Latest news with #Roofe
Daily Record
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
I fired Rangers to the Premiership title just months after turning down Celtic – and here's why I did it
Kemar Roofe says the Hoops were on his case about coming to Parkhead shortly before he joined Gers Kemar Roofe has revealed that he only joined Rangers just weeks after turning down an approach from Celtic. The Jamaica international was snapped up by Steven Gerrard from Anderlecht in a £4.5million deal in the summer of 2020 after a frustrating year in Belgium where he appeared just 13 times, scoring six goals. Roofe went onto play a starring role in Gers' Premiership triumph in the following season, finishing as their top scorer in the league with 14 goals as Gerrard's side ended Celtic's pursuit of a 10th successive title by going the whole 38-game long campaign unbeaten. But Roofe, 32, - who is now without a club after leaving Rangers for Derby County last summer - has lifted the lid on the sequence of events that saw him knock back the chance to talk to Celtic before ultimately making the move across to the other side of Glasgow. Speaking to Open Goal, he said: "It was Celtic first. Celtic asked my agent about it but I said no because my focus was just on playing for Anderlecht. "I went there for a reason to play. COVID cut it short so I didn't feel like I had done enough there. It was like 'what's the point in going out to Belgium, moving my whole family and then after a few months move back'. It didn't make sense. "Also, a week before that I had spoken with (Anderlecht boss) Vincent Kompany and he was like 'yeah we still want you here and we are building this and that..' "In my head, I was going to play the full season again at Anderlecht. And then literally a week later I got a phone call from Vincent Kompany saying 'Rangers have put in a bid and the club have accepted it'. "Celtic didn't put a bid in, they just spoke to my agent and said 'there is interest there would you fancy it?'. "The difference was Rangers put in a bid and as soon as that bid went in, the club (Anderlecht) was in a financial situation because of COVID, so they said yes straight away. "It was then up to me to either say 'I'll go to Rangers or stay at Anderlecht'. Roofe also says Gerrard's standing in the game helped him make the decision to head to Ibrox. He added: "Yes, I was happy to go to Rangers because of Steven Gerrard. For me a lot of it is respect, I have grown up watching these sort of players and what they have done in the game. "So as soon as they want me, I'm like 'yeah let's do this'. (The first thing) he said to me was 'come in, be our number nine and we'll win the league.' "
Glasgow Times
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Kemar Roofe reveals he turned down Celtic before Rangers
The forward, who spent four years at Ibrox and contributed to the club's 55th title win in the 2020/21 season, revealed his decision on the Open Goal podcast. He also won the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup during his time in Glasgow. The 32-year-old was playing in Belgium's top flight at the time and had a choice to make. 🎥⚽️| KEEPING THE BALL ON THE GROUND Kemar @roofe reveals that he turned down @CelticFC right before Steven Gerrard called & convinced him to sign for @RangersFC! YouTube 📺 w/ The Clubhouse | 20% Off Food | Quote OPEN GOAL | — Open Goal (@opengoalsport) August 5, 2025 Roofe said: "It was Celtic first. "Celtic asked my agent about it but I said no because my focus was just to play for Anderlecht. "A week before that I'd spoken to Vincent Kompany (then manager) and he said 'We still want you here.' "In my head, I was going to play the full season again at Anderlecht. "So, I said no." However, his plans changed when Rangers made their interest known. Roofe explained: "Then about a week later, I got a phone call from Vincent Kompany saying Rangers have put in a bid, and the club have accepted. "The difference was Rangers actually put in a bid. "As soon as the bid came in, the club was in a financial situation because of Covid, so they said yes straight away. "Then it was up to me to say whether I'd go to Rangers or stay at Anderlecht." Roofe was signed by Steven Gerrard in 2020, and he recalls their first conversation vividly: "Come in, be our number nine and win the league."
