Murphy is thrilled to follow in footsteps of Laudrup
THE inspiration for Jamie Murphy’ s future career glided elegantly around the Ibrox pitch. Watching Brian Laudrup in action left this Glaswegian schoolboy wide-eyed in wonder at how skill could be mastered with such precision.
It ignited a passion within Murphy that still burns to this day. Only now, he will be the one patrolling the left flank for Rangers, seeking to create and score goals.
It is hardly an insult to suggest Murphy won’t do it quite like Laudrup. The brilliant Dane, surely the club’ s greatest overseas player of all time, dazzled observers during the mid-1990s.
This was when Murphy came of age as a Rangers fan, the golden era of Walter Smith’s Nine-in-a-Row team and its abundant talents. He still speaks with a note of awe about the idols in whose footsteps he will try to follow.
‘Brian Laudrup was always my favourite, but that full team was brilliant,’ said Murphy, whose loan move from Brighton will become permanent at the end of the season.
‘People like Gazza, Laudrup and Jorg Albertz were all players I loved to watch.
‘I have been lucky enough to meet some of them over the years. I had Stuart McCall as my manager when I was at Sheffield United and I met Mark Hateley through his son, Tom. These guys are still remembered throughout Ibr ox, especially amongst my generation.’ Fast forward to 2018 and Rangers are no longer a perennial magnet for success. Young fans watching today may struggle to recall the club’s last major trophy back in 2011. Whoever can end the long wait for silverware would be worthy of their own place within Ibrox history. That is a responsibility Murphy readily recognises. ‘ Yo u want to be remembered when you do eventually leave. That is what Rangers is all about — trying to win things,’ he stated. The Scottish Cup provides the premier opportunity for the second half of the season, with Murphy set for a competitive debut in the fourth-round tie against Fraserburgh a week on Sunday. ‘It is a competition I enjoy,’ he said. ‘It was always one I looked forward to when I was at Motherwell. It is good to try and get to finals and to try and win things. That is what you want in your career. ‘I think it’ s an exciting time at the club. We are looking to improve — as I am as a player. The team were unlucky not to win the derby and there is a lot to look forward to.’ Murphy was tuned into i t th that t goalless ll d draw at tC Celtic lti Park on December 30. Watching Rangers play wasn’t something he gave up on during five years in English football with Sheffield United and Brighton.
‘If I had a weekend off and never had a game then I would make the effort to get to the Rangers match or at least watch it on television,’ he added.
‘I am quite lucky in that most Rangers games are on t he television.
‘I am just glad to have joined the club. It is what I wanted from the start — as soon as I knew they wanted me.
‘My family are all delighted. My wife and kids can get back up the road and my dad can get to my games more easily il now. He H always l used to try and come down to every game — even at Brighton, which was difficult for him.’
Graeme Dorrans and Andy Halliday are two more born-andbred Rangers fans within Graeme Murty’s squad. But is having a core of supporters-turned-players important in the modern era?
‘It won’t be if we are losing,’ insisted Murphy. ‘Football is all about winning — no matter what team you support or where you come from.
‘I know a couple of the lads from before. I played with Jason Holt at Sheffield United and with Danny Wilson when coming through the Scotland ranks.
‘I have also played against a lot of them up here and down in England.’
Murphy has been getting to know the less familiar members of the Ibrox squad since arriving at their Florida training camp on Sunday night. A delay in his switch from Brighton left him 24 hours behind in making the transatlantic trek.
The 28- year- old could now feature ft iint tomorrow evening’ si’ Florida Cup match against Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro. And he believes Rangers have landed a much improved asset from the one which left Motherwell in 2013.
‘I have changed a lot,’ he said. ‘I feel I am a much better player. I felt I was okay at the time.
‘You learn things from playing in different places and I have worked up the hard way.
‘I went down to League One, did well at Sheffield United, went to t he Championship and got promoted with Brighton, which was what we were trying to achieve.
‘All these experiences have helped to make me a better player.’
One experience Murphy has yet to taste is a full Scotland cap, despite twice being called into the squad during 2016.
‘It is something I have always looked to try and get, caps for Scotland,’ admitted Murphy. ‘I am disappointed that it hasn’t happened so far.’
Rangers is about trying to win things and you want to be remembered