Captain Tavernier to leave Rangers after 11 years

Captain James Tavernier says it "hasn't been an easy decision" after announcing he will leave Rangers at the end of the season after 11 years at Ibrox.

The 34-year-old Englishman revealed on Monday that he had yet to be offered a new deal by the Scottish Premiership club, with his current contract expiring.

And the right-back confirmed on Instagram on Wednesday that he would be cutting ties with the Ibrox outfit in the summer.

"This club has been a huge part of my life and my family's over the past 11 years," said Tavernier, who has played 562 times for Rangers, scoring 144 goals and provided 148 assists.

"It's given me so much, both on and off the pitch, and from the moment I arrived I've always tried to give everything I had to represent it in the right way.

"To have had the honour of being made captain of this club since 2018 is something I will always be incredibly proud of.

"Leading this team out, wearing the armband and being trusted in that role has meant more to me that I can properly put into words."

Second-placed Rangers are in a three-way fight to win the Premiership, with Hearts one point ahead and defending champions Celtic two points off the Ibrox side with five games to play.

"There is still a season to finish and we are fully focused on pushing for the league title," Tavernier added. "I will continue to give absolutely everything, as I always have until the very last day.

"My focus right now is on finishing this season the right way, together."

He veteran added that "this isn't the end just yet", without confirming where he will play next season.

Former Newcastle United defender Tavernier was signed by Mark Warburton from Wigan Athletic in summer 2015, when Rangers were in the Scottish Championship.

In his 11 years at the club, he has played under 10 different managers, becoming the captain under Steven Gerrard in 2018.

He was a pivotal part of Gerrard's title-winning team, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side who reached the Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup, and Philippe Clement's League Cup victors.

In 2024, Tavernier became British football's highest scoring defender with 131 goals but, this term, he has not been an automatic starter under Danny Rohl.

"We've shared the highs and the lows together and some truly incredible moments along the way," Tavernier added.

"To all the players I've shared the pitch and dressing room with over the years, thank you. The bonds that we've built, the battles we've been through and the memories we've created are what make this game so special.

"To the staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes every single day, thank you for everything you've done for me and for the team. Your support often goes unseen, but it has never gone unappreciated.

"And to the fans, your support home and away, through every high and every difficult moment has meant more than I can ever fully express. You are the heart and soul of this club and it has been a privilege to play in front of you."

From a perceived lack of leadership to suspect defending, Tavernier has had to face his fair share of criticism at Rangers.

The list of things some fans have attempted to lambast him for has at times been absurd. Facing scrutiny for treating himself to a chip shop takeaway comes to mind.

What cannot be disputed, however, is the captain's relentless attacking output from the right of the Ibrox side's defence.

No matter the manager, Tavernier has continually produced. In 562 Rangers games, the defender has scored 144 goals. It is silly stuff.

The instant counterpoint to try to diminish that statistic will sound something like: 'But they're all penalties.'

Granted, just over half have come from the spot, but when you throw in 148 assists, the 34-year-old's numbers start to look outrageous.

Even in what will become his farewell season, Tavernier is currently Rangers' top scorer with 14 goals. Factor in his six assists and he has contributed to 20 goals.

For most other full-backs, that would be a career-best campaign. For Tavernier, it has become his standard.

In five of his past 10 campaigns, he has netted at least 15. In one, he managed 17. In three straight seasons he scored 19, 18 and 18. Across 2023-24 he managed 24.

And that is before you count up the goals he has provided for his team-mates.

Since his first season in Scotland's top flight, nobody has scored more than his tally of 83 goals. Former team-mate Alfredo Morelos and Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland - both strikers - are next in line.

In fact, pull that start date all the way back to 2000-01 and only nine players have netted more Scottish top-tier goals than Tavernier.

He is equal with joint record holder Ally McCoist on 21 Rangers European goals. He is only 38 goals away from being included in the club's top 10 all-time scorers.

He ended the 2021-22 Europa League campaign - which also concluded with Rangers losing the final - as the competition's top scorer for the season.

And perhaps most staggering of all, with 152 goals overall in his career, he is the highest-scoring defender in the history of British football.

Tavernier has often been the fall guy at Rangers - which perhaps comes with the territory of wearing the armband at Ibrox - but these are numbers and longevity that would see most forwards leave as legends.

For Tavernier, his status is a touchy subject for some and a source of debate for others. A second Premiership title would go some way to ending that, though.

Eleven years at one club is now incredibly rare. But the one thing that will likely frustrate Tavernier is that he only has three major medals to show for it.

Stopping Celtic earning 10 titles in a row was enormous but too often it was a case of close but no cigar and at Rangers, that's not good enough.

That said, Tavernier was often dragging Rangers through difficult times near single-handedly. As they churned through managers, the captain remained a steady, talented and significant constant.

One wonders where they would have been on their turbulent journey without him at certain points.

His individual stats are astonishing; his goals, set-piece technique and assists a fountain of joy for Rangers supporters. Defensively, he could be caught out but he more than delivered and often in big moments.

He has faced criticism at times in his Rangers career and perhaps familiarity and a lack of silverware bred that, despite all his attributes.

At 34, it would seem the right call to depart. Tavernier commands a sizeable salary and his appearances and impact have diminished.

There will no doubt be real motivation from all at Rangers to send their captain off on the highest of highs with a second Premiership title to his name to further cement his position in the club's hall of fame.