Rangers Football Club has been blessed across the decades with many great players—prolific goal scorers, accomplished shot stoppers, brilliant defenders, and creative midfield wizards. We take a look today at the six who made the most appearances across all competitions for the club since its inception.
01. John Greig
John Greig CBE was born on 11th September 1942 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and spent his entire playing career at Rangers FC, and has been elected to the club’s Hall of Fame.
The defender, voted the ‘Greatest Ever Ranger’ by fans in 1999, played for the Light Blues between 1961 and 1978. He scored 120 goals, won three domestic trebles, and represented Scotland 44 times, scoring another three goals.
He won five league titles, six Scottish Cups, four League Cups, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971-72.
Greig replaced Jock Wallace as manager in 1978, bringing an end to his playing days. He won two Scottish Cups and two League cups in his five-year spell.
Total Appearances: 755
League: 498 | Scottish Cup: 72 | League Cup: 121 | Europe: 64
02. Sandy Jardine
William ‘Sandy’ Pullar Jardine was born on 31st December 1948—and died on 24th April 2014—in Edinburgh, Scotland. He joined the Gers in 1964 from Edinburgh Athletic, and spent the next 18 years at the club.
The right back was named Scottish Football Writers Association Player of the Year twice, won two domestic trebles, and made 38 senior appearances for the Scotland national football team. He has been inducted into both Scottish and Rangers FC Halls of Fame.
He won three league titles, five Scottish Cups, five League Cups, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971-72 with John Greig.
Total Appearances: 674
League: 451 | Scottish Cup: 64 | League Cup: 107 | Europe: 52
03. Ally McCoist
Alistair Murdoch McCoist OBE was born on 24th September 1962 in Bellshill, Scotland. He joined the Light Blues from Sunderland in 1983, having started his playing career at St Johnstone.
Over the next 15 years, the striker won nine successive league titles, and scored 355 goals across all competitions to make him the greatest goal scorer in Gers history. He made 61 senior appearances for Scotland, scoring another 19 goals.
He won ten league titles, one Scottish Cup, nine League Cups, two European Golden Shoes, the SFWA Footballer of the Year in 1991-92, and has been inducted into both Scottish and Rangers FC Halls of Fame.
McCoist succeeded Walter Smith as the club’s manager in 2011, and guided them to two successive promotions—from the Third Division in 2012-13 and from League One in 2013-14—having chosen to stay on after Rangers entered into administration and were placed in the Scottish Third Division.
Total Appearances: 581
League: 418 | Scottish Cup: 47 | League Cup: 62 | Europe: 54
Read More: Rangers FC - Legends and Fifty-Five Crowns
04. Sandy Archibald
Alexander ‘Sandy’ Archibald was born on 23rd November 1896—and died on 29th November 1946—in Crossgates, Fife, Scotland. He joined the Gers from Raith Rovers in 1917, and scored 126 goals for the club over the next 17 years.
He holds the club record for league appearances and the British record for league titles . However, he made just eight appearances for Scotland, and scored only one goal.
Archibald has been inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame, and won three Scottish Cups in addition to his 13 league titles.
Total Appearances: 580
League: 513 | Scottish Cup: 67
05. David Meiklejohn
David Ditchburn Meiklejohn was born on 12th December 1900 in Govan—and died on 22nd August 1959 in Airdrie, Scotland. He joined Rangers from Maryhill in 1919, and spent his entire senior playing career with the Gers.
The defender scored 46 goals for the Light Blues, and won 13 league titles, five Scottish Cups, and eight Glasgow Cups during his 17 years at the club. He made 15 appearances for Scotland, scoring another three goals. Meiklejohn has been inducted into both Scottish and Rangers FC Halls of Fame.
Total Appearances: 563
League: 490 | Scottish Cup: 73
06. Dougie Gray
Douglas Herbert Gray was born on 04th April 1905 in Alford, Aberdeenshire, and passed away in 1972 in Glasgow, Scotland. He joined Rangers in 1925 and spent the next 22 years at the club.
Gray won ten league titles and six Scottish Cups, and has been inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame. He made 10 senior appearances for Scotland.
Total Appearances: 555
League: 490 | Scottish Cup: 65