Ian Durrant is no stranger to seizing a second chance at Ibrox, and he hopes Ianis Hagi can follow in his footsteps as he works to revive his Rangers career. At just 21 years old, Durrant was already a rising star at Rangers in 1988, with European clubs keeping a close eye on his progress. However, a horrific knee injury sustained in a challenge from Aberdeen’s Neil Simpson at Pittodrie derailed his promising future, sidelining him for almost three years. When Durrant finally returned to action, he admits he was never quite the same player, but he still went on to make a significant contribution, leaving Ibrox a decade later with 13 major medals, including being part of the legendary nine-in-a-row team.
Durrant sees parallels between his own experience and Hagi’s current struggles. The 26-year-old Romanian winger suffered a similar knee injury in January 2022, followed by a lengthy recovery and a loan spell in Spain. After returning to Ibrox in the summer, Hagi’s reintroduction was further delayed due to a contract dispute, suspension, and Euro ineligibility. Now, however, Durrant believes Hagi can still make an impact, especially after watching him play well for Romania. “I have sympathy for Ianis,” Durrant said. “He had a tough start to the season, but I saw him play for Romania, and he was good. The manager knows he can call on him now, and he’s getting fitter.” Durrant acknowledged Hagi’s passion, even after a red card against St Johnstone, noting that the intensity was a sign of the player’s commitment.
Speaking from personal experience, Durrant cautioned Rangers fans to expect a different version of Hagi than the one who was instrumental in their 2021 title-winning campaign. Reflecting on his own career, Durrant admitted that he never fully regained the form he had before his knee injury. “I had to change my game dramatically,” he said. “But I never lost the desire to play football again. As long as you have that desire, you’ll get there. It takes time.” Durrant also recalled the invaluable support he received from the club’s medical staff, including Doc Cruikshank, and from legendary managers like Graeme Souness and Walter Smith. With their guidance, Durrant adapted his game and overcame his injury, even if it meant losing the dynamic box-to-box style he once had. He emphasized that Hagi, too, will have access to the best facilities and support to help him recover and rebuild his career at Rangers.
Despite the challenges, Durrant remains optimistic about Hagi’s future at Ibrox. “If we get Hagi back fit and well, it will bode well for Rangers,” he said. Durrant also urged the current Rangers team to reconnect with the fans and play with passion, as the supporters are desperately craving a return to form. “The team needs to get back to their affinity with the fans,” he said. “They’re hurting, but the only way to stop that hurting is to start playing well on the pitch.”
Durrant’s words are especially poignant in light of the current struggles at Ibrox, where Rangers sit nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen. Reflecting on his own early years at the club, Durrant recalled a time when things were even worse. Under manager Jock Wallace, Rangers finished fourth and fifth in the league in his first two seasons. However, Durrant noted that Wallace’s tenure was marred by financial constraints, with money being poured into the stadium rather than the squad. Despite these challenges, Durrant and other young players like Derek Ferguson and Hugh Burns broke into the first team and made lasting contributions. “Jock had a rough ride,” Durrant said, “but after he left, Rangers went in a different direction with Graeme Souness, who brought in the resources Jock didn’t have.”
Durrant also expressed sympathy for current manager Philippe Clement, who has faced his own set of challenges, including injuries to key players. “I’ve met Philippe a few times,” Durrant said. “He’s got something about him that I like. Hopefully, we can get the injured players back and show what they can do.” Ultimately, Durrant believes success at Rangers is defined by winning trophies, and he hopes the team can turn things around and start showing their quality on the pitch once again.
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