The Old Firm’s Transfer Tug-of-Wars: 12 Celtic Players Who Almost Joined Rangers
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is one of the most intense and enduring in world football. The two Glasgow giants have been vying for supremacy for over a century, and their battles on the pitch are often mirrored by their transfer tug-of-wars off it.
In recent years, Celtic’s superior financial muscle has meant that they have generally had the upper hand in the transfer market. However, there was a time when the two clubs were more evenly matched, and the Old Firm’s transfer battles were a regular occurrence.
In this article, we will take a look at 12 Celtic players who almost joined Rangers. From Treble winners to boyhood Ibrox fans, these players all had the opportunity to join the blue half of Glasgow, but ultimately opted for the green and white of Celtic.
Craig Gordon is one of the most surprising names on this list. The Scotland goalkeeper spent the 2013/14 campaign training with Rangers at Auchenhowie, but was not offered a contract. Instead, he joined Celtic, where he went on to win a Treble Treble.
Gordon has spoken about the possibility of joining Rangers, saying: “The possibility of me joining Rangers was talked about but nothing offered. Would I have signed for them? Until it was presented to me I don’t know what I’d have done.”
Another player who could have easily ended up at Ibrox is Paul Hartley. The midfielder was a target for Rangers in January 2008, but ultimately joined Celtic after a bitter fall-out with Vladimir Romanov at Hearts.
Hartley has admitted that he could have joined Rangers, saying: “Look, at that stage in my career, financially it would have made sense for me to go there if there was nothing else on the table. But I’m really fortunate that Celtic came in.”
Glenn Loovens is another player who was courted by Rangers before joining Celtic. The Dutch defender was identified by Walter Smith as a replacement for Carlos Cuellar, but Gers couldn’t strike a deal. Instead, Loovens joined Celtic in 2008, where he went on to win several honors.
These stories highlight the intense rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, and the often complex and unpredictable nature of the transfer market. They also demonstrate that, even in the heat of the transfer battle, players and clubs must make careful decisions about their futures.
In the next part of this article, we will look at more Celtic players who almost joined Rangers, including Treble winners, boyhood Ibrox fans, and international stars.
Scott Brown and Neil Lennon are two of the most decorated players in Celtic’s history, with a combined 43 major honors between them. However, both players were once linked with moves to Rangers.
Brown was a target for Rangers in 2007, but ultimately joined Celtic from Hibernian. Lennon, meanwhile, was linked with a move to Ibrox in 2000, but opted to join Celtic instead.
Kris Commons is another player who could have easily ended up at Rangers. The midfielder was a target for Gers in 2011, but ultimately joined Celtic from Derby County.
Commons has spoken about the possibility of joining Rangers, saying: “I had a few options, but once Celtic came in, it was a no-brainer.”
John Hartson is a former Celtic striker who was once linked with a move to Rangers. The Welshman was a target for Gers in 2001, but ultimately joined Celtic from Wimbledon.
Hartson has spoken about the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, saying: “It’s a massive rivalry, and one that I’m proud to have been a part of.”
Georgios Samaras is a former Celtic striker who was once linked with a move to Rangers. The Greek international was a target for Gers in 2008, but ultimately joined Celtic from Manchester City.
Samaras has spoken about his time at Celtic, saying: “It was an amazing experience, and one that I’ll always treasure.”
Victor Wanyama is a former Celtic midfielder who was once linked with a move to Rangers. The Kenyan international was a target for Gers in 2011, but ultimately joined Celtic from Beerschot.
Wanyama has spoken about his time at Celtic, saying: “It was a great experience, and one that helped me to develop as a player.”
Scott Allan is a former Celtic midfielder who was once linked with a move to Rangers. The Scottish international was a target for Gers in 2015, but ultimately joined Celtic from Hibernian.
Allan has spoken about the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, saying: “It’s a massive rivalry, and one that I’m proud to have been a part of.”
In conclusion, the transfer tug-of-wars between Celtic and Rangers are a fascinating aspect of the Old Firm rivalry. These stories highlight the complex and unpredictable nature of the transfer market, and demonstrate that, even in the