Ivor Pandur has admitted he is still hoping to reach the Premier League in the future, just months into his Rangers switch that has already delivered two clean sheets against Celtic.
The goalkeeper joined from Hull City this summer, in a swap deal that saw Jack Butland move the other way after Hull’s promotion play-off win.
Pandur insists his priority now is silverware at Ibrox, not an immediate return south.
Ivor Pandur Admits Premier League Dream After Joining Rangers
In an interview carried by the Daily Record, Pandur explained why he chose Rangers over staying in England.
He wanted regular football and the chance to fight for trophies, even in a league he rates below the Premier League for overall quality.
“The deciding factor was that I wanted to fight for trophies and be in a dominant team. I had European competitions in my head, unfortunately, which didn’t happen, at least this season.
“I wanted to compete with the best, even though the league is not the English Premier League – and I absolutely understand that – the Premier League wouldn’t mean much to me if I didn’t play as much as I wanted to play.”
He sees Ibrox as a route back towards that goal in time, rather than a reason to look for a quick way out.
“So Rangers presented me with the opportunity to start again from scratch and I was very happy that it happened that way.
“I believe that I will get to the Premier League in a roundabout way. When? Only God knows. It’s up to me to believe, to work, to do everything right and if I’m good enough, I’ll be there for sure.”
How Hull City Swap and Past Contacts Sealed Ibrox Transfer
Rangers had actually tracked Pandur for years before this summer’s move. Their interest dated back to his time at Fortuna Sittard in the Netherlands, long before Jack Butland arrived at Ibrox.
“Rangers were interested in me for a few years- even when I was in the Netherlands at Fortuna Sittard, the directors who were there at the time were contacting me and asking questions.
“But they brought Jack Butland in and I went to England and that was basically it for those two and a half years, until Jack Butland went to Hull and I went to Rangers!”
Butland’s move to Hull City after their play-off win finally opened the door, and Pandur says the switch to Rangers came together within days.
Adaptation to Scottish Football and Clean Sheet Record Against Celtic
Pandur kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 Premier Sports Cup win over Celtic at Ibrox. He then did it again in a 1-0 league victory at Parkhead.
He says the step up in intensity from England caught him by surprise.
“Every game reminds me so much of the English Championship. Everyone we have faced has played well and nothing has been easy. The league is really tough and there’s more quality than I thought, so it just makes everything even more interesting.”
The Old Firm fixture left the deepest impression of all, and reaction from teammates in our coverage of the recent derby performance told a similar story.
“And the Old Firm is something unreal. The amount of noise, the amount of cheering and how much it means to people.
“The fans want to pay you for everything, they want to give you everything. They really live for that club, they love it so much and everything depends on that result for them.”
Croatia Call-Up and Upcoming Trophy Focus for Rangers
Pandur’s form has earned him a place in Slaven Bilic’s Croatia squad for Nations League fixtures against the Czech Republic, England and Spain, adding international recognition to a promising start at his new club.
It caps a strong opening chapter for the Ivor Pandur Rangers switch, on and off the pitch.
Back at Ibrox, he says the intensity of Scottish football has matched the size of the club’s ambition from the moment he signed.
“Of course, we have to believe that, but that’s why we are all here.
“We all knew from the moment we signed for Rangers that we were aiming for every trophy.
“Everyone told me when I signed, I would have 20 easy games a season and that I wouldn’t have anything to do for a lot of them.
“And since I came here, it’s been the opposite!”
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