
Connor Goldson admits delight at reunion with ex-Rangers man
They played together in both of Rangers' recent cup triumphs - in the 2022 Scottish Cup win over Hearts and the League Cup victory against Aberdeen a year later.
And Goldson believes the arrival of Balogun can help them go one better than last season where Aris finished runners-up to Pafos FC in the Cypriot League.
Read more:
He said: "Leon's arrival is great for me and the club. He is a good, experienced defender.
"We needed a new defender and he will fit in really well to Aris.
"He has lots of experience and he is a leader and he will do really well I'm sure. I am sure he will help us both in the league and in Europe.
"Last season, we broke our record for the most points we have ever collected, but it still wasn't enough to win the title."This season I want to go one better.
"I really like it here. The football is really good and my family love it on the island."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The National
an hour ago
- The National
Club Brugge manager in shock 'spaces' admission about Rangers defence
The Belgian club found themselves 3-0 up after 20 minutes in the first leg of their Champions League play-off double header thanks to some lamentable defending by their Scottish rivals. Russell Martin has been heavily criticised by pundits and supporters for the porousness of his team's rearguard in their competitive matches this season and the manager had his goalkeeper Jack Butland to thanks for preventing a mauling last night. Read more: Hayen, whose side reached the knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition last season, admitted he and his coaching staff had identified weaknesses they could exploit in the build-up to the encounter in Govan. However, Hayen stressed, after watching Danilo pull a goal back for Rangers in the second half, the tie was far from over and insisted that James Tavernier and his team mates could still come back and progress to the league phase of the competition. (Image: PA Wire) "We knew where the spaces were,' he said. 'We played here in the friendly game (during pre-season), and we showed also in that first half that if our players play at their best level, that they can hurt a lot of teams. Read more: "We said before the game, 'Okay, the atmosphere is incredible, but you have to embrace the atmosphere and not fight against it'. This is what they did in the first seven minutes perfectly and this is the way how you can get the silence into a stadium. "But as long as there is still 90 minutes to play, everything is possible. We don't forget that we are 2-0 down against Salzburg (Club Brugge came from behind to prevail also. So we have to be smart, we have to be intelligent, play our best football, like in the first half."

Press and Journal
an hour ago
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen urged to leave Scottish Cup glory in the past - by boss Jimmy Thelin
Boss Jimmy Thelin has urged Aberdeen to take the first step in the bid to deliver more trophy glory – by putting the Scottish Cup triumph behind them. Thelin was overwhelmed by the impact winning the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990 had on supporters and the city. Almost 100,000 fans packed into the city centre for the open-top bus homecoming parade after overcoming Celtic in the final at Hampden in May. The Dons gaffer says he was blown away by the reaction of supporters, with many crying as he met them, after ending a trophy drought stretching back to 2014. In the bid to build on silverware success and compete in the league phase of Europe, Thelin has secured seven new signings in the summer window. Two more signings are set to arrive with the Reds closing in on AC Milan striker Marko Lazetic and Swedish winger Kenan Bilalovic. Thelin has warned his new-look squad the Scottish Cup glory day is now history. And they must move on to focus on the push for further success, starting with the League Cup clash against Greenock Morton on Saturday. He said: 'After the Scottish Cup final, I met a lot of supporters everywhere in the city, and even at the airport. 'People were crying and talking about these memories and emotions. 'I could see something special in the streets of Aberdeen. 'When we came back after some weeks off, it was still there and we talk about it. 'Now it's a new season, so we have to put it behind us. 'Winning the Scottish Cup is a nice thing, but it is history now. 'Now we have to look forward again.' League Cup second-round opponents Morton currently sit fifth in the Championship table with two draws from two league games. Last season Thelin successfully navigated the Dons beyond lower-league opposition in both the League Cup and Scottish Cup. They reached the League Cup semi-final, where they would suffer a 6-0 hammering to Celtic. However, lessons were learned and Thelin switched formation from 4-2-2-1 to 5-3-2 for the Scottish Cup final and overcame Celtic on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Securing a trophy in his first season at Aberdeen was hugely significant for Thelin, who moved to Pittodrie from Swedish top-flight Elfsborg last summer. He said: 'Before, when I was at Jönköpings, we won the league for the first time in 47 years which was a really nice experience in my home city. 'Then, at Elfsborg, we missed out by one goal to be champions. 'So it was really nice to get this trophy for the first time in 35 years with this amazing city, and also with the people where the passion is something special. 'All of those emotions came out in the final, but I felt it the whole year. 'I am from abroad, but felt the passion and love for the club – how everyone is so proud of the club. 'And then to win something together with them is amazing emotions.' Aberdeen will play their first domestic cup tie since winning the Scottish Cup when they face Morton on Saturday. Having qualified for Europe, Thelin's side were not involved in the League Cup group stage. Aberdeen are guaranteed European league phase action until at least mid-December. They face either FCSB (Romania) or Drita (Kosovo) in the Europa League play-off, with the first round at Pittodrie on Thursday August 21. Thelin said: 'It is so difficult to win trophies. 'There are not so many who can deliver that during their careers. 'It is something that can never be taken for granted, so the players, staff and everyone else have to savour that special moment. 'But when you are in the middle of it, you have to keep going. 'When your career is over you can look back on everything and you have to celebrate when it happens. 'But despite the fantastic emotions, you have to quickly focus on the next season, which has come around so quickly.'

STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Rangers boss Russell Martin not giving up hope on Champions League hopes
Russell Martin believes Rangers can still get through their Champions League play-off tie despite the 3-1 defeat by Club Brugge at Ibrox. In a nightmare first 20 minutes, goals from Romeo Vermant – following some calamitous defending by Gers defender Nasser Djiga – Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up and Ibrox in an uproar. Brazilian striker Danilo pulled a goal back four minutes after the break and the home side rallied, but the Belgian outfit stood firm and boos greeted the players at the end. The second leg is in Belgium next Wednesday but against the evidence of the first half at Ibrox, Martin remains optimistic. 'We conceded a crazy goal and didn't respond to it anywhere well enough,' he said. 'We then conceded a goal from a corner which is really frustrating. 'And then it becomes so difficult and then after that, we make decisions based on desperation and anxiety, jump when we shouldn't, get played around and so the game plan went out the window at that point. 'And we needed a moment to calm down and refocus but it was difficult and we didn't respond well as a club to that because we were hurt early in the game. 'The lads showed amazing resilience in the second half, the fans were amazing the second half, considering the disappointment of the first half. 'And the tie is still open and the players feel that, they really feel that. 'I am proud of them and the first half was as hard as it will ever be and how they got through that, some of the guys who have had a tough start here, the way they played tonight, they will grow from that and we will as a group. 'So the tie is still game on so I am excited about that opportunity. 'My message to supporters is the team needs them. Whatever happens, we need them. We have to give them enough to believe in their team. 'Everyone's entitled to their opinions but we need everyone to grow together if we want to be successful.' Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen also insisted the tie was far from over. He said: 'We knew where the spaces were. We played here in the friendly game (pre-season), and we showed also in that first half that if our players play at their best level, that they can hurt a lot of teams. 'We said before the game, OK, the atmosphere is incredible, but you have to embrace the atmosphere and not fight against it, and this is what they did in the first seven minutes perfectly, and this is the way how you can get the silence into a stadium. 'But as long as there is still 90 minutes to play, everything is possible. 'We don't forget that we are 2-0 down against Salzburg also. So we have to be smart, we have to be intelligent, play our best football, like in the first half.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country



