Latest news with #Ex-Rangers
Scotsman
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
'Rapid': Scotland urged to take chance on 'great finisher' who is desperate to play for country
Ex-Rangers kid has hit double figures in successive seasons at Plymouth Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie should be given a chance to play for Scotland, according to one of his teammates, after hitting double figures for the second season in a row in the English Championship. Hardie, 28, netted ten times for the Pilgrims this season, although it was not enough to stop them being relegated to the third tier of English football. The former Rangers youngster scored 12 goals the season before and Victor Palsson, one of his clubmates at Home Park, is surprised Hardie has not been given the call. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ryan Hardie scored ten goals in the Championship for Plymouth Argyle last season. | Getty Images Capped at under-21 level, Hardie spent five years at Ibrox, where he was loaned to Raith Rovers twice, St Mirren and Livingston. It was his form in West Lothian in the 2018/19 campaign that earned the Stranraer-born hitman a move to English football, first with Blackpool and then Plymouth, where he has been for the past five years. Palsson, who scored for Iceland in their 3-1 win over Scotland on Friday night at Hampden, labelled Hardie 'rapid' and revealed that it is one of his ambitions to play for the national team. "He's a good player,' explained Palsson. 'He's a great finisher, an absolute great finisher. He's so quick, he's rapid. So, yeah, those are his strengths. Hopefully we can hold on to him. But he's done really well now. Two years in a row in the Championship, double-figure goals. 'You know, he's a great professional and obviously he wants to play for his country and, you know, I think he's done enough to get a chance in a friendly. He's my team-mate and Ryan's done really well and hopefully, you know, we'll see him play for Scotland in the future.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland head coach Steve Clarke called up Che Adams, George Hirst, James Wilson and Kieron Bowie into his squad for the current international window. He has also used Lyndon Dykes, Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet in recent squads. Meanwhile, Palsson has revealed that Iceland had 'blood on the teeth' when they realised the uncertainty created in the Scotland team by an early injury to goalkeeper Angus Gunn and the appearance of rookie replacement Cieran Slicker. Victor Palsson heads the ball past Cieran Slicker to make it 3-1 for Iceland. | SNS Group Gunn was replaced just minutes into Friday's match at Hampden after injuring his ankle. With no other option, Clarke turned to 22-year-old Slicker, who is yet to make a senior appearance for club or country. The 22-year-old went on to have a nightmare debut, at fault for all three Iceland goals as Scotland were booed off the pitch. "I mean, I think I can't put myself in the shoes of a goalkeeper,' said Palsson, who netted Iceland's third goal. 'After two minutes you come on and you could see it already in his first few kicks that he wasn't 100 per cent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Rangers star eyes Club World Cup as ‘perfect opportunity' to show the world he's still got it
Everyone is talking about the Club World Cup this year as the new look tournament kicks off this month RYT TIME Ex-Rangers star eyes Club World Cup as 'perfect opportunity' to show the world he's still got it Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) The Club World Cup kicks off in a week, and one ex-Rangers star is looking to use the tournament as a chance to show he's still got it. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami take on Al Ahly from Egypt in the first game of the highly-anticipated tournament next Saturday. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Ryan Kent is set to take on the world's best in this year's Club World Cup with Seattle Sounders Credit: AP 4 He had to endure a spell without a club before moving stateside, as his Fenerbache contract ran out Credit: Getty 4 He joined the Turkish side two-years ago on a free transfer from Rangers Credit: Willie Vass Former Rangers hero Ryan Kent will also take part in the new-look tournament. Kent signed with American side Seattle Sounders at the end of March and the Rave Green are taking part in the 32-team tournament. The winger told his club in an interview: 'These are the stages that you want to play on as a footballer and showcase yourself and your team's ability against the best teams in the world. "It's a tournament with all the best teams around the world, so it's quite exciting.' Rangers splashed the cash on the wide man, forking out around £7million for the Englishman in 2019 after a loan spell at the Ibrox side. Kent scored 33 and assisted 56 in 218 games for the Light Blues, and now he wants to show the world that he's still got it. He said: 'You still want to show people across Europe and worldwide what your abilities are as a footballer and what you can still do with the ball. 'It was a perfect opportunity to put myself in and be back on the world stage and showing people what I can do.' Kent picked up a league title and Scottish cup during his spell at Rangers, and came close to a Europa League too, missing out on penalties in the 2022 final vs Eintracht Frankfurt. He wants to use these experiences to shock the world with his Seattle Sounders side, saying: 'If you ever want to win trophies, you have to approach every game like it's a final. You have to set a good tempo to the start of the tournament and get off to a good start and showing other teams that you're not just here to take part.' SunSport reporters clash over Russell Martin as he's revealed as new Rangers boss Kent's side have no easy task in the tournament, with three games in a week. The Sounders will take on Botafogo of Brazil, then Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, whilst rounding out the group stage with a test against newly-crowned European champions, PSG. The ex-Rangers man has played nine times for his new club, after a five-month spell as a free agent having left Fenerbache in October last year. He has yet to score in the States, but has picked up three assists. 4 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Rangers boss Philippe Clement tips Nico Raskin for English Premier League move and urges him to make decision NOW
