Football Apr 26, 2026

James Tavernier: Rangers captain to leave Scottish Premiership club at end of season after 11 years at Ibrox

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
James Tavernier: Rangers captain to leave Scottish Premiership club at end of season after 11 years at Ibrox

Rangers captain James Tavernier has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, after 11 years at Ibrox.

The 34-year-old joined the Ibrox side in 2015 and has led them for the last eight years, winning the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup.

He also captained Rangers to the Europa League final in 2022, which they lost on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The right-back has scored 144 goals in 562 appearances for Rangers, making him Britain's highest-scoring defender.

In a social media post, Tavernier said he will "give everything I have until the very last day" as the team focus on "pushing for the league title".

"This hasn't been an easy decision," he said. "This club has been a huge part of my life and my family's over the past 11 years. It's given me so much, both on and off the pitch and from the moment I arrived, I've always tried to give everything I had to represent it in the right way.

"To have had the honour of being made captain of this club since 2018 is something I will always be incredibly proud of. Leading this team out, wearing the armband and being trusted in that role has meant more to me than I can properly put into words.

"This isn't the end just yet. There is still a season to finish and we are fully focused on pushing for the league title. I will continue to give absolutely everything as I always have until the very last day.

"While I feel the time is right for a new challenge, my focus right now is on finishing this season the right way, together."

Tavernier was signed from Wigan by Mark Warburton in the summer of 2015, with Rangers in the Scottish Championship.

He helped the side win promotion to the Premiership in his first season, scoring 10 goals.

Warburton made way for Pedro Caixinha, with Tavernier deputising as captain before taking the armband full time when Steven Gerrard was appointed in 2018.

He was part of Gerrard's Premiership-winning team and then led them to the Europa League final under Giovanni van Bronckhorst in 2022 before lifting the Scottish Cup the same season.

The former Newcastle player also won the League Cup under the club's next manager, Philippe Clement.

Tavernier was also captain during Graeme Murty, Michael Beale, Barry Ferguson and Russell Martin's brief spells in charge at Ibrox.

Current head coach Danny Röhl has often preferred Dujon Sterling at right-back with Tavernier starting 23 of Rangers' 33 Premiership games so far this season.

"To all the players I've shared the pitch and dressing room with over the years, thank you. The bonds that we've built, the battles we've been through and the memories we've created are what make this game so special," Tavernier added in his Instagram statement.

"To the staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes every single day, thank you for everything you've done for me and for the team. Your support often goes unseen, but it has never gone unappreciated.

"And to the fans, your support home and away, through every high and every difficult moment has meant more than I can ever fully express. You are the heart and soul of this club and it has been a privilege to play in front of you."

Your Site reporter Gordon Duncan:

Eleven years in modern football is quite some innings at one football club,

His role within the team is diminishing slightly, certainly as this season has gone on, not starting anywhere near as many games as he used to and then of course the contract is up at the end of the season.

James Tavernier would have been one of the top earners and Danny Röhl is looking to take things in a new direction.

If you lay out his stats and explain them to someone outside of the Glasgow goldfish bowl, they probably think those are legendary numbers from Tavernier.

We're talking legendary status, history-making numbers, but he's always had quite a complex reception amongst the Rangers fans and the Scottish football wider public as well.

He's never quite been able to shake off certain criticisms of maybe other elements of his game, defensive capabilities at times.

He's also never been able to be viewed separately as an individual from what Rangers have gone through in that time.

Unfortunately for him, those 11 years have been some of the most successful years for Celtic.

The Rangers fans will tell you they've not won enough trophies in the time he has been here and that leads to the debate about how much of that is his fault as the captain.

Maybe it's the case of the old cliche you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

Former Rangers manager Mark Warburton speaking on Your Site News:

"The numbers are staggering.

"He had that attacking instinct and people have always criticised Tav's defending. His best defending was his attack. He would force them back time after time.

"A tremendous finisher. He's got a passion for the game, he loves training and he loves playing.

"He's got great pride in representing the club. So all round, he's been a tremendous servant for Rangers.

"I speak to so many good friends in Scotland still now, and I tell them they're going to miss him.

"They'll look back and they'll regret the day they booed Tav, or said anything derogatory about this player, because he's a tremendous, a tremendous asset for any team.

"He's been through some tough times, but he's been an ever-present, tremendous appearance record.

"Always, always a tremendous athlete and I always say to them, they'll miss him so much when he's gone."

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