Rangers have been ranked as the 50th best team in Europe by a group of leading football analysts in the Euro Club Index, 22 places ahead of Old Firm rivals Celtic in 72nd.
Gracenote “licenses in-depth sports data, including schedules, scores, play-by-play stats, and team and player information, for all of the major professional leagues around the world” and as a result, generates the Euro Club Index.
According to the latest index, the Ibrox side are in 50th position, ahead of the likes of PSV, Freiburg, Marseille and Premier League sides such as Newcastle United or Crystal Palace.
Despite languishing behind Old Firm rivals Celtic for the best part of a decade Rangers have now leapfrogged their rivals and have a much stronger standing on the European stage.
Credit must go to Steven Gerrard for hauling the Gers up the rankings with 50th place no mean feat when the club is competing from Scotland.
Bayern Munich, Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid make up the top five of Euro Club Index.
Gracenote aren’t the only ones who rate Rangers highly with fellow analysts 21st Club ranking the Rangers as having the 47th most valuable squad in global football [Athletic].
For 21st Club, Rangers have a squad which would sit around 14th in the English Premier League, an analysis which lays bare the improvement at Ibrox under Steven Gerrard.
The test is now for Rangers to go on and secure silverware and a legendary 55th title as they look to take the final step in their recovery from near financial ruin in 2012.
Rangers took a big step towards finally wrestling their crown back off Celtic in the recent 1-0 Old Firm win at Ibrox but some fans would do well to remember the league isn’t done yet.