Scottish Sun
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Rangers star Kemar Roofe subjected to sickening abuse as vile fan wishes him ‘long and brutal death'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Rangers striker Kemar Roofe has revealed a sickening online message containing death threats. The vile communication appears to stem from a game that was played more than FOUR YEARS ago. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Kemar Roofe scored some huge goals for Rangers Credit: Getty Roofe, 32, left Rangers at the end of the 2023/24 season when his contract expired. Although his four-year spell at Ibrox was often blighted by injury, the former Leeds and Anderlecht frontman played an integral role as the Gers won the Scottish Premiership title in 2021. He also won both domestic cup honours with the Light Blues and scored on the club's run to the Europa League Final in 2022. Roofe spent several months as a free agent before being snapped up by Derby County in February. Although he was released at the end of the season, the striker has continued to train with the Rams this summer and play in their pre-season matches. He could yet sign a new deal ahead of the new season. But in a rather shocking turn of events, Roofe has shared an absolutely sickening message he's received on social media. He shared the disturbing message to his Instagram post from an anonymous account who's image is just a glass of beer. The horrific post contains death threats. It says: "Hi IDIOT. I wish you long and brutal death in huge pains m***********. 4 Kemar Roofe shared the despicable abuse he'd received Credit: INSTAGRAM "Till the end of your f****** life you will the biggest idiot ever. "Die, die, die, you and all your f****** family. "Slavia Prague, do you remember, you f****** b******????? "Karma will find you.... m***********." Roofe played in Rangers' Europa League clash with Slavia Prague back in 2021. Although the twisted punter doesn't detail any specific incident, it's likely it relates to the former Rangers man's sending-off during the second leg of the tie. Roofe was one of two Gers players to be shown a red card in a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox that saw the Light Blues exit 3-1 on aggregate. He was dismissed on 61 minutes after catching the Czech club's goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar flush in the face with his boot when challenging for a high ball. Kolar has continued to wear a head guard during matches ever since the clash. The fall-out from the tie also saw Slavia defender Ondrej Kudela handed a 10-match ban after racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara. 4 Roofe caught Slavia Prague goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar with a high boot Credit: PA 4 He was sent off by the referee Credit: Getty Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers title hero spotted back at former club just weeks after being released by them
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KEMAR ROOFE was released by Derby County in May. But just seven weeks later, the former Rangers striker is BACK at the club. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Kemar Roofe left Rangers in May 2024 Credit: PA Roofe, 32, has endured a frustrating time of things since leaving the Gers at the end of the 2023/24 season. The striker was a fans' favourite at Ibrox, but injuries derailed his time in Scottish football. The prolific frontman was regularly out of action during his final couple of seasons in Glasgow. After leaving Rangers in May last year, he spent eight months without a club. In February, his time as a free agent came to an end when he joined Derby on a deal until the end of the season. Injury, however, would strike again and Roofe was restricted to just three appearances for the Rams. It was little surprise, therefore, when he was one of the players released by the club upon the conclusion of the season. But just seven weeks after that decision, Roofe is now BACK at Derby. The Jamaica international has shared a series of pictures on his Instagram showing him in pre-season training with the club. However, Roofe has NOT re-joined them, at least not yet. Sir Sean Connery's secret £1 MILLION investment in Rangers revealed Local media reports have confirmed the striker isn't under contract and is training with the squad to work on his fitness. It's been reported that Derby boss John Eustace liked the influence Roofe had in and around the club last season. Speaking earlier this year, Roofe revealed that he had been training alone in a public park prior to joining Derby. He did so in order to keep his fitness levels high for when an opportunity came calling. Roofe said: "The grass wasn't cut, the pitches would be frozen at times. "There'd be dog poo on the pitch and dogs running on the pitch as well." 2 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kemar Roofe couldn't take constant Rangers questions anymore as he reveals the story of woe fans don't know
The Jamaica international had been playing through the pain barrier for the Ibrox cause. It got to the point where Kemar Roofe just couldn't take it any more. The questions were constant and it was the same one over and over again. 'When will you be back fit?' That's all the Rangers fans - and staff - wanted to know. It was his third season at the club, working firstly under Gio van Bronckhorst and then Michael Beale. Previously, the striker had been Gers' top scorer in their 2021 title triumph. The following year, he'd scored another 16 goals in 40 appearances - and helped them get to the Europa League Final in Seville. But the truth is, the Jamaica international had been playing through the pain barrier for the Ibrox cause. Roofe was taking injections and disguising injuries in a desperate bid to win silverware for the club. Even in that Europa Final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, he was in AGONY while scoring Gers' fifth penalty in the shoot-out. So it's no wonder the 2022/23 campaign was a miserable one when, at times, he couldn't even bear to watch games at Ibrox for fear of being bombarded with queries on his fitness. He managed just six games for Rangers that year, scoring twice. One of those goals was a vital winner against Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final - only for Roofe to then damage his shoulder and spend more time on the sidelines. Roofe endured tough times at Rangers through injury. But he insists it was largely due to him putting his body on the line for the club - and says he has no regrets. In the second part of Record Sport's exclusive interview with the former Rangers front-man, he said: 'That 2022/23 season was annoying. 