Rangers signed ex-Celtic goalscorer and former 128-goal striker as free transfers

Rangers have a lot to ponder following the dismissal of Philippe Clement - with a significant overhaul expected at the end of this season.

The decision-making process at Ibrox has been under intense scrutiny in recent years, and this is likely to continue with a potential sale to 49ers Enterprises looming. However, with the Clement chapter now closed, Rangers must learn from their past mistakes, particularly in recruitment - and free agency could be their ally this summer.

It's unclear how much will be available for transfers, and they may need to think outside the box if funds are as limited as anticipated. Mirror Football has highlighted several players who previously made a big impact at Rangers despite joining for free, with the club hoping to replicate such success.

Kris Boyd

The former striker scored 128 goals in 191 games for Rangers before moving to Middlesbrough in 2010, then Turkey, the US, and finally back to Scotland with Kilmarnock in 2012.

Rangers, newly promoted to the Scottish Championship, re-signed Boyd on a free transfer after he netted 22 Premiership goals in one season at Rugby Park. However, his second stint was not as successful as his first.

Boyd only managed to net three league goals in 29 appearances, and Rangers failed to secure promotion back to the top flight after a play-off final defeat by Motherwell. He returned to Kilmarnock that summer and spent another four seasons in Ayrshire before hanging up his boots, reports the Daily Record.

Jermain Defoe

After nearly two decades of success in the Premier League, Jermain Defoe joined Rangers midway through the 2018/19 season. He followed ex-England colleague Steven Gerrard - who had taken on the manager's role six months prior - initially on loan but made the move permanent at the end of his first season.

The Tottenham legend scored 32 goals in 74 games for the Gers, including a 17-goal haul in his second season. He was also part of the club's first Premiership title-winning team in a decade the following campaign.

After Gerrard's exit in 2021, Defoe was named as part of a four-man caretaker team before Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over. A few months later, he returned to his former club, Sunderland, and then retired at the end of that term.

Jack Butland

The former England international joined Rangers from Crystal Palace in 2023 after an unremarkable loan spell at Manchester United. Despite spending most of his Palace career on the bench, Butland immediately became a regular starter for Rangers and has remained so ever since.

The 31-year-old, best known for his seven-year stint at Stoke City, is nearing his 100th appearance for the Light Blues. He played in an impressive 58 matches last season, helping Rangers reach both domestic cup finals and the Europa League's last 16. Fans are thrilled with the success of their No. 1 so far.

Gennaro Gattuso

Gennaro Gattuso's arrival at Ibrox was as gritty as his playing style. Despite Perugia's attempts to appeal the transfer with FIFA, Gattuso's free move to Rangers was confirmed in the summer of 1997.

At just 19, the future Italy star and two-time Champions League and World Cup winner with AC Milan was still a raw talent. But credit to the Rangers scouts; they had spotted his potential before many other European powerhouses.

Gattuso, who is currently coaching Hajduk Split in Croatia, later admitted he didn't want to move to Glasgow but gave in after his father threatened to punch him. He netted five goals in 43 games during his only season with Rangers but was sold to Salernitana in 1998 after Walter Smith's successor, Dick Advocaat, didn't warm to the Italian hardman.

Kenny Miller

Few football rivalries run as deep as the one between Rangers and Celtic, but that didn't deter Kenny Miller from switching sides multiple times. Initially joining Rangers from Hibs in 2000, he had a brief stint at Celtic before returning to Rangers for his second of three spells in 2008.

Despite not being as prolific as Boyd, he netted 111 goals in 294 appearances for Rangers. His third spell at Ibrox, which began in 2014 and involved no transfer fee, saw him score 49 goals over four seasons and help secure the Scottish Championship title in 2016.

Kevin Muscat

Speaking of tough guys at Rangers, Kevin Muscat is another who left a lasting impression during his single season with the club. Interestingly, the Australian is now being touted as a potential replacement for Clement after winning titles in three different countries.

Now 51, Muscat has recently found success as manager of Chinese club Shanghai Port, where he clinched a domestic double last season. This follows trophy wins with Melbourne Victory and Yokohama F. Marinos in Australia and Japan, respectively.

The defender, originally from Crawley, had a five-year stint at Wolves before making a free transfer to the Gers in 2002, where he clinched a domestic treble in his only season in Glasgow. Rumours suggest that Muscat's fiery temperament was the reason he never featured in an Old Firm derby during his brief time in Scotland, prior to his move to Millwall in 2003.

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