James Tavernier’s Rangers career in numbers as legendary defender bids emotional farewell

James Tavernier has announced that helium volition beryllium leaving Rangers astatine the extremity of the season, bringing the curtain down connected a memorable 11-year vocation astatine Ibrox.

The 34-year-old moved to Scotland from Wigan Athletic successful July 2015 and has since established himself arsenic a nine fable with the Glaswegian giants, whom helium has captained for the past 8 seasons.

Tavernier stated astatine the opening of this week that helium will "never unopen the doorway " connected a caller declaration astatine Rangers and suggested that a determination implicit his aboriginal was “too acold up for maine to deliberation about”.

However, little than 72 hours later, Tavernier has taken to societal media to corroborate that helium volition depart Ibrox erstwhile his woody expires successful the summer, arsenic helium feels that “the clip is close for a caller challenge”.

A lengthy connection posted connected his Instagram relationship read: “To the fans, My teammates and each the unit astatine the club, aft a batch of thought, I've made the determination that this volition beryllium my last play astatine the club.

“This hasn't been an casual decision. This nine has been a immense portion of my beingness and my family's implicit the past 11 years. It's fixed maine truthful much, some connected and disconnected the transportation and from the infinitesimal I arrived, l've ever tried to springiness everything I had to correspond it successful the close way.

“To person had the honour of being made skipper of this nine since 2018 is thing I volition ever beryllium incredibly arrogant of. Leading this squad out, Wearing the armband and being trusted successful that relation has meant much to maine than I tin decently enactment into words.

Tavernier to permission Rangers: "I consciousness the clip is close for a caller challenge"

“We've shared the highs and the lows unneurotic and immoderate genuinely unthinkable moments on the way. These see lifting the Scottish Cup, League Cup, our travel to a European last and those unforgettable European nights astatine Ibrox against Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, wherever the ambiance was thing I volition ne'er forget.

“It besides includes winning the league rubric and delivering 55, A infinitesimal that meant everything to this nine and its supporters and one. I volition transportation with maine for the remainder of my life.

“To each the players I've shared the transportation and dressing country with implicit the years, Thank you. The bonds we've built, the battles we've been done and the memories we've created are what marque this crippled truthful special.

“To the unit who enactment tirelessly down the scenes each azygous day, convey you for everything you've done for maine and for the team. Your enactment often goes unseen, but it has ne'er gone unappreciated.

“And to the fans, your enactment location and away, done each precocious and each hard moment, has meant much than I tin ever afloat express. You are the bosom and psyche of this nine and it has been a privilege to play successful beforehand of you.

“This isn't the extremity conscionable yet. There is inactive a play to decorativeness and we are afloat focused connected pushing for the league title. I volition proceed to springiness perfectly everything, As I ever person until the precise past day

“While I consciousness the clip is close for a caller challenge, my absorption close present is connected finishing this play the close way, together.

“Thank you for everything this nine has fixed me. It has been the top honour of my vocation to correspond it and to pb it.

“This nine volition ever beryllium a portion of me, and I volition ever beryllium a portion of it. Once a Ranger, ever a Ranger.”

Tavernier's determination to denote his end-of-season departure comes astatine a clip erstwhile Rangers are warring for the Scottish Premiership title successful a thrilling three-horse contention with Celtic and existent leaders Hearts, who beryllium conscionable 1 constituent wide of Danny Rohl's broadside with 5 games remaining.