11 hours ago
I wanted to stay at Rangers but Paul Le Guen sealed my exit
The Dane moved to Schalke on a free transfer after his Gers contract expired in 2006, after holding talks with other clubs like Osasuna, Roma and Newcastle.
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.
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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 📺⚽️ #Rangers — 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."
