Football games can be won or lost on the importance of timing.
Take Rangers, for instance.
After losing Connor Goldson to Aris Limassol at the start of the week, Philippe Clement and co were in a race against time attempting to bring in a replacement before the new Scottish Premiership campaign kicked off against Lawrence Shankland and Hearts on Saturday lunchtime.
The confirmation of Robin Propper’s arrival from the Eredivisie on Thursday night, then, could hardly have come at a better time. A Rangers debut now awaits the former FC Twente skipper at Tynecastle.
As for Propper’s old employers, well the timing of his departure certainly left a lot to be desired.
Arnold Bruggink, Twente’s sporting director, said that this was the most ‘annoying’ aspect of the captain’s exit. The team from Enschede have a make-or-break Champions League qualifier against Red Bull Salzburg looming on the horizon, after all.
General manager Dominique Scholten, meanwhile, cannot help but wonder if a summer of detailed planning has just been thrown out the window on the eve of the 2024/25 campaign.
Rangers sign Robin Propper from FC Twente
“Players and staff have worked hard for seven weeks to be ready for the new season,” Scholten tells the Twente website.
“That anything can happen until September 1 – the date the transfer window closes – is evident from the sudden departure of our captain Robin Propper to Rangers FC.
“Of course, that is a loss and the timing is extremely unfortunate. On the other hand, it also offers opportunities for other players. We thank Robin for his great commitment to FC Twente. We will continue. Everyone is looking forward to the first match against FC Red Bull Salzburg.”
Propper was not only Twente’s on-pitch leader, he was also arguably their stand-out centre-half, one of their most consistent performers and a real physical presence in both penalty areas.
Likened to fellow Dutchmen Virgil van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij due to his ball-playing prowess, the 6ft 3ins Propper has also scored 11 goals in the last three Eredivisie seasons from centre-half.
A right-footer by trade, it remains to be seen whether Clement throws Propper in at the deep end when Rangers travel to Edinburgh this weekend.
Philippe Clement’s side face Hearts challenge
The 30-year-old, per the Daily Record, moves to Glasgow for just £1.5 million.
And, speaking at his unveiling, Propper highlighted the role former Twente winger Vaclav Cerny and ex-Heracles team-mate Cyriel Dessers played in his decision to pursue a rather unexpected departure from the Stadion Galgenwaard.
“Rangers is a big club and it feels really good to be here,” Propper tells the official Rangers website.
“I was glad to hear about the club wanting to sign me. I always said I wanted to have a new adventure in another country and when a club like Rangers comes in for you it feels surreal. This club breathes football and you want to play your football here.
“I spoke to Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny and they only had nice things to say about the club. It’s nice to see some familiar faces.
“You hear about the Rangers fans and how it is here and I am really happy to be here.”
