IT WAS billed as The Journey Part 1.
Rangers had plunged to the bottom of Scottish football after years of financial mismanagement.
Lee McCulloch lifts the Third Division title as Rangers complete phase one of The JourneyCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
Rangers legend Ally McCoist managed the club through its darkest daysCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ally McCoist was left with a threadbare squad to choose from as Rangers started again from scratch in the fourth tier of Scottish football.
The recovery process began as an unrecognisable Light Blues side romped to the Third Division title in 2012-13.
Nine years on, those dreaded trips to Peterhead and Elgin are now nothing more than distant memories.
The days of being humiliated at Ibrox by minnows like Annan Athletic are long gone.
But the undying loyalty shown by supporters through the club’s darkest days will never be forgotten.
As the old song goes, everywhere and anywhere, they followed on. And that’s what will make the Premiership title this season the sweetest of the lot for every Rangers fan.
After watching Celtic hoover up every piece of silverware for the last decade, Steven Gerrard has shattered the ten in a row dream and the Premiership trophy is on its way to Govan.
As Gers prepare to be crowned champions of Scotland, SunSport takes a look back at every player who played their part in the journey from the bottom as part of our special three-part series.
From the Uefa Cup Final to the Third Division, goalkeeper Alexander experienced a rollercoaster five years at Ibrox.
After Allan McGregor refused to transfer his contract over to the Newco, Alexander was an ever-present throughout 2012-13 as Gers completed phase one of The Journey to the top.
But there was to be no fairytale ending as he left the club at the end of that season following a bitter contract dispute, with Cammy Bell replacing him between the sticks.
The 44-year-old now works as a goalkeeping coach for Dunfermline.
Brazilian stopper Emilson Cribari spent two years at RangersCredit: John Gunion – The Sun Glasgow
Brazilian defender Cribari arrived at Rangers with an impressive pedigree, having played for the likes of Empoli, Lazio and Napoli.
He helped the club to back-to-back promotions before retiring at the end of his two-year deal.
Romanian stopper Goian became a fans’ favourite at Ibrox after joining from Palmero in 2011.
As Gers embarked on life outside the top-flight, he featured in the 2-1 Challenge Cup win against Brechin City before spending the rest of the season on loan at Italian side Spezia. He then left Gers by mutual consent in summer 2013.
Goian has since tried his luck at management, spending three years with CSM Bucovina Rădăuți and a short spell at Foresta Suceava.
USA captain Bocanegra formed a solid partnership with Goian in the 2011-12 season before the club were rocked by administration and later liquidation.
He had initially vowed not to walk away and made six appearances at the start of Third Division campaign. But after being dropped by his international team, the centre-back joined Racing de Santander on loan before cutting ties with Gers in 2013.
The 41-year-old now works as a technical director for MLS side Atlanta United and was last year elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Rangers cut short Anestis Argyriou’s contractCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
Greek defender Argyriou penned a two-year deal with Rangers after impressing Ally McCoist on trial.
The ex-AEK Athens star made 27 appearances for the club before ripping up his contract in September 2013.
He later had spells in Poland and Cyprus before retiring in Greece.
The right-back burst onto the scene by making a memorable debut in the 1-1 Champions League clash with Turkish side Bursaspor.
Yet despite earning huge praise from Walter Smith, his Ibrox career failed to take off as he didn’t feature at all for Ally McCoist in the subsequent campaign.
Cole made a handful of appearances overall and his contract was terminated in August 2013 after failing to report for a reserve friendly game.
The 30-year-old now plays for Glentoran after spells at, Derry City, Partick Thistle, Morton, Livingston and Broxburn Athletic.
Broadfoot enjoyed a trophy-laden five years at Rangers but could never have imagined leaving in the circumstances he did.
The defender chose to stay with the Light Blues when they were forced to start again in Scotland’s fourth tier and even rejected a switch to Hungarian champions Debreceni VSC.
But after making two appearances in the new season, Broadfoot had a change of heart and left for Blackpool in the hope of earning a Scotland recall. The ex-St Mirren star, 37, now plays for Inverness.
Sebastien Faure celebrates with Dean ShielsCredit: PA:Press Association
The former France Under-20s defender arrived from Lyon in 2012 but wasn’t a popular figure with Rangers fans.
During the club’s ill-fated Championship season, he let rip in an astonishing interview after becoming an outcast.
He insisted he would be “p****d off” if he wasn’t involved in an upcoming Betfred Cup Old Firm game, blasted the club’s diet regime and admitted it was a struggle to play in front of a full house at Ibrox.
Faure left Glasgow at the end of his three-year contract and now plys his trade with French minnows GOAL FC.
Academy graduate Perry became the first player born in the 1990s to play for the Rangers first team after making his debut in a friendly against LA Galaxy.
