Rangers History Orjan Persson

MO_TxTruBlu

Well-Known Member
Orjan Persson was to become Scot Symon's last signing as Rangers Manager, on Aug 3rd 1967.
The shrewd Symon (Britain's most successful manager of the period) had been in negotiations all summer long, in an attempt to prise the highly rated Swedish International away from Dundee Utd.
(Persson was the only player in Dundee United's 58 year old history, to have actually appeared for their country)
After much protracted haggling to and fro, Symon finally got his man when he surprisingly offered the Legendary Rangers winger, Davy Wilson (along with Wilson Wood) as a sweetener to Dundee Utd, in exchange for the 6ft. Swedish left winger.

Six days later Persson would make his unofficial debut, in a glamorous pre- season friendly v Eintracht Frankfurt at Ibrox before a crowd of 60,000.
Persson came on as a substitute (replacing Willie Johnston) and scored Rangers fifth goal in an impressive 5-3 victory.
Three days later on Aug 12th Persson made his official debut in a League Cup tie at Pittodrie, scoring Rangers goal in a 1-1 draw
He made his official home debut the following Wednesday night in a rousing 1-1 draw v Celtic, in the League Cup at Ibrox in front of a staggering 94,168 paying fans.
Just over a month later, in the first Old Firm League game of the season,
Persson became an overnight hero, when after a three game absence, he was reinstated and repaid his selection gloriously, scoring a wonder goal against the European Champions, in a 1-0 win for Rangers in front of 90,000 fans at Ibrox.
'Latching onto a clever lob from McKinnon, Persson went on a devastating 30 yard run (right to left) beating four Celtic defenders, (Gemmell being two of them), before crashing in an unstoppable shot from what seemed like an impossible angle.'
Oh how we loved him.

The 'Big Orange' would face Celtic three times that season, and not once ended on the losing side.
In fact, Persson would play in 41 domestic games that season, and only finished on the losing side in 2 games.
He also chipped in with 17 goals.
For a man with such a strike rate, and quite a phenomenal shot, it is surprising that I cannot recall the big man ever hitting a penalty (in a period when Rangers had more players missing penalties, than actually scoring from them)

After only three months into Persson's Ibrox career, Scot Symon was sacked (whilst Rangers were top of the League).

In Davie White's first game in charge, Persson scored the winner in a 3-2 win at Muirton Park against St Johnstone.
Other goals of note that season were a late winner at East End Park in a 2-1 win v Dunfermline, on Mar 6th, that kept Rangers 4 points clear of Celtic at the top of the League. (Celtic had 1 game in hand).
Three days later, he scored a stunning equaliser in a Scottish Cup tie v Hearts at Ibrox, with an overhead scissor kick, that had the Scottish press gushing over it as one of the finest goals ever seen in Scottish football.
The following saturday his wonder goals continued when he scored direct form a corner kick, in a 5-0 win v Stirling Albion as Persson netted a hat trick.
(I think he also scored direct from a corner against Stirling Albion earlier that season at Annfield Stadium).
Persson's goalscoring continued a week later, when he scored the opener in a a fantastic 3-1 win at Easter Rd, that kept Rangers top of the League, 2 points clear of Celtic, with 7 games to play.
Three days later, a confident Rangers met the mighty Leeds Utd at Ibrox, in the Fairs Cities Cup Quarter Final (first leg).
80,000 packed into Ibrox, and witnessed a Rangers side that had wingers Henderson and Persson, ripping Reaney and Cooper apart in a first half, that surprisingly ended goal less, with shocking misses from Johnston (twice), and Ferguson.
Persson himself, was denied a winner, two minutes from time, when the erratic Gary Sprake pulled off a quite brilliant save, from the big Swede.

Two draws in April (at Dundee Utd and Morton), and a last day defeat at home to Aberdeen (our only League defeat that season) allowed Celtic (who won their last 16 games) to take the League Title by two points.
Rangers total of 61 points from a possible 68 points would have secured the Title in 11 of the previous 12 seasons, since we went to 34 games in a season in 1955-56.
It was the fewest number of points we had dropped in a single season, in 67 years, since 1901.
It was the highest number of points gained in a season, percentage wise, since Bill Struth's inaugural season of 1920-21, and the only other time we have gained a 90% point gain, since that perfect season of 1898-99.


