2011–12 Rangers F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 2011–12 season is the 115th season of competitive football by Rangers
.
, the season began with a changing of the guard, with assistant manager Ally McCoist
promoted to the hot seat.
With the new ownership securing the financial stability of the club, Rangers began their first season in recent years without a significant lack of funds with which to acquire new players. McCoist managed to secure several first team regulars on short term contract extensions, and long term extensions for goalkeeper Allan McGregor
, and Steven Whittaker
, the latter after several bids were rejected from Turkish side Bursaspor
. With McCoist able to enter the transfer market, the playing squad had several faces added, beginning with Almería
midfielder Juan Manuel Ortiz, and Lee Wallace
and Dorin Goian
subsequnetly.
Rangers's first Scottish Premier League
match of the season was a home match against Jim Jefferies
' Hearts
, where the league flag was unfurled by new owner Craig Whyte
. This proved to be a baptism of fire for McCoist, as Rangers were under considerable pressure for most of the first half, but managed to salvage a draw.
Ranger's European adventure began in the middle of the final week of July, where Rangers were defeated by underdogs Malmö
1-0 at home. The following week, after McCoist claimed his first competitive victory as manager in the SPL over St. Johnstone, Rangers crashed out of the Champions League with a bad tempered 1-1 draw in Sweden in which both Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra
were both given their marching orders, and ultimately relegating the Gers to the Europa League play-off round, where they now face an away fixture against Slovenian team NK Maribor
.
Last updated: 27 November 2011
Source: Match reports
Only competitive matches
Last updated: 27 November 2011
Source: Match reports
Only competitive matches
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
Overview
Rangers played a total of 44 competitive matches during the 2011-12 season. Following the change of ownership at the close of the previous season, and the resignation of managerial legend Walter SmithWalter Smith
Walter Smith, OBE is a Scottish football manager. His most recent job was at Scottish Premier League club Rangers.Smith had a relatively modest playing career, consisting of two spells with Dundee United which was split by a short time at Dumbarton.A pelvic injury meant he moved in to coaching at...
, the season began with a changing of the guard, with assistant manager Ally McCoist
Ally McCoist
Alistair Murdoch "Ally" McCoist, MBE ; 24 September 1962) is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Rangers in Scotland....
promoted to the hot seat.
With the new ownership securing the financial stability of the club, Rangers began their first season in recent years without a significant lack of funds with which to acquire new players. McCoist managed to secure several first team regulars on short term contract extensions, and long term extensions for goalkeeper Allan McGregor
Allan McGregor
Allan James McGregor is a Scottish association footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Rangers and the Scotland national team...
, and Steven Whittaker
Steven Whittaker
Steven Gordon Whittaker is a Scottish association footballer who currently plays as a right back for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Scotland national side....
, the latter after several bids were rejected from Turkish side Bursaspor
Bursaspor
Bursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar...
. With McCoist able to enter the transfer market, the playing squad had several faces added, beginning with Almería
UD Almería
Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1989 as Almería Club de Fútbol, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, with a 22,000-seat...
midfielder Juan Manuel Ortiz, and Lee Wallace
Lee Wallace
Lee Wallace is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. He is a left-sided fullback who can also operate on the left side of midfield.-Heart of Midlothian:...
and Dorin Goian
Dorin Goian
Dorin Goian is a Romanian footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers. A physical centre back, he is also a member of the Romanian national team.-Foresta Fălticeni:...
subsequnetly.
Rangers's first Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
match of the season was a home match against Jim Jefferies
Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
' Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, where the league flag was unfurled by new owner Craig Whyte
Craig Whyte
Craig Whyte is a Scottish businessman and the owner of Rangers Football Club.Whyte first entered business in a plant hire company; since then he has branched out into security, manufacturing and property, before becoming a venture capitalist...
. This proved to be a baptism of fire for McCoist, as Rangers were under considerable pressure for most of the first half, but managed to salvage a draw.
Ranger's European adventure began in the middle of the final week of July, where Rangers were defeated by underdogs Malmö
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
1-0 at home. The following week, after McCoist claimed his first competitive victory as manager in the SPL over St. Johnstone, Rangers crashed out of the Champions League with a bad tempered 1-1 draw in Sweden in which both Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra
Madjid Bougherra
Madjid Bougherra is a professional footballer. He currently plays for Lekhwiya and the Algeria national team. He is a defender, who can also play as a midfielder....
were both given their marching orders, and ultimately relegating the Gers to the Europa League play-off round, where they now face an away fixture against Slovenian team NK Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
.
