James Tavernier, the captain of Rangers, confirmed on Wednesday that he will be departing the club at the conclusion of the season, marking the end of an 11-year tenure at Ibrox.
For the past eight years, Tavernier has served as the club’s captain, leading them to victory in the Scottish Premiership in 2021, the Scottish Cup in 2022, and the League Cup in 2023.
He also captained Rangers during the 2022 Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt, where they faced the heartache of losing in a penalty shootout.
This season, Rangers are trailing leaders Hearts by a single point, and they will be aiming to overtake the Edinburgh side in a bid to secure one more Premiership title for Tavernier before his departure.
The 34-year-old, whose contract concludes at the season’s end, shared on Instagram that his decision to leave “hasn’t been an easy one.”
“This club has played a significant role in my life and my family’s over the past 11 years,” he remarked.
“It has provided me with so much, both on and off the pitch, and from the moment I joined, I have endeavoured to give everything I could to represent it honourably.”
“Being given the honour of captaining this club since 2018 is something I will always cherish. Leading this team, wearing the armband, and earning the trust to do so has meant more to me than I can express.”
The English right-back holds the record as the highest-scoring defender in British football, with 144 goals during his 562 appearances for Rangers and a total of 152 goals overall.
Tavernier transferred from Newcastle in 2015 when Rangers were competing in the Scottish Championship, having previously been relegated to the fourth tier following the club’s administration.
He played a crucial role in helping Rangers win that division, and when Steven Gerrard took over as manager in 2018, he appointed Tavernier as full-time captain.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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