- Rangers have never had a World Cup winner while at the club, despite strong tournament presence.
- Several players won the World Cup before or after spells at Ibrox, including France 1998 stars.
- We look ahead to this summer’s tournament in North America.
As we head towards the culmination of another season in Scotland, with Rangers tentatively still in the hunt for the Premiership crown, focus across the wider footballing world has already turned to this summers’ FIFA World Cup in North America.
The Gers have always had players shine on the World stage, whether it be Brian Laudrup and his famous celebration for Denmark at France 1998 after netting against the holders Brazil.
Or whether it be Terry Butcher captaining England to the semi-finals of Italia 90, leading out the Three Lions ahead of Gazza’s tears and yet another penalty defeat to West Germany.
Rangers have always been present at the game’s biggest tournament.
Rangers’ World Cup history
The first Gers representation at FIFA’s showpiece event was in 1958 as four Scots and Billy Simpson of Northern Ireland headed to Sweden as a 16-year-old Pele stole the show.
Following this it would take until 1970 for another Ibrox star to play during a summer tournament as Orjan Persson flew off to Mexico to represent the Swedes.
From then there would be Rangers players at every competition until 2014, minus the last tournament in North America, USA 1994.
Financial issues and demotion would mean the Ibrox supporters would not see any of their players on the biggest stage until Bruno Alves’ call up for Portugal in 2018.
Rangers World Cup winners
But have any Gers heroes ever won the crowning jewel of international football?
Short answer is no. None while with the Govan giants.
But several have won it either before or after their stints at the club.
Three Gers alumni have lifted the golden globe trophy.
Two before their Ibrox stints and one after.
Les Blues bring medals to Ibrox
The duo who arrived at Rangers with winner’s medals were arrivals to Ibrox in the summer of 1998.
The Gers spent big that close season under new manager Dick Advocaat, who at 78 lead Curacao to their first tournament this summer.
That recruitment drive brought a touch of global pedigree to Govan.
Two members of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning squad would go on to pull on the Rangers jersey, with goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier and striker Stephane Guivarc’h both arriving at Ibrox in the aftermath of that triumph.
Charbonnier completed his move from Auxerre just days after the final in Paris, although he had not featured during the tournament itself as he was third pick stopper for Les Blues.
Guivarc’h, by contrast, had led the line for France as their number nine throughout the competition.
He however, failed to net during the tournament, like Oliver Giroud in France’s 2018 win in Russia.
He joined Rangers later that year in November via Newcastle United, arriving with a growing reputation after finishing as top scorer in France with Auxerre the previous season.
However, neither would be successful in Glasgow.
Charbonnier picked up an early injury and lost his place to German keeper Stefan Klos, who arrived that winter.
Guivarc’h would net his first goals just two days after signing, coming off the bench to score twice in am win away to St Johnstone.
He followed that up with another double on the road in a 3–2 victory over Heart of Midlothian.
He also opened the scoring in the League Cup final against St Johnstone, as Rangers went on to secure a 2–1 win.
Despite this, he would return to Auxurre the following summer after just 14 Premiership appearances for the Gers.
Gennaro Gattuso’s post-Gers glory
The other former Rangers player to have lifted the FIFA World Cup did so with Italy in 2006, with the combative Gennaro Gattuso playing a pivotal role in their triumph.
The recently dismissed Italy manager spent a season at Ibrox in the late 1990s before going on to enjoy a decorated club career with AC Milan, as well as earning 73 caps for his country.
The midfielder played the full 120 minutes in the final in Germany, as Italy overcame France on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Rangers also have connections to two World Cup runners-up.
Argentine forward Claudio Caniggia was part of the side beaten by Germany in 1990, while Giovanni van Bronckhorst featured for the Netherlands team that lost to Spain in the 2010 final.