Squad information
In
Total spending: £3.92mOut
Total income: £1.7mNew Contracts
Squad statistics
Top scorers
| P Football (soccer) positions In the sport of association football, each of the eleven players on a team is assigned to a particular position on the field of play. A team is made up of one goalkeeper and ten outfield players who fill various defensive, midfield and attacking positions depending on the formation deployed. These... |
SPL Scottish Premier League The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland... |
SC Scottish Cup The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The... |
SLC Scottish League Cup The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by... |
E UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | CF |  |
Nikica Jelavić Nikica Jelavic Nikica Jelavić is a Croatian football centre forward who plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Croatian national team.... |
9 | 1 | 1 | 11 | |
| 14 | CF |  |
Steven Naismith Steven Naismith Steven John Naismith is a Scottish association footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Scotland national team.Naismith began his career with Kilmarnock in 2004... |
9 | 9 | |||
| 11 | CF |  |
Kyle Lafferty Kyle Lafferty Kyle Lafferty is an Northern Irishassociation footballer who currently plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team... |
5 | 5 | |||
| 7 | CM Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
 |
Maurice Edu Maurice Edu Maurice Edu is an American soccer player who plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League and the United States national team.- Early life :... |
2 | 2 | |||
| 18 | CB Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
|
Carlos Bocanegra Carlos Bocanegra Carlos Manuel Bocanegra is an American soccer player who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and is the captain of the United States national team.-Chicago Fire:... |
1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 27 | LW Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
|
Gregg Wylde Gregg Wylde Gregory "Gregg" Wylde is a Scottish association footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers.-Career:Wylde joined Rangers' youth system from Old Firm rivals Celtic when he was 14. He made his first-team debut as a late substitute against Hamilton Academical on 29 August 2009... |
2 | 2 | |||
| 17 | RM Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
 |
Juan Manuel Ortiz | 1 | 1 | |||
| 8 | CM Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
|
Steven Davis Steven Davis Steven Davis is a Northern Irish association footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team... |
1 | 1 | |||
| 2 | CB Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
 |
Dorin Goian Dorin Goian Dorin Goian is a Romanian footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers. A physical centre back, he is also a member of the Romanian national team.-Foresta Fălticeni:... |
1 | 1 |
Last updated: 27 November 2011
Source: Match reports
Only competitive matches
Disciplinary record
| P Football (soccer) positions In the sport of association football, each of the eleven players on a team is assigned to a particular position on the field of play. A team is made up of one goalkeeper and ten outfield players who fill various defensive, midfield and attacking positions depending on the formation deployed. These... |
YC  |
 |
RC |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | CB | |
Dorin Goian Dorin Goian Dorin Goian is a Romanian footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers. A physical centre back, he is also a member of the Romanian national team.-Foresta Fălticeni:... |
2 | ||
| 4 | RB | |
Kirk Broadfoot Kirk Broadfoot Kirk Broadfoot is a Scottish professional association football player who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers. He has played mainly as a centre back during his career but has been playing regularly as a right back and sometimes as a left back... |
3 | ||
| 5 | LB |  |
Saša Papac Saša Papac Saša Papac is a Bosnian association footballer who currently plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League and the Bosnia & Herzegovina national team.... |
4 | ||
| 6 | CM | |
Lee McCulloch Lee McCulloch Lee Henry McCulloch is a Scottish association footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers.He has been capped on 18 occasions by the Scotland national football team. During his career McCulloch has played for Motherwell, Wigan Athletic and Rangers as club level... |
3 | ||
| 7 | CM | |
Maurice Edu Maurice Edu Maurice Edu is an American soccer player who plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League and the United States national team.- Early life :... |
3 | 1 | |
| 8 | CM | |
Steven Davis Steven Davis Steven Davis is a Northern Irish association footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team... |
2 | ||
| 9 | CF | |
Nikica Jelavić Nikica Jelavic Nikica Jelavić is a Croatian football centre forward who plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Croatian national team.... |
1 | ||
| 11 | CF | |
Kyle Lafferty Kyle Lafferty Kyle Lafferty is an Northern Irishassociation footballer who currently plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team... |
4 | ||
| 12 | LB | |
Lee Wallace Lee Wallace Lee Wallace is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. He is a left-sided fullback who can also operate on the left side of midfield.-Heart of Midlothian:... |
1 | ||
| 14 | CF | |
Steven Naismith Steven Naismith Steven John Naismith is a Scottish association footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Scotland national team.Naismith began his career with Kilmarnock in 2004... |
3 | ||
| 15 | CF | |
David Healy David Healy (footballer) David Jonathan Healy, MBE is a Northern Ireland international footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League champions Rangers... |
1 | ||
| 16 | RB | |
Steven Whittaker Steven Whittaker Steven Gordon Whittaker is a Scottish association footballer who currently plays as a right back for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Scotland national side.... |
2 | 1 | |
| 17 | RM | |
Juan Manuel Ortiz | 2 | ||
| 18 | CB | |
Carlos Bocanegra Carlos Bocanegra Carlos Manuel Bocanegra is an American soccer player who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and is the captain of the United States national team.-Chicago Fire:... |
1 | ||
| 22 | CB |  |
Kyle Bartley Kyle Bartley Kyle Louis Bartley is an English professional footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers on loan from Arsenal, as a central defender.... |
2 | ||
| 23 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
|
Jordan McMillan Jordan McMillan Jordan McMillan is a Scottish association footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers.-Career:McMillan was born in Glasgow and began his career with Rangers. He featured on Blue Heaven, a BBC Scotland programme following the lives of young footballers at Rangers... |
1 | ||
| 24 | CB |  |
Madjid Bougherra Madjid Bougherra Madjid Bougherra is a professional footballer. He currently plays for Lekhwiya and the Algeria national team. He is a defender, who can also play as a midfielder.... |
1 | ||
| 27 | LW | |
Gregg Wylde Gregg Wylde Gregory "Gregg" Wylde is a Scottish association footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers.-Career:Wylde joined Rangers' youth system from Old Firm rivals Celtic when he was 14. He made his first-team debut as a late substitute against Hamilton Academical on 29 August 2009... |
1 |
Last updated: 27 November 2011
Source: Match reports
Only competitive matches