Aaron inspires me & Harry every day.. he’ll always be with us.. He was there when I signed for Rangers and he was totally buzzing. He was my hero as a kid and he still is
Souttar is inspired by brave older brother to live best life
Brother. Hero. Best mate.
Those were the words John Souttar used to describe older sibling Aaron after he tragically passed away at just 42 years of age.
Now you can add another one. Inspiration.
Every day he’ll look at the tattoo on his left bicep and feel it.
Motivated to be the best he can be. Energised to live life to the full.
And hugely influenced by the face staring back at him.
Souttar has been through a lot already as a footballer.
The Rangers and Scotland centre-back has shown incredible mental strength to battle back from serious injuries.
But he’ll never complain or feel sorry for himself. And that’s down to his big brother.
Aaron fought against Motor Neurone Disease to the death. Yet
John and his other brother, Harry, never heard him complain once.
That’s REAL mental strength, real resilience.
And it will help shape both of their characters for the rest of their careers, whatever they go on to achieve.
The Ibrox defender has spoken for the f irst time about the devastating loss he suffered on Sunday, July 17.
Just two weeks later Souttar played for Rangers in their opening Premiership game of the season at Livingston.
And it was some time after that when he paid tribute to Aaron in an emotional Facebook post, f o l low i n g t he f ami l y ’ s announcement that he’d lost his life. Souttar now has permanent ink on his arm with his brother’s date of birth and the words ‘Live Forever’ next to Aaron.
His whole family has played a major part in getting John to where he is today.
But when it comes to his mindset and mentality?
What Aaron went through will always help him to keep football – and life – in perspective.
Souttar said: “I definitely get my resilience from my family and what my older brother went through.
“That puts everything into perspective for myself and Harry.
“The injuries that Aaron suffered compared to us? And there wasn’t one day where he complained about anything.
“So for us to get a football injury, how could we complain about anything? When he’s sitting there still laughing and joking. Every day we would look at him and think, ‘ How can he go through this and not complain for two years?’
“Yeah, we might have a bad knee or a bad Achilles but we couldn’t complain.
“Aaron inspires me every day. “We were going to get the tattoos done together but when Harry got his, I was going in for an operation.
“But I finally got the chance to get it. It’s just something for Aaron, he’ ll always be there, always be with me.
“He was there when I signed for Rangers and he was absolutely buzzing.
“He came into the Blue Room at Ibrox and things like that.
“Now he’ ll always be with me – and Harry too – for every big moment in our lives. Aaron was
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my hero growing up. He still is. He was a hero to us both.
“He’s in our thoughts every day and everything we do now is to make him proud.”
Just like in the Blue Room that day, Aaron would also be feeling immensely proud of what his brothers have achieved in the game so far.
None more so than Harry playing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for adopted country Australia.
The former Dundee United kid was a stand-out for the Socceroos as they reached the knockout stages of the tournament.
John didn’t make it out to the Middle East as he recovered from an ankle injury at Rangers. But he watched every minute.
And off the back of his performances, Harry earned a dream £ 15million move from
Stoke to Premier League side Leicester City.
The fact that he’d just returned after almost a year out with an ACL knee injury himself, makes that all the more impressive.
And John couldn’t be any happier for him.
He said: “It was amazing to watch him do what he did after being out for that length of time.
“He had two games for Stoke then went to the World Cup and played like that.
“It was incredible. I was so proud watching him. It’s an unbelievable achievement for anyone to do that.
“All the family were over in Qatar but I never got out myself.
“To watch it from home was u nbe l i e v abl e . In every performance he was outstanding for Australia.
“He took his game to another level out there and deserved d his move.
“Now it’s amazing to watch ch him in the Premier League every ery week with Leicester. I couldn’t n’t be prouder of him.
“He’s gone on to be successful when there were times he was probably thinking: ‘ No chance, I’m miles off it here, I’m never going to get anywhere.’
“If you told Harry that six months on from his ACL, he’d be playing in the Premier r League with Leicester having ing played at a World Cup, I don’t on’t think he’d have believed you.
“That’s a lesson for everyonee in life. If you go through tough spells, ells, the good times will come if you stick at it.”
Now the pressure is on Johnn to emulate Harry and play at the World Cup for Scotland. Could ld they eveven face each other in America, America Canada and Mexico in 202 2026?
They Th would both fancy that. But, for now, Souttar insists insi they’re happy to push each other on to have the best possible careers. John Jo said: “Souttar v Souttar Sou at the World Cup in 22026? That would be good. good You never know.
“BBut there isn’t any competition com between us. Maybe May there was when we were we younger!
“Now that we’re older we just appreciate the levelslev we’ve both got to. “We push each other ono to an extent.
“It ’ s more about beingbe supportive and always alw being there for each eac other.”