He’s been a great servant to Rangers and I think he can go on for a few more years yet.
Allan McGregor is set to make his 500th Rangers appearance on Saturday when Dundee United visit Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership. At the youthful age of 41, the veteran goalkeeper is in the fifth season of his second spell with Rangers and if speculation is to be believed, he may not be finished just yet. With 27 more games, McGregor would climb into the top 10 of Rangers’ all-time appearance makers, a remarkable feat for any player.
McGregor began his career in the academy at Hutchison Vale and Rangers before becoming first choice in the top team during Paul le Guen’s reign at Ibrox. After Walter Smith returned to the club in 2007, McGregor excelled, helping the club win the League Cup in 2008 with a penalty shootout win over Dundee United. He was then dropped by club and country after disciplinary issues on international duty but was back in the Rangers first team at the start of the 2009-10 season, ending that campaign and the next as a league champion. After leaving Ibrox in 2012 for a year with Besiktas, McGregor made his mark in England with Hull City and turned out for Cardiff City during a loan spell in 2017.
McGregor was the man Steven Gerrard wanted to back up a new defence when he became Rangers boss and was part of their progress in Europe as the club established themselves as Europa League regulars. He was also part of the team that finally wrested the title from Celtic in 2021, amassing 18 clean sheets along the way. The following year saw him take part in another European final, this time against Eintracht Frankfurt, although they triumphed on penalties. However, McGregor would be part of a Scottish Cup-winning Rangers side days later, making a cameo appearance off the bench in what many believed would be his last game.
McGregor has long surpassed Stefan Klos’ appearance record at Rangers and has won three more medals with Rangers than the German. The late Andy Goram also did not feature as much for Rangers than McGregor has and also has 10 medals to McGregor’s 13. However, Goram did win one more league title and one more Scotland cap. Compared to his Scotland contemporaries, Craig Gordon and David Marshall, Gordon is way out in front with 74 caps while Marshall played 47 times for his country before retiring from international duty.
Rangers manager Michael Beale has praised McGregor’s contribution to the club over two spells and believes he could still have a future in coaching. Fans have also weighed in on who they think is the greatest Rangers goalkeeper, with many believing McGregor just edges out Goram for performances in Europe, longevity and saving penalties in three different decades against Celtic. Former Rangers defender Richard Foster believes McGregor could possibly go for another few years yet due to his ability to still jump around and catch the ball, as well as his drive to maintain standards in the dressing room.
McGregor’s contribution to Rangers has been immense and it is clear he is still going strong at 41. With 27 more games, he could climb into the top 10 of Rangers’ all-time appearance makers, a remarkable feat for any player.