Getting back to Orjan Persson, the following season (68-69) will be best remembered for his performance in a brilliant 4-2 League win at Parkhead in September.
Persson, who had already shown that he could also comfortably play as a right winger, an inside forward, and even straight down the middle, was operating as a twin striker, alongside Willie Johnston, aided and abetted by a wing switching Willie Henderson, as an adventurous and attacking Rangers side ripped the Celtic defence to shreds.
Persson scored the opener, with a sublime header.
Willie Johnston scored a couple, and handy Andy Penman hit one in-between.
It was Rangers first win at Parkhead since New Years Day 1964.
He also played in the corresponding League match at Ibrox on Jan 2nd that Rangers comfortably won 1-0, in front of 85,000 fans.
Other games of note that season included a Fairs Cup tie at Ibrox against Atletico Bilbao.
Rangers were struggling to hold on to a 2-1 lead, when Persson came off the bench to replace Alex Ferguson for the last fifteen minutes, and transformed the game.
With three minutes remaining, Persson gave Rangers a two goal cushion when he broke free and sped onto a Colin Stein through pass, and cleverly beat the great Spanish goalkeeper Iribar, at the near post.
One minute later, Persson returned the favour, whipping in a delightful cross, that Colin Stein met on the run and smashed the ball into the net, to give Rangers a 4-1 lead to take to Spain for the return leg.

Despite some first class performances throughout that season from Rangers, that saw them defeat Celtic twice in the League, and go all the way to the Semi Final of the Fairs Cup (UEFA Cup), they again ended the season without a trophy.
(Three defeats to Celtic, cost us any chance in the domestic cups).

The 69-70 season was another turbulent year for Rangers, as Davie White was sacked following the defeat to Gornik in November.
Despite a shaky start, which saw Rangers lose 3 of their first 14 League games (coincidentally, Persson did not play in those 3 defeated games).
Rangers were sat in 2nd place in the table, trailing Hibs by 4 points. (Celtic were 3rd on the same points as us, but with a game in hand).
At this point of his Rangers career, Persson had, in the last two and a bit seasons, played in 110 games for Rangers, and scored 31 goals.
In 72 League games, he had only tasted defeat in 7 games (6 of those all coming in one season 68-69)

Willie Waddell took over as manager of Rangers on Dec 3rd 1969.
Unfortunately, and I know not why, Mr Waddell did not rate the big Swede, and afforded him only three more appearances in a Rangers jersey, before making him available for transfer at the end of the season on April 28th, 1970.
Rangers finished the season 1 point ahead of Hibs, but a humiliating 12 points adrift of Celtic. (2 points for a win back then).

Even though Persson spent less than 3 years at Ibrox, he served under three different managers, which was more than half of the five, that we had in our entire 98 year history.

Despite only making 2 appearances for Rangers in 1970,
Persson was selected for the Swedish national squad that was one of only Sixteen nations who went to the World Cup Finals in Mexico.
He played in two games at the World Cup 1970, against Israel and Uruguay.
After the World Cup, Persson rejoined his former club Orgryte for a small fee.

Persson quit the game in 1972.
He missed playing so much that six months later he returned to play in the Swedish second Division (as a midfielder).
So highly rated was Persson in his own country, that 18 months after he supposedly hung up his boots (and 4 years after Waddell deemed him surplus to requirements at Rangers) he was recalled to the National side for the World Cup Finals in West Germany in 1974.
Persson made an appearance as a midfielder in a very credible 0-0 draw against that great Holland side that included Johan Cruyff, Arie Haan, Johnny Rep, Piet Keizer, Johan Neeskens and Ruud Krol, in a Group C game.
This game is best remembered for that wonderful turn by Cruyff that has been replayed and highlighted a million times in the last thirty odd years.
His 48th and final appearance for Sweden came two weeks later in a second phase World Cup game, against Group B winners Yugoslavia (Scotland's group)
Persson was selected as a central midfielder as Sweden defeated Yugoslavia 2-1.

