I wanted to stay at Rangers but Paul Le Guen sealed my exit
The left-footed attacker, who could play wide or centrally, was a big favourite during his time at Ibrox, was fairly prolific and came up with big goals too.
He had just finished a campaign where he scored 18 goals, including four in the Champions League.
But he has now revealed he gave Le Guen, manager at the time, and former CEO Martin Bain the chance to show how much he was wanted but they seemed happy to let him move on to pastures new.
Read more:
Speaking on Open Goal, Lovenkrands said: "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'. 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. It was like 'okay, I don't like this. It doesn't need to sound like he wants me to stay'.
"I said (to Murray) 'he's basically told me this' and I said 'right I need to go and think about this.'"
"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
After then agreeing a deal with with the Germans, he flew over to undergo a medical. That was when he gave Bain one last chance, but was stonewalled again.
"I agreed the deal but I had to go and do my medical," Lovenkrands added. "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."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
6 minutes ago
- Metro
Jose Mourinho explains how his management style changed football
Jose Mourinho feels his way of working changed football and there is a clear distinction between before and after his emergence. The iconic boss first came to the world's attention when he won the Champions League with Porto in 2004, earning a move to the Premier League with Chelsea. In his first of two spells with the Blues he won the Premier League twice, before leaving for Inter Milan where he won two Serie A titles and the Champions League in 2010. A move to Real Madrid followed where he won La Liga in 2012 while competing against one of the great Barcelona sides. Since then he returned to Chelsea, moved to Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and now Fenerbahce. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. His reputation may have dimmed in recent years, but at the peak of his powers in the noughties he was a pioneering manager, considered one of the best in the world. The 62-year-old feels he was so pioneering that football management is different now to before he arrived at the top of the sport. 'It is complicated. Methodologically, I think there is a distinction between before me and after me,' Mourinho said, via Turkish site Fanatik. 'Methodologically, in terms of how you train, how you think about the game, in the early 2000s, until 2000 and 2004 when I won my first Champions League, there was a big explosion of interest in the way I worked and then there is clearly an after. 'I remember, for example, when I came to Italy to Inter, when I first went to Italy, even the players didn't really believe in that way of working. There was a radical change on a methodological level.' Mourinho's first season at Fenerbahce did not produce any silverware, but he rages against the idea that he is past his best. 'Many people say something that makes me laugh, 'Jose Mourinho is not what he used to be, he has lost his identity',' he said. 'It is better to lose identity and win. I think those who say that win less. So, those who win, who win more often, are the ones who are more impressive. Then there's something that makes me feel even better, and that's the way I win, where I win. Porto Primeira Liga: 2002/03, 2003/04 Taca de Portugal: 2002–03 Champions League: 2003–04 UEFA Cup: 2002–03 Chelsea Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2014–1 FA Cup: 2006–07 Inter Serie A: 2008–09, 2009–10 Coppa Italia: 2009–10 Champions League: 2009–10 Real Madrid La Liga: 2011–12 Copa del Rey: 2010–11 Man Utd Europa League: 2016–17 'Because winning the Champions League with Porto is not the same as winning the Champions League with Barcelona. Winning the Champions League with Inter is not the same as winning the Champions League with Real Madrid. More Trending 'You can say: 'OK, but you were at Real Madrid and you didn't win the Champions League.' I didn't win the Champions League, but I won the league title and the cup, I beat Barcelona, the best team in the world, and I broke a big cycle of Barcelona's dominance against Real Madrid. 'The last UEFA title I won with Roma, Roma's first and only European title, so the things I did, not only the number of titles I won, but the way I did them… I'm one of the best.' Mourinho will try and return to the Champions League with his Fenerbahce side when they take on Benfica in the play-offs, starting in Turkey on Wednesday night. MORE: Rangers vs Club Brugge TV channel, live stream, team news and odds MORE: When is the Champions League draw and when does the group stage start? MORE: Jamie Carragher makes shocking Chelsea prediction as fans call him a 'clown'
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Alexander Isak's team-mate's stunned reaction on radio after huge transfer announcement
A former team-mate of Alexander Isak, who remains at the centre of a transfer row with Newcastle United, was told of the striker's impending exit during a live radio interview Alexander Isak left a team-mate stunned with a major transfer announcement on live radio. A transfer saga involving Isak is not uncharted territory for the Swedish striker, who broke his silence amid his attempts to force a move out of Newcastle by accusing the club of breaking promises in a lengthy statement on Instagram. The club responded late on Tuesday night to express disappointment at Isak's message while leaving the door open for the 25-year-old, who wants to join Liverpool, to return to the fold. Despite his age, Isak has already had numerous moves in his career, with one leaving current Arsenal and former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino gobsmacked on live radio. Then of Real Sociedad, Merino was being interviewed by Radio MARCA when he was told of Isak's impending move to Newcastle in August 2022. Taken aback by the news, Merino admitted it would be a bitter blow for the La Liga side. He said: 'I can't tell you either because I can't. I mean, I'm not sure if that's true or not. Now, when I talk to him, I'll keep him informed. But hey, in any case, it's bad for us, he's a very important player.' The announcement was true, with Isak joining the Magpies for a club record fee of £63million. Isak has since become a hero on Tyneside, helping to fire the club into the Champions League and Carabao Cup glory last season. However, he has sullied his reputation with the club's fans as he angles for a move to Liverpool, who have seen a bid of £110million rejected. The saga took another twist on Tuesday as Isak made an incendiary public statement after being named in the PFA Premier League team of the season. Isak, who didn't attend the ceremony, wrote: 'I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors. 'The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To act now as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. 'When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.' Newcastle refuted Isak's claims in a strong statement of their own while leaving the door ajar to the player's reintegration into the squad. The club said: 'We are disappointed to have been alerted to a social media post by Alexander Isak this evening. 'We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer. 'We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. 'As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met. 'This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates.'
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Inamura still 'not at the level' to be trusted by Rodgers
Summer signing Hayato Inamura is still "not quite at the level" required to make his competitive debut for Celtic, says manager Brendan 23-year-old Japanese defender joined from J-League side Albirex Niigata in June on a four-year deal, having moved up to the professional level from university football in is still waiting to make a competitive appearance for the club and will not feature in their Champions League play-off tie against Kazakh side Kairat Almaty."It's very easy. He's not quite at the level, as of yet, that I would expect," the Celtic manager explained."The plan for Ina was to come in and train and see where he was at, with the possibility of going out on loan, because he's only had a year's football."He came in as a centre-half/left-back, but his defensive qualities aren't at the level that would see me put him in against Lamine Yamal if I had to. It's as simple as that. So that's why he's not involved."He's played in some really good games, against Cork and Queen's Park, but the reality is that's the level that we play, you get 80 per cent of the ball."But we also need a player that can defend. And we're hoping that over the couple of years, with experience and with maybe a loan, that that can take place. But at this very, very moment, that's why he's not in the squad. It's as simple as that."