'Because I had kept playing through injuries, I never had a period of time where I could just strip it back to basics. 'I didn't get the chance to go through all the steps and stages of rehab to get 100 percent fit. 'I was coming back sooner than I should have - just because I didn't want to miss any more games. 'I played games for Rangers when I had injury issues. And it was only a matter of time before my body couldn't take it any more. 'I got silly injuries. I came off the bench against Aberdeen in that semi-final to score the winner. 'But then I fell on my shoulder and tore the ligaments. How can you predict those things? 'I should have had an operation which would have been three or four months out. 'Instead, I just strapped it up, took injections and played with it. I was effectively playing with one shoulder. 'These little things have a knock-on effect on the rest of your body. 'The amount of times I got injured just to play and win - I sacrificed myself to win games and I'd never change that. 'If I took the correct time out, I wouldn't have achieved certain things or scored certain goals for Rangers. 'I wouldn't have made certain finals. 'When I eventually did it and had my hip operation, I hardly played any games. 'So it's a Catch 22. Do you take the time out and miss games or keep trying to go through it? 'It got to the point where I HAD to have surgery. 'Thankfully, my big strength is my mental strength and handling disappointments. 'I use it to fuel me. The only thing I hated and struggled with was when people kept asking me: 'When are you going to back'? 'That's when I started not going to Ibrox and I started just watching the games at home. 'I was trying to avoid people and those questions.' That campaign might have gone better for Roofe if he hadn't been so determined to play in the Europa League Final a few months earlier. He had scored the extra-time winner against Braga in the quarter-final that was vital in getting Rangers to Seville. But an injury against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final win at Hampden meant he was a major doubt. Incredibly, Roofe made it on to the bench against Eintracht and was introduced late on. He set up a golden chance for Ryan Kent to win it but the winger couldn't convert - then he stepped up in pain to score in the spot-kick defeat. Roofe loved the European nights at Ibrox more than anything and he's still devastated he didn't get a winner's medal from that sensational run to the final. He said: 'I was just returning from an LCL knee injury. 'I rushed back to make the final but every time I kicked the ball I was in agony. 'I didn't really train before Seville. I was in a lot of pain. 'My brain knew I was going to be sore before I received the ball. Even taking that penalty was painful. 'I scored but it meant nothing because we didn't win. 'That run in 2022 was special. For me personally, playing in Europe is just the best. 'It's a different feeling to anything else, especially at Ibrox. 'The atmosphere, the buzz, everything about those games - it's hard to explain. 'You can only understand it if you're actually on the pitch playing in it. I'll never forget it. 'We just kept going that year with the fans behind us. 'The only disappointment was getting to Seville, having a really good chance to win - but then losing it. 'We probably won't ever have that chance again. 'I'm just gutted that we couldn't take advantage. 'I was put on for the last few minutes but I felt if I'd been given more time, I could have had a bigger influence on the game.' When Roofe was fit, he thrived in the big games. His Rangers career had got off to a flying start with a league title win under Steven Gerrard - and an Old Firm brace in a 4-1 victory over Celtic at Ibrox. Injuries curtailed him after that but he still relished derbies against Gers' bitter rivals. And even after having played for the likes of Leeds United and Anderlecht, Roofe says no atmosphere comes close to an Old Firm. He said: 'The Old Firm games were even more special than I thought they would be. 'They were just hectic, 100mph, you got no rest. 'There was football being played but it was just so quick and intense. 'Everyone has to be at it in those games. And the noise levels are incredible. 'I like watching games I've played when I get home to listen to what the commentators are saying. 'But I remember putting Sky on after one of the Celtic games and I couldn't hear what they were saying because the fans were so loud - even on TV. 'I've never experienced that before. 'The Old Firm games and European nights were the best atmospheres I've ever played in during my career. 'Leeds was good as well at Elland Road. But the extra 20,000 or so at Ibrox really makes a difference. 'The way I play football is that I'm all in. I was gripped by Rangers from minute one. 'I can never play half-hearted or not try to win every game. 'So for me, that atmosphere and the relationship with the Rangers fans was ideal for me. It was the perfect match. 'They took to me and I'm grateful for that. I think they appreciated the way I played and the effort I put in.' Roofe's Rangers career ended a year ago with a seven-minute cameo from the bench in a game against Dundee last May. It wasn't the trophy-laden farewell he wanted. But the 32-year-old says he's proud of what he achieved in Glasgow, winning all three domestic prizes. Roofe said: 'I had four really good years at Rangers. 'I spent a bit of extra time applauding the fans at the end of my last game. 'I think they understand that I wish I could have played more games and scored more goals. 'I'd rather have said goodbye that way rather than a token gesture as a sub. 'But I take real pride in my time at Rangers. When people ask me about my career and what it was like at Ibrox - when I break it down, I won all three trophies in Scotland and got to a Europa Final. 'So I had a really good time there.'