Even though he was at Rangers less than than three years, and failed to win any trophies,
Orjan Persson will long be remembered, by those of us who were fortunate enough to witness some of the spectacular goals that he scored in his all too brief Ibrox career.
 
Superb read mate.

Every time I read something about how we let the league slip in 67-68 it depresses me even more.

Great info on Orjan though.
Really enjoyed that.
 
"Other games of note that season included a Fairs Cup tie at Ibrox against Atletico Bilbao.
Rangers were struggling to hold on to a 2-1 lead, when Persson came off the bench to replace Alex Ferguson for the last fifteen minutes, and transformed the game.
With three minutes remaining, Persson gave Rangers a two goal cushion when he broke free and sped onto a Colin Stein through pass, and cleverly beat the great Spanish goalkeeper Iribar, at the near post.
One minute later, Persson returned the favour, whipping in a delightful cross, that Colin Stein met on the run and smashed the ball into the net, to give Rangers a 4-1 lead to take to Spain for the return leg."

Ibrox was actually waterlogged that night, but Rangers were just absolutely superb!

I think the visitors had just knocked out Liverpool in the previous round, with Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly, describing their keeper, Iribar, as "the best in Europe!"
 
Orjan Persson was to become Scot Symon's last signing as Rangers Manager, on Aug 3rd 1967.
The shrewd Symon (Britain's most successful manager of the period) had been in negotiations all summer long, in an attempt to prise the highly rated Swedish International away from Dundee Utd.
(Persson was the only player in Dundee United's 58 year old history, to have actually appeared for their country)
After much protracted haggling to and fro, Symon finally got his man when he surprisingly offered the Legendary Rangers winger, Davy Wilson (along with Wilson Wood) as a sweetener to Dundee Utd, in exchange for the 6ft. Swedish left winger.

Six days later Persson would make his unofficial debut, in a glamorous pre- season friendly v Eintracht Frankfurt at Ibrox before a crowd of 60,000.
Persson came on as a substitute (replacing Willie Johnston) and scored Rangers fifth goal in an impressive 5-3 victory.
Three days later on Aug 12th Persson made his official debut in a League Cup tie at Pittodrie, scoring Rangers goal in a 1-1 draw
He made his official home debut the following Wednesday night in a rousing 1-1 draw v Celtic, in the League Cup at Ibrox in front of a staggering 94,168 paying fans.
Just over a month later, in the first Old Firm League game of the season,
Persson became an overnight hero, when after a three game absence, he was reinstated and repaid his selection gloriously, scoring a wonder goal against the European Champions, in a 1-0 win for Rangers in front of 90,000 fans at Ibrox.
'Latching onto a clever lob from McKinnon, Persson went on a devastating 30 yard run (right to left) beating four Celtic defenders, (Gemmell being two of them), before crashing in an unstoppable shot from what seemed like an impossible angle.'
Oh how we loved him.

The 'Big Orange' would face Celtic three times that season, and not once ended on the losing side.
In fact, Persson would play in 41 domestic games that season, and only finished on the losing side in 2 games.
He also chipped in with 17 goals.
For a man with such a strike rate, and quite a phenomenal shot, it is surprising that I cannot recall the big man ever hitting a penalty (in a period when Rangers had more players missing penalties, than actually scoring from them)

After only three months into Persson's Ibrox career, Scot Symon was sacked (whilst Rangers were top of the League).

