Goalkeeper – Stefan Klos
Stefan Klos was a major signing for Rangers in December 1999, for a transfer
fee of £700,000. Having won the Champions League with home town club Borussia
Dortmund his signature was seen as a major coup and the stand out candidate for
the goalkeeper in this team. “Der Goalie” played over 200 games for
the Gers during his successful time at the club collecting 4 League winner’s
medals, 3 Scottish Cups and 2 Scottish League Cups. The German’s contribution to
Rangers will never be forgotten and he was inducted to the Hall of Fame at
Ibrox in 2009 in recognition of his time at the club.
Right Back – Fernando Ricksen
A suitable definition to fans favourite could be
“despised by everyone other than your own fans.” Few players could better meet that criterion than Fernando Ricksen. The 12 cap Dutch international signed for £3.76m, from AZ Alkmaar and he made over 250 appearances for the Teddy Bears finding the net 20 times. Ricksen had a colourful time at Rangers having received numerous red cards along with bans and fines to boot. In his 6 seasons at Ibrox Ricksen won 2 League Titles, 2 Scottish Cups, 3 Scottish League Cups and he was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2014 making him the only option at right full back.
Centre Back – Lorenzo Amoruso
The first of our two centre backs in this International XI is Lorenzo Amoruso. The former Italian under 21 international joined Rangers in 1997 for a fee of £4m. Amoruso enjoyed not one but two domestic trebles during his 6 years in Glasgow winning the League, Cup and League Cup in both the 1998-99 and 2002-03 seasons. Although not always a fans favourite or easy to coach, the fiery Italian played with passion in over 150 games for Glasgow Rangers including 2 years as Captain. Amoruso’s final game for the club came in the Scottish Cup final in 2003 against Dundee where he scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory to secure his second domestic treble with the club. Amoruso remains close to the club appearing at Rangers Supporters Club events on a regular basis since his induction into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2010.
Centre Back – Craig Moore
The draw
of Glasgow Rangers is worldwide and our International XI has a centre back from the land down under. Craig Moore joined the club initially in 1994 when he signed his first professional contract. His first 4 years at the club were successful as he won 3 Scottish League titles as part of the 9-in-a-Row squad. A brief spell in London with Crystal Palace was enough for Moore as he returned to Rangers in 1999 and was made captain of the club for the 2003-04 season. The Aussie won 12 trophies during his time at Ibrox, represented the club over 250 times on the pitch and made his international debut while with Rangers, as far as international players to appear for the Glasgow giants few will have travelled further than Craig Moore to become part of this esteemed XI.
Left Back – Saša Papac
Uncompromising, consistent and reliable some up Saša Papac’s 6 years at Ibrox. The Bosnian played for Glasgow Rangers 227 times in all competitions and beat off tough competition to make it into our International XI. Papac was involved in Rangers last spell of dominance in Scotland completing domestic doubles three seasons in a row between 2008 and 2011. One of two players who make this International XI to have made an appearance in Rangers most recent European Cup final experience, Papac was substituted in the second half of the UEFA Cup final defeat to Zenit St. Petersburg. Saša Papac may not have the flair of some Rangers greats but he never let the club or his team mates down and he will look at the 8 trophies he amassed during this time in Scotland as reward for all the hard work he put in.
Right Midfield – Brian Laudrup
One of the first names on any Rangers select XI would be The Great Dane, Brian Laudrup. Voted Rangers greatest ever foreign player, Laudrup was the first name on the team sheet here. The former Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Chelsea and Ajax winger was a revelation at Ibrox and took the club by storm, quickly becoming a fans favourite making 150 appearances while scoring 44 goals along the way, an impressive tally for someone who preferred setting up team mates than finding the net himself. One of the Danish international’s most memorable games for Rangers was the 1996 Scottish Cup Final against Hearts; Laudrup stole the show, netting twice himself before setting up a hat-trick for Gordon Durie. Brian Laudrup was part of the 9-in-a-Row squad, won 3 league titles in a row, 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97 completing domestic doubles in two of those seasons. Laudrup was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and will be fondly remembered by Rangers fans the world over.
