Jermain Defoe has responded to whether he would return to Rangers in a coaching capacity if Philippe Clement was to ask him.
Defoe is a hero amongst the Ibrox faithful after two successful spells at the club between 2019 and 2022. He joined initially on loan at the age of 36 before making his stay permanent during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The deadly finisher scored 32 goals in 74 games for Rangers and was crucial in securing the club’s 55th league title in 2020/21.
He signed a fresh one year deal after the Scottish Premiership title success and was handed a coaching role on the side as part of the agreement.
But Steven Gerrard left in the November and when Giovanni van Bronckhorst recruited his own backroom team, it wasn’t too long before an emotional Defoe would depart Rangers for good.
Defoe then retired after a final spell with Sunderland and since worked as a coach at Tottenham Hotspur where he made a name for himself as a player.
The 41-year-old left that position in North London in the summer – as per The Standard – and has since took up opportunities in the media.
It’s clear the path ahead for Defoe lies in the coaching sphere – so would he consider a return to Rangers if the opportunity arose? The former striker was asked the question as a guest on talkSPORT this week.
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Defoe responds to Rangers coaching poser
On whether he would return to Rangers in a coaching capacity if Clement asked him to, Defoe replied: “Yeah, you know the answer to that. Of course, I would. I mean, I loved it up there, you know, it’s a special football club.
“But even before I went to Rangers, I have said it many times, I always knew it is a massive club, but when you actually go and experience it, you walk into Ibrox and you feel that history, it’s definitely a special place.
“Of course, if the opportunity came when I could go back and help this group of players and be involved, it’s an easy decision, isn’t it?”
Defoe’s return would be seismic for Rangers strikers
You can just tell how dearly Defoe holds Rangers in his heart by the way he responded to the question on a possible return.
There would be absolutely no qualms from the fans if Clement was to recruit one of England’s best strikers of the 21st century to pass on priceless knowledge to the club’s strikers.
Defoe would be such an asset for the likes of Cyriel Dessers and Danilo who have both had their struggles in Glasgow since joining last summer.
Despite scoring 22 goals last season, Dessers is renowned for missing chances he really should be taking and you’d have to imagine Defoe could be a difference-maker for the Nigerian in that regard.
However, Defoe returning to Rangers at the moment is simply all talk and nothing is on the horizon. But there’s no doubt it would lift the spirits around Ibrox this season.