In Davie White's first game in charge, Persson scored the winner in a 3-2 win at Muirton Park against St Johnstone.
Other goals of note that season were a late winner at East End Park in a 2-1 win v Dunfermline, on Mar 6th, that kept Rangers 4 points clear of Celtic at the top of the League. (Celtic had 1 game in hand).
Three days later, he scored a stunning equaliser in a Scottish Cup tie v Hearts at Ibrox, with an overhead scissor kick, that had the Scottish press gushing over it as one of the finest goals ever seen in Scottish football.
The following saturday his wonder goals continued when he scored direct form a corner kick, in a 5-0 win v Stirling Albion as Persson netted a hat trick.
(I think he also scored direct from a corner against Stirling Albion earlier that season at Annfield Stadium).
Persson's goalscoring continued a week later, when he scored the opener in a a fantastic 3-1 win at Easter Rd, that kept Rangers top of the League, 2 points clear of Celtic, with 7 games to play.
Three days later, a confident Rangers met the mighty Leeds Utd at Ibrox, in the Fairs Cities Cup Quarter Final (first leg).
80,000 packed into Ibrox, and witnessed a Rangers side that had wingers Henderson and Persson, ripping Reaney and Cooper apart in a first half, that surprisingly ended goal less, with shocking misses from Johnston (twice), and Ferguson.
Persson himself, was denied a winner, two minutes from time, when the erratic Gary Sprake pulled off a quite brilliant save, from the big Swede.

Two draws in April (at Dundee Utd and Morton), and a last day defeat at home to Aberdeen (our only League defeat that season) allowed Celtic (who won their last 16 games) to take the League Title by two points.
Rangers total of 61 points from a possible 68 points would have secured the Title in 11 of the previous 12 seasons, since we went to 34 games in a season in 1955-56.
It was the fewest number of points we had dropped in a single season, in 67 years, since 1901.
It was the highest number of points gained in a season, percentage wise, since Bill Struth's inaugural season of 1920-21, and the only other time we have gained a 90% point gain, since that perfect season of 1898-99.


Getting back to Orjan Persson, the following season (68-69) will be best remembered for his performance in a brilliant 4-2 League win at Parkhead in September.
Persson, who had already shown that he could also comfortably play as a right winger, an inside forward, and even straight down the middle, was operating as a twin striker, alongside Willie Johnston, aided and abetted by a wing switching Willie Henderson, as an adventurous and attacking Rangers side ripped the Celtic defence to shreds.
Persson scored the opener, with a sublime header.
Willie Johnston scored a couple, and handy Andy Penman hit one in-between.
It was Rangers first win at Parkhead since New Years Day 1964.
He also played in the corresponding League match at Ibrox on Jan 2nd that Rangers comfortably won 1-0, in front of 85,000 fans.
Other games of note that season included a Fairs Cup tie at Ibrox against Atletico Bilbao.
Rangers were struggling to hold on to a 2-1 lead, when Persson came off the bench to replace Alex Ferguson for the last fifteen minutes, and transformed the game.
With three minutes remaining, Persson gave Rangers a two goal cushion when he broke free and sped onto a Colin Stein through pass, and cleverly beat the great Spanish goalkeeper Iribar, at the near post.
One minute later, Persson returned the favour, whipping in a delightful cross, that Colin Stein met on the run and smashed the ball into the net, to give Rangers a 4-1 lead to take to Spain for the return leg.

Despite some first class performances throughout that season from Rangers, that saw them defeat Celtic twice in the League, and go all the way to the Semi Final of the Fairs Cup (UEFA Cup), they again ended the season without a trophy.
(Three defeats to Celtic, cost us any chance in the domestic cups).

The 69-70 season was another turbulent year for Rangers, as Davie White was sacked following the defeat to Gornik in November.
Despite a shaky start, which saw Rangers lose 3 of their first 14 League games (coincidentally, Persson did not play in those 3 defeated games).
Rangers were sat in 2nd place in the table, trailing Hibs by 4 points. (Celtic were 3rd on the same points as us, but with a game in hand).
At this point of his Rangers career, Persson had, in the last two and a bit seasons, played in 110 games for Rangers, and scored 31 goals.
In 72 League games, he had only tasted defeat in 7 games (6 of those all coming in one season 68-69)

Willie Waddell took over as manager of Rangers on Dec 3rd 1969.
Unfortunately, and I know not why, Mr Waddell did not rate the big Swede, and afforded him only three more appearances in a Rangers jersey, before making him available for transfer at the end of the season on April 28th, 1970.
Rangers finished the season 1 point ahead of Hibs, but a humiliating 12 points adrift of Celtic. (2 points for a win back then).

