Character, Class and the Rangers Standard: What the Current Squad Must Understand

At Rangers Football Club, the shirt weighs more than just its material. It carries a history of triumph, expectation, and relentless pressure—something even the most experienced players must learn to bear. There’s no hiding behind age, past glories, or talent alone. At Ibrox, success demands both mental steel and technical quality in equal measure.

That reality has never been more relevant than it is today. The current squad, under Russell Martin, finds itself at a familiar crossroads. There’s ambition, yes. A few flashes of quality? Certainly.

But too often, Rangers fans see players who can run hard yet fall short when it comes to moments that require finesse or inspiration. Others possess a bit of flair, but their heads drop when the pressure mounts. That simply won’t do here.

Walter Smith understood this truth better than most. He didn’t need a team full of superstars—he needed men who could handle what it meant to wear the badge. Take Kirk Broadfoot, for example. No one would mistake him for a technically gifted footballer.

But Walter got the best out of him because Broadfoot had character. He gave everything, every week, regardless of the opposition or occasion. That sort of mentality is non-negotiable at Rangers.

Yet, as much as character is crucial, Rangers fans don’t support the club to watch eleven workhorses lump the ball forward. The standards were set long ago by players who combined grit with genius. Barry Ferguson’s command of the midfield. Ronald de Boer’s elegance on the ball.

Brian Laudrup’s effortless brilliance. These were not just players who could cope with expectation—they elevated the club because of it.

The problem for Martin, then, isn’t just finding players who “can cope.” It’s finding those rare few who thrive. Players who not only run for 90 minutes but who can unlock defences with a touch, who want the ball when it matters most. Rangers don’t exist to finish second, to merely fight bravely and fall short. The club plays to win—always has.

Supporters will tolerate mistakes. They’ll even forgive a lack of form. But they won’t stand for those who shrink from the pressure. That’s why the bar remains so high—because they’ve seen it done right. They remember what greatness looks like.

Russell Martin doesn’t need to rebuild Rangers from scratch. He needs to build a team in the mould of those who came before: tough, talented, and hungry to write their own chapters in the club’s storied history. Anything less, and the Ibrox crowd will know—and they’ll let you know, too.