Rangers captain James Tavernier don announce say im go leave di club at di end of dis season. Di 34-year-old defender don spend 11 years for Ibrox, and im time dey finish after im contract expire. Tavernier join Rangers from Wigan for 2015 under manager Mark Warburton, when di club still dey for Scottish Championship.
For im 562 appearances, Tavernier score 144 goals as right-back. Dat one make am Britain highest-scoring defender ever. Im lead Rangers win Scottish Premiership title for 2021, plus Scottish Cup and League Cup. Im also captain di team reach Europa League final for 2022, but dem lose to Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.
Tavernier talk say dis decision no easy. “This club has been a huge part of my life and my family’s over the past 11 years,” im write for social media. “To have had the honour of being made captain of this club since 2018 is something I will always be incredibly proud of.”
Di captain promise say im go continue give everything for di remaining matches. “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,” im add. Rangers currently dey second for table, just one point behind leaders Hearts with five games remain.
Tavernier play under many managers during im time. After Warburton, im work with Pedro Caixinha before Steven Gerrard appoint am as permanent captain for 2018. Im win Premiership with Gerrard, then reach Europa League final under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Im also win League Cup under Philippe Clement.
Current head coach Danny Röhl sometimes prefer Dujon Sterling at right-back dis season. Tavernier start 23 of Rangers’ 33 Premiership games so far. Sky Sports reporter Gordon Duncan talk say Tavernier role don dey reduce small, and im contract dey finish make di club look for new direction.
Joshua Barrie, editor of Rangers Review, talk say Tavernier “lifted up his team more than he has dragged it down.” Barrie tell BBC Scotland say di 2022 Europa League run show Tavernier importance. “He scores in every single round, I think he scores the opening goal in just about every single round as well,” Barrie yarn.
Former teammates don dey send tributes. John Lundstram write say Tavernier na “one of the best” wey “never ever hid in the hard times.” Leon Balogun call am “my skipper” wey “came as a young man, leaving as a legend.” Steven Davis talk say im give “incredible service to the club.”
Mark Warburton, di manager wey sign am, talk for Sky Sports News say di numbers “are staggering.” Warburton defend Tavernier against critics wey dey talk about im defending. “His best defending was his attack. He would force them back time after time,” Warburton explain.
Barrie believe how dis season end go affect how people remember Tavernier. “If he plays a pivotal role in helping win it, compared to maybe the alternative to that, that will certainly determine the send-off to a degree,” im talk. Rangers still dey fight for di league title with five matches remain.
Tavernier thank fans for im statement. “To the fans, your support home and away, through every high and every difficult moment has meant more than I can ever fully express,” im write. “You are the heart and soul of this club and it has been a privilege to play in front of you.”
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