Even though Persson spent less than 3 years at Ibrox, he served under three different managers, which was more than half of the five, that we had in our entire 98 year history.

Despite only making 2 appearances for Rangers in 1970,
Persson was selected for the Swedish national squad that was one of only Sixteen nations who went to the World Cup Finals in Mexico.
He played in two games at the World Cup 1970, against Israel and Uruguay.
After the World Cup, Persson rejoined his former club Orgryte for a small fee.

Persson quit the game in 1972.
He missed playing so much that six months later he returned to play in the Swedish second Division (as a midfielder).
So highly rated was Persson in his own country, that 18 months after he supposedly hung up his boots (and 4 years after Waddell deemed him surplus to requirements at Rangers) he was recalled to the National side for the World Cup Finals in West Germany in 1974.
Persson made an appearance as a midfielder in a very credible 0-0 draw against that great Holland side that included Johan Cruyff, Arie Haan, Johnny Rep, Piet Keizer, Johan Neeskens and Ruud Krol, in a Group C game.
This game is best remembered for that wonderful turn by Cruyff that has been replayed and highlighted a million times in the last thirty odd years.
His 48th and final appearance for Sweden came two weeks later in a second phase World Cup game, against Group B winners Yugoslavia (Scotland's group)
Persson was selected as a central midfielder as Sweden defeated Yugoslavia 2-1.

Even though he was at Rangers less than than three years, and failed to win any trophies,
Orjan Persson will long be remembered, by those of us who were fortunate enough to witness some of the spectacular goals that he scored in his all too brief Ibrox career.
Remember being at the hearts game, as a 9 or 10 year old and seeing that superb goal. I think he scored straight from a corner at Ibrox against S Albion I rember watchin that game from the enclosure, am sure it poured with rain that day( or maybe my memory is playing tricks)
 
Orjan Persson was to become Scot Symon's last signing as Rangers Manager, on Aug 3rd 1967.
The shrewd Symon (Britain's most successful manager of the period) had been in negotiations all summer long, in an attempt to prise the highly rated Swedish International away from Dundee Utd.
(Persson was the only player in Dundee United's 58 year old history, to have actually appeared for their country)
After much protracted haggling to and fro, Symon finally got his man when he surprisingly offered the Legendary Rangers winger, Davy Wilson (along with Wilson Wood) as a sweetener to Dundee Utd, in exchange for the 6ft. Swedish left winger.

Six days later Persson would make his unofficial debut, in a glamorous pre- season friendly v Eintracht Frankfurt at Ibrox before a crowd of 60,000.
Persson came on as a substitute (replacing Willie Johnston) and scored Rangers fifth goal in an impressive 5-3 victory.
Three days later on Aug 12th Persson made his official debut in a League Cup tie at Pittodrie, scoring Rangers goal in a 1-1 draw
He made his official home debut the following Wednesday night in a rousing 1-1 draw v Celtic, in the League Cup at Ibrox in front of a staggering 94,168 paying fans.
Just over a month later, in the first Old Firm League game of the season,
Persson became an overnight hero, when after a three game absence, he was reinstated and repaid his selection gloriously, scoring a wonder goal against the European Champions, in a 1-0 win for Rangers in front of 90,000 fans at Ibrox.
'Latching onto a clever lob from McKinnon, Persson went on a devastating 30 yard run (right to left) beating four Celtic defenders, (Gemmell being two of them), before crashing in an unstoppable shot from what seemed like an impossible angle.'
Oh how we loved him.

The 'Big Orange' would face Celtic three times that season, and not once ended on the losing side.
In fact, Persson would play in 41 domestic games that season, and only finished on the losing side in 2 games.
He also chipped in with 17 goals.
For a man with such a strike rate, and quite a phenomenal shot, it is surprising that I cannot recall the big man ever hitting a penalty (in a period when Rangers had more players missing penalties, than actually scoring from them)

After only three months into Persson's Ibrox career, Scot Symon was sacked (whilst Rangers were top of the League).

