Peter Lovenkrands on why he left Rangers for Schalke

Glasgow Times

25-06-2025

The Danish footballer, who was a fan favourite at Ibrox, left for Schalke on a free transfer in 2006.
He had just finished a successful season, scoring 18 goals, including four in the Champions League.
Despite his impressive performance, Lovenkrands said he was given no indication that he was wanted at the club.
He said on Open Goal: "When I was leaving, I got a phone call.
"David Murray brings me up to the office and basically says, 'Le Guen is on the phone, wants to talk to you'.
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"And I went, 'right, okay'.
"So I've got the phone, and he basically said to me, 'if you stay, great, if you don't, I'll just get someone else'.
"And I'll never forget that sentence.
"It was like, 'I've just scored four goals in the Champions League, 18 goals in the season, and you don't want me to stay?
"There was no 'we want you to stay', or whatever, to try and convince you to stay.
"It was literally like a hit in the stomach.
"If you stay - great. If you don't - I'll just get someone else" @lovenkrands11 on the conversation with incoming @RangersFC Manager Paul Le Guen that decided his exit from Ibrox.
Full Podcast 📺⚽️ https://t.co/dziphEsV2I#RangersFC #Rangers pic.twitter.com/3Sf9OnHy2L — Open Goal (@opengoalsport) June 25, 2025
"It was like 'okay, I don't like this.
"It doesn't need to sound like he wants me to stay'."
Lovenkrands revealed that even after agreeing a deal with Schalke, he gave ex-chief executive Martin Bain a chance to make him stay.
However, he claimed he was stonewalled again.
The Dane said: "I agreed the deal but I had to go and do my medical.
"Went across to the hospital, done my medical.
"On my way back from the medical to sign the deal, I phoned Martin Bain and said 'That's me just done my medical at Schalke, I'm away to sign the deal.
"Is there anything you want to say to me?
"He was like 'good luck'.
"If he'd said 'we'll match it' or 'we'll offer you this', I would have went straight on the plane back.
"But he just said 'good luck' and that was it."
During his time at Rangers, the left-footed attacker, who could play wide or centrally, was a big favourite at the club and scored several important goals.