Rangers legend Colin Stein has opened up on some of the most dramatic moments of his Ibrox career, reflecting on controversy, cup heartbreak, European battles and the influential figures who shaped his time in Glasgow.
Speaking to Rangers TV, the former striker revisited a fiery Scottish Cup tie against Clyde that resulted in a costly suspension.
Despite scoring a hat-trick in a 6–0 win, Stein found himself embroiled in an incident that would ultimately rule him out of a major final.
“I should never have got involved in that,” Stein admitted.
“I got a lick in the mouth from [Tommy] McCulloch, the goalkeeper, when I scored the third goal.
“I don’t know if that upset me or not. But he kicked me right across the park and I just retaliated.”
At the time, physical defending was part of the game, and Stein acknowledged he had become a target for opposition defenders.
“Oh, definitely,” he said.
“At that time, the centre-halves could tackle from behind and they would just go right through you.
“So, you had to try and look after yourself. But retaliation, well, it’s no great thing to do.”
The consequences were severe. A six-week suspension from an eight-week ban ruled Stein out of the 1969 Scottish Cup Final against Celtic, a match Rangers would lose 4–0.
“I did sit in the stand,” he recalled.
“You go into the pitch before the game and all the crowds are in. They’re all chanting my name and I wasn’t even playing. And I thought, oh, I’m terrible.”
The match unravelled quickly for Rangers.
“Fergie [Alex Ferguson] ran out for a short corner,” Stein said.
“The ball came across and Billy McNeill opened the scoring after five minutes and Rangers didn’t play well after that.”
Despite that disappointment, Stein’s international career continued to flourish. Just weeks later, he enjoyed a remarkable afternoon with Scotland in Cyprus.
“4–0, and four goals,” he smiled.
“It was a Saturday afternoon, a sunny day, and getting four goals. Again, a left-foot header – quite a difference.”
He even joked about missing out on a fifth.
“We actually got a penalty and I had the ball, but Tommy Gemmell grabbed it off me and scored - I could have scored five!”
Turning to Rangers European adventures, Stein reflected on the Cup Winners’ Cup and the return of Jim Baxter to the squad in 1969.
“When Jimmy came into a room, everybody was listening,” he said.
“Him and Dennis Law were two people you’d always listen to. Two world-class players. Jim Baxter was the same.”
Stein also praised Górnik Zabrze winger Włodzimierz Lubanski, who impressed during Rangers defeat in Poland.
“He’s the only guy I’ve seen outrun Ronnie McKinnon,” Stein said.
“And Ronnie was one of the fastest centre-halves in Scotland, maybe the world at the time. For me, Lubanski was a real world-class player.”
On former Rangers manager David White, Stein struck a respectful tone.
“I think David White was quite good tactically,” he said.
“Different from Jock Wallace, who was a fitness fanatic.
“When David White went to Dundee and won the League Cup and Scottish Cup against Celtic, I was really over the moon for him.”
Finally, Stein reflected fondly on working under Willie Waddell and Jock Wallace.
“I would run through a brick wall for any of the two of them,” he said.
“Willie could talk to everybody, liked to speak to individuals and gee you up. He didn’t do anything wrong. He was great.”
For Rangers supporters, Stein’s stories offer a powerful reminder of an era defined by passion, pressure, and personalities – with the Ibrox faithful always at the heart of it all.