As Rangers prepare to visit Red Star Belgrade, Dejan Stankovic has been in optimistic mood ahead of the Europa League clash.
The legendary former Serbian international midfielder is back at the club he started his career in his first job in management and things aren’t going too shabby.
Enjoying an unbeaten campaign to retain the title last season, the Serbian champions Red Star remain hopeful that with the help of the crowd they can turn the 3-0 deficit around.
Stankovic believes his side are “twice the team” in front of their own fans at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.
That same fighting spirit summed up Dejan Stankovic, now 43, as a player but did you know the former Serbian international might’ve ended up at Ibrox?
Stankovic had an illustrious playing career where he turned out for Red Star, Lazio and Inter Milan, winning domestic and European honours aplenty as he went.
Rangers tried to sign Dejan Stankovic from Red Star
Winning seven trophies for Lazio, including Serie A, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the Super Cup, things might’ve been different had reported Rangers interest in Dejan came to fruition.
According to the midfielder himself, Rangers were one of the clubs interested when it came to leaving Red Star Belgrade in 1998.
In an interview with Sky Italia, reported by Sempre Inter, Dejan Stankovic said: “When I was 18-19 I was close to PSG and Roma along with Lazio, as well as the Glasgow Rangers. Savicevic knew me, but I had no contact with AC Milan.”
After six years with Lazio, Dejan Stankovic would move to Inter Milan and enjoy the most successful period of a glittering career.
A name synonymous with the legendary Italian club, Stankovic won five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italias and even the Champions League – under Jose Mourinho in 2010 – during his time at Inter.
Also earning 103 international caps between Yugoslavia and Serbia, what a sight it would’ve been to have has the legendary midfielder strutting his stuff at Rangers.
Meanwhile, the scale of Rangers’ achievements in European competition are highlighted by the latest results in the Champions League.