He's got a few big games at international level this week NIC OF TIME Ex-Rangers boss Philippe Clement tips Nico Raskin for English Premier League move and urges him to make decision NOW PHILIPPE CLEMENT insists Rangers hero Nicolas Raskin is ready now to play for a top half side in the English Premier League. The midfielder is on international duty with Belgium and has two massive games against North Macedonia tomorrow night and Wales on Monday in their World Cup qualifiers. Advertisement 2 Rangers manager Philippe Clement Credit: PA 2 Philippe Clement with Nico Raskin Credit: Willie Vass Axed ex-Ibrox boss Clement handed the captain's armband to Raskin for their Old Firm win against Celtic in January with James Tavernier injured. And, in an interview in his homeland, Clement has tipped Raskin for the top. He said: "I think he's ready. I'm convinced Nico would fit perfectly in the Premier League. "I'm not saying he would be in a top six team now. But just below that, so he can calmly adapt to the level. Advertisement "Make no mistake: Nico has a lot of room to grow. "He has to make the right choice now. "And if he leaves and gets enough playing time at his new club, he will only get better. I would put my hand in the fire for that." And Clement, who turned down the chance to manage Sparta Prague last week and is still without a job, was full of praise for how much Raskin has improved. Advertisement He said: "He's a character. I worked with him intensively for a year at Rangers. "Nico wants to know everything, gets into discussions and has his own opinion. But if you communicate and argue clearly, there's no problem at all. Rangers fans react as 49ers takeover completed "I like players with an opinion. I didn't just give him the captain's armband for nothing. That way he could grow as a footballer and take on more responsibility. "He has good feet and plays energetic football, but the most important step Nico has taken is that he has become tactically stronger. Advertisement "That's why he was ready for the national team - something I said six months ago. I've talked to him about it a lot. "Nico was a firefighter. You know? He often went somewhere else to put out fires and that caused problems in his zone. He doesn't do that anymore. "I wasn't surprised when he played so well for Belgium on his debut. "He's played a lot of European matches. Both with Standard Liege and Rangers. Advertisement "When you play against teams like Manchester United, Spurs, Benfica or Real means it's nothing new for him to play against top players. "Playing for his country was a huge honour for him. Nico benefits from that - he's a born winner.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The National
01-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Nils Koppen 'quits' Rangers days after takeover completed
The new regime are looking to restructure things behind the scenes and the Daily Record are claiming Koppen will step down from his role as technical director. Kevin Thelwell officially starts as sporting director tomorrow and the report adds that Koppen's departure will also be announced on Monday. The Belgian has been at Ibrox for 18 months, initially joining as director of football recruitment and then moving into his wider ranging role in November 2024. Read more: Ex-Rangers boss Philippe Clement 'rejects' job opportunity in major twist Who is Paraag Marathe? Profile of the main man behind the 49ers Rangers bid His signing record has been under scrutiny from supporters with the club failing to get closer to Celtic despite plenty of comings and goings. There were some success stories though with the likes of Jefte and Hamza Igamane looking like assets would could make the club money down the line. It was claimed recently that Barry Ferguson was planning to recommend the removal of Koppen should he have stayed on as manager.
The Herald Scotland
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
How Jo Potter wants Rangers Woman to restore pride in final
To add to Gers misery, their Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup final opponents at Hampden Park this weekend beat Hearts 2-0 to pip Rangers to second place and a European spot and Potter is looking for a response to end the season on a high. She said: 'We can't make up for what happened in the league. We don't shy away from that, but we've got to put a few things right. 'We've got to make sure that we're proud of our performances. 'We've not been proud of a lot of performances that we've put on throughout this season and it hasn't been good enough ultimately. 'But we've got another game, we've got a chance to put it right and when there's a trophy on the line, you've got to do all you can. 'Yes, there was a big trophy on the line on Sunday and we didn't manage to turn up and get that one over the line, but we've got another chance again this week. Read more: Ex-Rangers boss Philippe Clement gets ringing endorsement for Anderlecht job Rangers star on Ibrox 'dream' after stunning transfer links 'We've got to make sure that we're doing everything we can because it's the last one of the season.' Glasgow City boss Leanne Ross is pleased the game is taking place at Hampden Park. It is the third season in a row that the showpiece occasion will take place at the national stadium. City are record cup holders with nine wins but none of them have been at the famous Mount Florida ground. Former Glasgow City midfielder Ross said: 'The Scottish Cup in itself is a special competition, especially to the Scottish players and staff. 'It's something that we've grown up with and the fact that we're now able to play at the national stadium as well, just adds that a little bit more excitement and it would make it even more special to lift it there. 'I think the spectators are in for a really competitive game. All the games this season have been really tight. 'Both teams play good football, so we're going to go there and it's down to who performs best on the day. 'The games have been really tight between us this season. 'We've played two games at Ibrox (won 1-0, drew 1-1), but I think in terms of Glasgow City, we are really happy with how we've performed in those games. 'The most pleasing thing for us is that we're up there challenging and we're going to make it difficult game for Rangers on Sunday.'