In Davie White's first game in charge, Persson scored the winner in a 3-2 win at Muirton Park against St Johnstone.
Other goals of note that season were a late winner at East End Park in a 2-1 win v Dunfermline, on Mar 6th, that kept Rangers 4 points clear of Celtic at the top of the League. (Celtic had 1 game in hand).
Three days later, he scored a stunning equaliser in a Scottish Cup tie v Hearts at Ibrox, with an overhead scissor kick, that had the Scottish press gushing over it as one of the finest goals ever seen in Scottish football.
The following saturday his wonder goals continued when he scored direct form a corner kick, in a 5-0 win v Stirling Albion as Persson netted a hat trick.
(I think he also scored direct from a corner against Stirling Albion earlier that season at Annfield Stadium).
Persson's goalscoring continued a week later, when he scored the opener in a a fantastic 3-1 win at Easter Rd, that kept Rangers top of the League, 2 points clear of Celtic, with 7 games to play.
Three days later, a confident Rangers met the mighty Leeds Utd at Ibrox, in the Fairs Cities Cup Quarter Final (first leg).
80,000 packed into Ibrox, and witnessed a Rangers side that had wingers Henderson and Persson, ripping Reaney and Cooper apart in a first half, that surprisingly ended goal less, with shocking misses from Johnston (twice), and Ferguson.
Persson himself, was denied a winner, two minutes from time, when the erratic Gary Sprake pulled off a quite brilliant save, from the big Swede.

Two draws in April (at Dundee Utd and Morton), and a last day defeat at home to Aberdeen (our only League defeat that season) allowed Celtic (who won their last 16 games) to take the League Title by two points.
Rangers total of 61 points from a possible 68 points would have secured the Title in 11 of the previous 12 seasons, since we went to 34 games in a season in 1955-56.
It was the fewest number of points we had dropped in a single season, in 67 years, since 1901.
It was the highest number of points gained in a season, percentage wise, since Bill Struth's inaugural season of 1920-21, and the only other time we have gained a 90% point gain, since that perfect season of 1898-99.


Getting back to Orjan Persson, the following season (68-69) will be best remembered for his performance in a brilliant 4-2 League win at Parkhead in September.
Persson, who had already shown that he could also comfortably play as a right winger, an inside forward, and even straight down the middle, was operating as a twin striker, alongside Willie Johnston, aided and abetted by a wing switching Willie Henderson, as an adventurous and attacking Rangers side ripped the Celtic defence to shreds.
Persson scored the opener, with a sublime header.
Willie Johnston scored a couple, and handy Andy Penman hit one in-between.
It was Rangers first win at Parkhead since New Years Day 1964.
He also played in the corresponding League match at Ibrox on Jan 2nd that Rangers comfortably won 1-0, in front of 85,000 fans.
Other games of note that season included a Fairs Cup tie at Ibrox against Atletico Bilbao.
Rangers were struggling to hold on to a 2-1 lead, when Persson came off the bench to replace Alex Ferguson for the last fifteen minutes, and transformed the game.
With three minutes remaining, Persson gave Rangers a two goal cushion when he broke free and sped onto a Colin Stein through pass, and cleverly beat the great Spanish goalkeeper Iribar, at the near post.
One minute later, Persson returned the favour, whipping in a delightful cross, that Colin Stein met on the run and smashed the ball into the net, to give Rangers a 4-1 lead to take to Spain for the return leg.

Despite some first class performances throughout that season from Rangers, that saw them defeat Celtic twice in the League, and go all the way to the Semi Final of the Fairs Cup (UEFA Cup), they again ended the season without a trophy.
(Three defeats to Celtic, cost us any chance in the domestic cups).

The 69-70 season was another turbulent year for Rangers, as Davie White was sacked following the defeat to Gornik in November.
Despite a shaky start, which saw Rangers lose 3 of their first 14 League games (coincidentally, Persson did not play in those 3 defeated games).
Rangers were sat in 2nd place in the table, trailing Hibs by 4 points. (Celtic were 3rd on the same points as us, but with a game in hand).
At this point of his Rangers career, Persson had, in the last two and a bit seasons, played in 110 games for Rangers, and scored 31 goals.
In 72 League games, he had only tasted defeat in 7 games (6 of those all coming in one season 68-69)

Willie Waddell took over as manager of Rangers on Dec 3rd 1969.
Unfortunately, and I know not why, Mr Waddell did not rate the big Swede, and afforded him only three more appearances in a Rangers jersey, before making him available for transfer at the end of the season on April 28th, 1970.
Rangers finished the season 1 point ahead of Hibs, but a humiliating 12 points adrift of Celtic. (2 points for a win back then).

