have seen Francis play, he was the textbook Rolls Royce of a player.
Italy was the place to be if you were one of the world’s best in the ’80s.
A player who, looking back, had the skillset that would have seen him make just as big an impact in the modern game.
Elegant, technically gifted and someone who played the game at a different speed to those around him, it was only a shame that Rangers didn’t get to enjoy a peak Trevor Francis supporting Ally McCoist or Robert Fleck in attack.
The highlight of his short time at Rangers is an obvious one, and a moment that sums Trevor Francis up.
A cup final penalty shoot out, in an era where run ups started on the halfway line saw the then veteran show why Souness wanted him around.
Two steps, a perfectly placed penalty, a furious Jim Leighton, and Rangers were on their way to another league cup success against Aberdeen.
A yearly occurrence in the ‘80s.
Souness knew what he was doing.
Rangers might not have had Trevor Francis at his best, but players like Ian Durrant and Ally McCoist saw at first hand what it took to be a top player.
A top player who would have been worth every penny of his modern valuation, both on and off the pitch.
