After lifting 55 at Rangers last season, Jermain Defoe was adamant he wanted to finish his career in front of the fans after a Covid-19 lockout.
Handed a player/coaching role with the club, the Ibrox striker was set for one more campaign with the Light Blues at the tender age of 39.
But things did not work out as planned in the background of Rangers for the striker who struggled for minutes on the park and was moved on off after Steven Gerrard vacated the club.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst brought with him his own striker coach in Roy Makaay and back down south Jermain headed to another of his spiritual homes, the Stadium of Light.
However, in the months proceeding this Jermain has taken the difficult decision to hang up his boots and call time on a 22-year playing career which has seen him cemented as one of England’s all-time great goalscorers.
The 9th highest scorer in Premier League history (162), Jermain Defoe added a title medal up north and after three years at Rangers goes out as something of a legend.
But could the Ibrox club – fawning in their praise of the striker – offer Jermain Defoe that chance to properly finish his career in front of the fans this weekend?
Rangers can give Jermain Defoe perfect send-off at Weekend of Legends
Rangers are hosting a Weekend of Legends match at Ibrox to celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary, with a whole of host of ginormous names descending on Govan.
At 3pm on Saturday so many eyes will be transfixed on the famous stadium as a star-studded Rangers XI takes on a World XI equivalent in a special commemorative match.
The Rangers team will have the likes of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Barry Ferguson, Jorg Albertz, Sasa Papac, Lee McCulloch, Shota Arveladze, Michael Mols, even Paul Gascoigne, as names from across the decades come together in celebration of our great club.
Facing off against them will be some of the biggest names in football history.
Led by Luis Figo, the team includes Roberto Carlos, Gheorghe Hagi, Robert Pires, Claude Makelele, Ivan Cordoba, Pedraj Mijatovic, Roberto Carvalho, Kaka and even Robbie Keane and Roy Makaay.
It will be a splendid occasion and if possible, perhaps the perfect opportunity to applaud Jermain Defoe for a career well spent and give him one last chance to play in front of the Rangers support.
Meanwhile, a Rangers fan favourite could be set to make his debut for his national team in what is being billed as a “massive” World Cup qualifying clash.
