Rangers legends prepare for heartfelt returns to Ibrox as Nils Koppen unveils plan to address key challenge.

Some well-known Rangers players could soon return to Ibrox as part of a new vision for the club.

Nils Koppen, recently appointed as the club’s Technical Director, has shared plans to bring former Rangers players back into key roles. Koppen, who is also the current Director of Recruitment, is tasked with overseeing the club’s transfer strategy, Academy, medical services, football operations, performance, and analysis departments.

At present, Rangers lack a permanent head of academy and have yet to give any playing time in the Premiership to Scottish players under 21 this season. Koppen aims to address these issues by integrating former players into the system and implementing a comprehensive youth development strategy.

Speaking to Rangers TV, Koppen explained: “I think first of all, we have to fill in the key positions within the academy to ensure that we’ll be ready for the future. And that we can be a productive academy by bringing players through to the first team. I think there’s a lot of good work done already in the last years within the academy. But we cannot be satisfied with the general output of the academy.”

He emphasized the need for improvement, stating: “We still have to improve or we still have to make steps. We have to keep on creating room for our own academy players to make the step to the first team. We can do that by a better squad build-up for the first team, to give them the opportunity to step up and be a part of that. I think one of the objectives will still be to sign the best talent out of Scotland, to maintain our best talents. I’m sure we’ve got a lot of good talents already in the building.”

Koppen acknowledged challenges with the B team and the development pathway: “We’re facing a challenge with the B team. We’re just not an ideal platform, so it’s on us to try to get the best challenges and opportunities for the boys in our club. What we want to do is decrease age to make a step to the first team, to make their breakthrough. We want to do that by strategic partnerships with other clubs.”

He outlined plans to expose young players to first-team environments early, adding: “By changing our own philosophy, by bringing the players on a younger age. Expose them to the first-team training environment to give them the opportunity to show themselves and make the right steps at the right moment. I think what we also have don’t forget that we’re a Scottish club. We have to educate players not only for our first team but also in general for the Scottish game, something what we have to pay more attention on.”

Koppen stressed the importance of producing players who could succeed in Scottish football even if they don’t make it at Rangers: “That the output also, if they cannot make it here as a pro, that they will be able to be a professional football player at the highest Scottish level. We really have to improve that.”

Bringing former Rangers players into the system is a significant part of the plan: “One of the things where I’m looking at is maybe adding in some ex-professional Rangers players to increase that level of DNA, that level of detail. Players that were in this building, been a part of it and know what it’s about. That’s something that’s going to be key in the years to come.”

“It will only be when he leaves that he gets the respect he deserves.” – Connor Goldson on the ex-Rangers teammate as pressure builds at Ibrox.

In other news, It will only be when he leaves that he gets the respect he deserves.” – Connor Goldson on the ex-Rangers teammate as pressure builds at Ibrox.