The defender was one of a select few who agreed to transfer his contract to the Newco but sadly for the Scotland youth international, his career has been blighted by injuries.
He made 23 appearances in the Third Division but was released following the 2013-14 campaign after suffering an ankle ligament injury.
Perry, 32, has spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues and now plays for Darvel.
The Northern Irishman is currently on the books of Crusaders but helped Rangers to Third Division glory after an unexpected call from Super Ally.
In an 2018 interview with SunSport, he said: “I left the summer they were demoted, but Ally McCoist asked me to come back for pre-season.
“There were only seven or eight there. It was a crazy situation, but he offered me a year’s contract.
“I played in front of a full house at Ibrox and scored a goal there, which was a highlight for me. I played 32 first-team games and got a title medal.”
Chris Heggarty, Andy Murdoch and Luca GasparottoCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
The Canadian was once a highly-rated prospect but failed to make the grade for Rangers.
After various loan spells, he only managed a few appearances before joining Falkirk permanently in 2016.
Moves to Morton and York City followed, but at the age of just 27, the defender is now retired from football.
While other big name stars jumped ship, Wallace sacrificed his Scotland career to stick with Rangers during their darkest days.
The left-back played a huge part in steering Gers through the leagues during a huge period of uncertainty.
Yet despite his loyal devotion, Wallace’s eight years at Ibrox came to a bitter end after losing his captaincy and being frozen out following a bust-up with Graeme Murty in the aftermath of an embarrassing 4-0 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic at Hampden.
The 33-year-old only played 52 minutes under Steven Gerrard before joining Mark Warburton’s QPR in summer 2019.
Just three days after scoring against Liverpool in a Europa League clash at Anfield, Templeton agreed to drop down the leagues and move to Ibrox.
The £700,000 capture was hailed as a major coup for the Light Blues having signed a talent who had just been nominated for PFA Player of the Year.
Temps hit 15 goals in his debut season at Ibrox, followed by a 17-goal League One campaign, but his spell at Rangers was wrecked by a series of injuries and he managed just three appearances under Warburton before being released.
He eventually linked up with Hamilton after spending a year without a club before joining Burton Albion for two seasons. Now back at Accies, his injury curse has struck again after being ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
Ian Black won the Third Division and League One with RangersCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
Templeton joined former Hearts teammate Black at Ibrox, after the tough-tackling midfielder had left Tynecastle earlier that summer.
Black had all the combative attributes to succeed in the uncompromising lower leagues and his form even landed him a surprise Scotland cap.
But in September 2013, Black was hit with a ten-game ban and £7,500 fine for gambling and even betting against his OWN team.
Since his release in 2015, the Scottish Cup winner’s career hit the downward spiral, finishing up at Scottish junior club Tranent. He’s now assistant manager at Lowland League outfit Bo’ness United.
Macleod’s emergence came as a result of Rangers’ financial implosion, as McCoist turned to youth during testing times.
The classy midfielder immediately made a huge impression and penned a five-year deal in September 2012 and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year.
However, his Gers career stalled due to injury and health issues after taking an adverse reaction to a viral infection – leading to early retirement fears.
The youth product bounced back though and was later sold to Warburton’s Brentford for around £1million. The ex-Wigan ace also played for Plymouth Argyle.
Crawford won Third Division and League One winners’ medals with Rangers before reaching a crossroads in 2016.
After leaving Ibrox, he had a couple of short spells with Raith Rovers and East Kilbride before holding talks with American side North Carolina.
The 29-year-old midfielder eventually got his career back on track by joining Icelandic champions FH Hafnarfjörður and later moved to Finland. He now plays for Monterey Bay.
Murdoch established himself as a regular under Stuart McCall during the club’s doomed Scottish Championship campaign, winning Rangers’ Young Player of the Year award.
But the arrival of new boss Warburton saw his first-team chances limited, and he was shipped out on loan to Cowdenbeath and Queen of the South before joining Morton permanently in 2016. Currently turns out for Ayr United.
Kyle Hutton won major honours with RangersCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
Just over a decade since starring for Rangers in the Champions League against Man United, Hutton now plays for Forfar United.
The midfielder won the SPL title and League Cup with Gers and even started in a blockbuster European clash with Manchester United at Ibrox.
Hutton, 31, was a key man for McCoist during the club’s season at the foot of Scottish football but lost his way after a nightmare leg break the following year before being released in 2015.
Ex-Man City youth Mitchell only made seven appearances for Gers in 2012-13 but won a couple of man of the match awards.
Now back in Northern Ireland with Larne FC, Mitchell recently said: “Playing for such a huge club as the Glasgow Rangers has given some wonderful memories, I am grateful for the coaching I received there from guys like Ian Durrant and Jim Sinclair.”
