The eleven immortals

1 PETER McCLOY

The man known as the

‘Girvan Lighthouse’ spent 16 seasons at Ibrox after joining from Motherwell in 1970 and fought off competition from the likes of Gerry Neef, Stewart Kennedy and Jim Stewart throughout his long and successful career.

No keeper has played more for Rangers than the 535 appearances that McCloy made and he would collect a handful of domestic medals as leagues and cups were won under the guidance of Jock Wallace before the Souness Revolution kicked off at Ibrox.

2 SANDY JARDINE

A legend for Rangers, Hearts and Scotland, Jardine had class on and off the park and he would later become a key figure during some of the most difficult days at Ibrox. As he fought his own battle with cancer, Jardine was a figure for fans to rally round.

He won two Trebles, played at two World Cups and was twice crowned the SFWA Player of the Year in a hugely successful and distinguished career that saw him make more than 1000 appearances.

3 JOHN GREIG

Greig was, still is and always will be The Greatest. Leading Rangers to glory in Barcelona was his finest moment but his influence at Ibrox goes far beyond his glittering medal haul or the numbers that mark out an extraordinary career.

Guided Rangers to cup successes as a manager before later working behind the scenes. In 2015, he was named as Honorary Life President and his record of league and cup wins will stand the test of time as he is forever revered by Rangers.

4 DEREK JOHNSTONE

DJ shot to prominence by scoring the winner in the League Cup final in 1970 and would go on to lift 14 honours during a wonderful career that saw him play in defence, midfield and attack for club and country and write his name in the history books.

Cruelly overlooked by Ally McLeod for Scotland’s illfated World Cup campaign in Argentina. Later became a respected pundit on Clyde 1 and was a weekly columnist for the Glasgow Times for many years.

5 WILLIE MATHIESON

The left-back spent 15 seasons with Rangers and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 as his service and success – during an

Ibrox career of more than 300 appearances – was recognised by the club and supporters.

Mathieson moved to Arbroath after leaving in 1975 and also played for Raith Rovers. After retiring, he joined former teammate Dave Smith at Berwick Rangers and guided them to the Second Division title.

6 DAVE SMITH

Signed from Aberdeen in 1966, Smith went on to become a stalwart for Rangers and he was named as SFWA Player of the Year in the season that he became part of Ibrox folklore with victory in Barcelona.

A versatile and hard-working player, Smith would make more than 300 appearances for Rangers and earned two Scotland caps before ending his career in America and later going into management.

7 TOMMY McLEAN

One of the finest wingers of his generation, McLean started his career at Kilmarnock alongside brothers Jim and Willie and made nine appearances for Scotland during his time at Rugby Park.

A move to Rangers in 1971 took his career to another level and he won three titles, four Scottish Cups and three League Cups at Ibrox. Later became a Motherwell legend by leading

the Steelmen to the Scottish Cup in 1991.

8 ALFIE CONN

Made his debut in European action as he turned out against Dundalk in the Fairs Cup in 1968 and was part of the side that beat Celtic to lift the Scottish Cup in the famous final of 1973 as he scored Rangers’ second goal in a 3-2 win.

Four years later, Conn became the first player post World War II to cross the Old Firm divide as he joined Celtic after a spell with Tottenham Hotspur. Inducted into the Ibrox Hall of Fame 15 years ago.

9 ALEX MacDONALD

Is fondly remembered by fans of St Johnstone and Hearts, where he ended his career and came agonisingly close to winning the league title in 1986, as well as at Airdrie.

The midfielder is most known for his spell at Ibrox, however, as he became a hero to a generation of supporters.

Scored almost 100 goals for Rangers and lifted three championships, four Scottish Cups and four League Cups and rightly earned his place amongst the pantheon of Light Blues greats.

10 COLIN STEIN

His strike in Barcelona will go down as his most significant for Rangers but Stein also scored the goal that ended their title drought as he returned to old club Hibernian and helped Wallace’s side to glory in 1975.

Enjoyed a notable career for Scotland and netted four times in a win over Cyprus. In two spells at Ibrox, he became a firm favourite.

11 WILLIE JOHNSTON

Known as ‘Bud’, Johnston made his debut for Rangers in 1964 and he lifted the Scottish Cup the following season. Also won the same trophy in 1980 after returning to Ibrox and has two League Cup medals, as well as a runners-up prize from the 1967 Cup Winners’ Cup campaign.

Scotland career ended in ignominy after being sent home from the World

Cup in 1978 but Johnston maintains his innocence after being found guilty of using a banned stimulant to treat his hay fever. In 2004, he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion’s finest-ever was not getting presented with the cup on the park after the trouble with the Spanish police.

“That was the only downside for me, but the wives and girlfriends and mothers were in the hotel and celebrated with us and that was nice.

“We still enjoyed ourselves, don’t get me wrong. It was still a wonderful achievement for us all, but we wished we could have got the trophy on the park and been able to celebrate there with the supporters.”

RANGERS may not have been able to take the acclaim in Spain but that certainly wasn’t the case in the previous round as a great Bayern Munich side were beaten and Ibrox roared.

A 1-1 draw in Germany was followed by a 2-0 victory in the return leg as Sandy Jardine and Derek Parlane netted. That feat would be put into remarkable context over the next few years as the core of that side – including the likes of Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller – went on to conquer Europe and the world.

“Playing for Scotland and winning a European trophy were the highlights of my career,” Johnston said. “They were great moments for me that I am very proud of.

“But I would say that the night that we beat Bayern at Ibrox, when we beat them 2-0, that was the best atmosphere I have ever experienced in a football ground.

“Even with Scotland versus England and going to Wembley, that night beats it. That night at Ibrox was electric. That, for me, was like a final.”

The run to that stage was far from straightforward. Stade Rennais and Torino were both beaten 2-1 on aggregate – with Johnston scoring in both ties – and victory over Sporting Lisbon was only confirmed after Rangers thought they had been beaten on penalties.

It was a squad that had class and commitment in abundance. In the end, those qualities would see them finally add European silverware to Rangers’ illustrious honour roll.

“We had a lot of good players, a lot of great players in fact,” Stein said. “But we weren’t really consistent enough.

“It was always Rangers and Celtic during my time and Celtic were more consistent that Rangers. But Rangers, on their day, could match anybody and beat anybody.”