Centre
Midfield – Giovanni van Bronckhurst
A young Dutch midfielder was taking the Eredivise by storm with Feyenoord before moving to Glasgow Rangers at the age of 23, in 1998 for a fee in the region of £5m. Giovanni joined up with manager and fellow countryman Dick Advocaat at Ibrox where both men enjoyed a successful spell. During his time with the Gers the dynamic midfielder played a key role in the double winning teams of 1998-99 and 1999-00, with Giovanni scoring the opening goal of the 2000 Scottish Cup final. Finishing with 5 trophies, 117 games and 22 goals for Rangers, the Dutchman went on to play for Arsenal and Barcelona amassing over 100 caps for the Netherlands along the way. Giovanni announced himself on the European stage with his performances for Rangers and is fondly remembered for all he accomplished in his 3 years at the club.
Centre Midfield – Ronald de Boer
The second central midfield selected for the International XI is Ronald de Boer. Although the Dutchman was 30 years old by the time he came to Ibrox the former Ajax and Barcelona midfielder brought a
wealth of experience to the dressing room having won league titles in the Netherlands and Spain, as well as a Champions League with the great Ajax team of 1995. This meant that de Boer had the correct mentality to hit the ground running at a big club, winning a domestic cup double in his second season only to complete a domestic treble the following season. The 2002-03 treble season included a Scottish League Cup final victory over Celtic as well as beating Celtic to the title due to a superior goal difference, Celtic on +72 but Rangers +73 with Ronald de Boer finishing the season as Rangers joint top scorer with 16 goals to his name, such was the importance of his contribution. The four years he spent as Rangers endeared him to the fans and although no longer at his peak performed well for the Teddy Bears in each of his 129 appearances.
Left Midfield – Jorg Albertz
The second German to be selected for our International XI is Jorg Albertz. The midfielder possessed a thunderous left boot and was reliable from set-pieces and penalties. Albertz arrived at Ibrox in the final season of 9 Scottish League titles in a row, the first of 3 titles he would collect during his time at Rangers. A huge fan favourite Albertz played over 220 times for Rangers finding the net on over 80 occasions, the majority with that trust left boot. Albertz finished his career with 7 winner’s medals from League titles, Scottish Cups and League Cups, scoring in the 1998-99 League Cup final and again in the 1999-2000 Scottish Cup final. In 2002 Albertz was the first non-British player inducted to the Hall of Fame.
Centre Forward – Nacho Novo
The first of our two strikers is Nacho Novo. Signed for £450,000 in 2004 the little Spaniard went on to represent Rangers 255 times scoring many important goals with 73 strikes. Novo is a firm fan favourite, mainly due to his effort and enthusiasm on the pitch; he was never one to be accused of not giving his all.
During his time with the club Novo secured two domestic doubles in 2004-05 and 2009-10. Novo played in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup final defeat to Zenit St Petersburg coming on as a second half substitute. Nacho Novo was finally inducted to the Ibrox Hall of Fame in 2014 ensuring that his efforts both on the pitch and off it through his continuing work with fans groups are remembered.
Centre Forward – Peter Lovenkrands
The second Danish international selected is Peter Lovenkrands. Lovenkrands joined the Gers in 2000 straight out of Denmark. The stand out trademark for him was his unbelievable pace which was too much for any defence is the League. Throughout his 181 appearances for Glasgow Rangers Lovenkrands scored 54 goals, 2 of those goals coming in the 2002 Scottish Cup final against Old Firm Rivals, Celtic, the winner finding the net in the 90th minute. Lovenkrands went on to play in the 2002 World Cup and the Euro 2004 finals with Denmark due to his performances for Rangers. Lovenkrands won 7 domestic honours with the Teddy Bears and his pace will always be remembered for giving the attack a fear factor during his six years at the club.
