Vladan Kovacevic signed a new contract with Rakow amid links to Rangers in the summer, and the talented goalkeeper is inspiring the Polish club to their first ever title.
The 24-year-old was named the Estraklasa Goalkeeper of the Year last season after the Bosnian helped Rakow to a second place finish in the country.
This was the club’s second runner’s up finish in the Polish top flight in a row and both stand as the only times the club, who only earned promotion to the Estraklasa for the 19/20 season, have finished this high in the table.
Rangers-linked Vladan Kovacevic inspiring Rakow to title
Rangers were linked to the goalkeeper in the summer by the Herald, with the player himself then confirming Portuguese giants Benfica as potential suitors later in the window.
With the player entering the final year of his contract at Rakow, Vladan Kovacevic would then sign a new contract in Poland with the links to Rangers quickly dissipating.
But now, the goalkeeper is helping to inspire Rakow to their first-ever Estraklasa title and a shot at qualification for the Champions League.
After a disruptive early season injury, Vladan Kovacevic has been showing Rangers what they’re missing by keeping an impressive ten clean sheets in 16 Polish top flight appearances.
After the weekend’s 1-0 victory over Piast Gwilce, Rakow are now unbeaten in 12 league matches and sit seven points clear of nearest rivals Legia Warsaw with 15 games to go.
The history-making run also comes after Rangers-linked Vladan Kovacevic and Rakow lifted the Polish Cup in the last two seasons as well as the Super Cup in the last campaign and again at the beginning of this season.
Rangers goalkeeping gripes continue
Rangers have been plagued by issues in the goalkeeping situation this season and many will point to Vladan Kovacevic and claim it’s an opportunity missed by the club.
Ibrox manager Michael Beale once again faced questions on the club’s goalkeeping situation after Jon McLaughlin was caught off his line by Jordan White’s equaliser in the weekend’s 2-1 win over Ross County.
Clearly beginning to get frustrated with the conversation surrounding the goalkeepers at Ibrox, Michael Beale insisted the Scotland international is “not the issue”.
McLaughlin was stepping in for Ibrox veteran Allan McGregor, who at 41 is being managed by the Rangers backroom staff, with third choice Robby McCrorie still sidelined with injury.
Meanwhile, Rangers could face a major transfer dilemma involving Alfredo Morelos this week.