Winger Walsh made his debut at the age of just 16 against Stirling Albion – his only appearance of the Third Division campaign.
Injury problems stunted his progress, and although he made further appearances under McCall and Kenny McDowall, he never made the grade. Now plays for Inverness.
Fraser Aird is a big Rangers fanCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
The Canadian winger helped Gers seal Championship promotion before leaving for Vancouver Whitecaps on loan in January 2016.
Aird left Rangers for good a year later, signing a short-term deal with Falkirk before spells with Dunfermline, Queen of the South and Dundee United.
In 2019, he was axed by Cove Rangers after being caught on camera aiming abuse at Celtic fans during a Parkhead Old Firm clash and is now back in Canada playing for FC Edmonton.
Attacker Stoney can always say he lived the dream by playing for his boyhood heroes.
Now at Johnstone Burgh FC, the 26-year-old – who has a Rangers tattoo on his calf – made three cameos as a sub.
Barrie Mckay played his best football at Rangers under Mark WarburtonCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
Mckay caught the eye in 2012 but was forced to prove himself on loan at Morton and Raith Rovers.
His Rangers career really burst into life when Warburton took over, scoring in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Celtic and starring as the club finally secured top-flight promotion.
However, after being deemed surplus to requirements by Pedro Caixinha in the summer of 2017, he followed Warburton to Nottingham Forest.
The 27-year-old is currently playing for Hearts.
Big Jig was one of the biggest names to remain with Rangers following liquidation.
The versatile striker captained Gers and ended the campaign as top scorer with 26 goals.
The ex-Scotland man scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 win against Airdrieonians to secure the League One title and was appointed player/coach the following season when McCoist was put on gardening leave.
McCulloch – now a coach with Hearts – ended his long career with Rangers in 2015, claiming he became the “fall guy” following a disastrous Championship campaign.
Ex-Kilmarnock star Shiels reportedly snubbed the chance of guaranteed Champions League football with Danish champions FC Nordsjaelland to join Rangers in 2012.
The Northern Ireland playmaker was a regular during his four years at Ibrox, scoring 32 goals in 125 games, and left as they won promotion to the Premiership.
Now aged 37, Shiels is retired from football and has followed his dad, Kenny, into management.
Kevin Kyle negotiated his own Rangers contractCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
Scotland international Kyle couldn’t believe his luck when he landed one final big pay day at Rangers.
After leaving Hearts in March 2012, Kyle was offered a deal after impressing McCoist on trial.
The target man striker would have been happy to earn around £700 a week at Ibrox but ended up pocketing THREE times more than what he hoped for.
Now a podcast favourite on Open Goal, the pundit revealed: “I walked in and the gaffer says: ‘Right Kevin, what you after?’
“I don’t know what happened, what came over me, but I just went: ‘I want the same money I was getting at Hearts – about £150,000 a year’.
“He says: ‘Alright, OK, I don’t know if we can give you that’. I says: ‘Well you come back to me with an offer’.
“I went out, f****** nervous, thinking what have I just said there? I’m thinking I’ve killed myself.
“He told me to come back in and he says: ‘We’ll give you £100,000 a year and £1,000 in appearance money’.
“I was buzzing. I’d have played with Rangers for nothing!”
Following the club’s expulsion from the SPL, Little decided to sign a new contract and bagged 25 goals in the Third Division campaign.
The Northern Irishman had cemented his position as a key player for McCoist.
But after smashing his cheekbone and jaw in a horror collision, the striker missed most of the unbeaten League One run and was released at the end of that season.
He retired from playing at the age of 29 but will always be fondly remembered for his Old Firm winner against Celtic in 2012.
Naismith was barely given a look in at Rangers, making just five starts, before his release in 2013.
But the Scots utility man has managed to find his feet down south, moving to Accrington Stanley before starring for Portsmouth as they finished League Two champions in 2016.
He was a regular with Wigan Athletic before joining Championship side Luton Town in January.
Fran Sandaza was humiliated by a Celtic pranksterCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
Former St Johnstone striker Sandaza was famously sacked by Rangers after falling for a Celtic fan’s phone prank.
The Spaniard was fooled into thinking he was speaking to an American-based agent in Los Angeles and well, the rest is history.
The ex-Dundee United star said he’d jump at the chance of a money-spinning MLS deal – but the wind-up instead cost Sandaza his Ibrox career.
The globe-trotting forward has since played for eight different clubs across the continent, and is currently with Extremadura.
Hemmings has scored goals for fun pretty much everywhere he has played – except Rangers.
But ahead of the 2012-13 campaign, the striker suffered a devastating knee injury which ruled him out for eight months.
After making a few cameo appearances from the bench, the Englishman was released.
He later enjoyed a remarkable spell at Dundee – scoring 21 Premiership goals – and now plays with Burton Albion.
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