Even though Persson spent less than 3 years at Ibrox, he served under three different managers, which was more than half of the five, that we had in our entire 98 year history.

Despite only making 2 appearances for Rangers in 1970,
Persson was selected for the Swedish national squad that was one of only Sixteen nations who went to the World Cup Finals in Mexico.
He played in two games at the World Cup 1970, against Israel and Uruguay.
After the World Cup, Persson rejoined his former club Orgryte for a small fee.

Persson quit the game in 1972.
He missed playing so much that six months later he returned to play in the Swedish second Division (as a midfielder).
So highly rated was Persson in his own country, that 18 months after he supposedly hung up his boots (and 4 years after Waddell deemed him surplus to requirements at Rangers) he was recalled to the National side for the World Cup Finals in West Germany in 1974.
Persson made an appearance as a midfielder in a very credible 0-0 draw against that great Holland side that included Johan Cruyff, Arie Haan, Johnny Rep, Piet Keizer, Johan Neeskens and Ruud Krol, in a Group C game.
This game is best remembered for that wonderful turn by Cruyff that has been replayed and highlighted a million times in the last thirty odd years.
His 48th and final appearance for Sweden came two weeks later in a second phase World Cup game, against Group B winners Yugoslavia (Scotland's group)
Persson was selected as a central midfielder as Sweden defeated Yugoslavia 2-1.

Even though he was at Rangers less than than three years, and failed to win any trophies,
Orjan Persson will long be remembered, by those of us who were fortunate enough to witness some of the spectacular goals that he scored in his all too brief Ibrox career.
Thanks for the memories
 
Another great read from my era as a boy. Didn’t realise that he played against Cruyff in the match where Cruyff did the “ McGeady turn”!!!
 
He’s on the Rangers Archives Facebook page and pops up with a comment from time to time. Seems a real genuine guy.

My old man thinks that him, Dave Smith, Andy Penman, Willie Johnston and Kai Johansen made up one of the most skilful and best footballing sides he’s seen at Ibrox.
 
He’s on the Rangers Archives Facebook page and pops up with a comment from time to time. Seems a real genuine guy.

My old man thinks that him, Dave Smith, Andy Penman, Willie Johnston and Kai Johansen made up one of the most skilful and best footballing sides he’s seen at Ibrox.
He forgot the most skilful of the lot in Wee Willie Henderson but he was spot on about that team.
 
He forgot the most skilful of the lot in Wee Willie Henderson but he was spot on about that team.

Sorry for going off on a tangent, but love the story of Henderson and his Dad listening to offers from various teams. Man U , Everton and another English team sent reps to Henderson’s house. Dad sat in his armchair and the reps on the couch with Willie. When the Rangers rep came, he got Willies Dads armchair!! Brilliant!
 
Superb read mate.

Every time I read something about how we let the league slip in 67-68 it depresses me even more.

Great info on Orjan though.
Really enjoyed that.

After we drew 2-2 at Parkhead in January, they won 16 games in a row. I believe this is unprecedented.

Some cynics always question the validity of this.
 
He’s on the Rangers Archives Facebook page and pops up with a comment from time to time. Seems a real genuine guy.

My old man thinks that him, Dave Smith, Andy Penman, Willie Johnston and Kai Johansen made up one of the most skilful and best footballing sides he’s seen at Ibrox.

That side did not change much in that 3 year period.
We had three different goalkeepers (Sorensen, Neef, Martin), Stein came in and replaced Ferguson in 68, and that was a great Rangers side, that played fabulous football, claimed some memorable victories, but yet won Nothing.
Sorensen, Johansen, Mathieson, Greig, McKinnon, D.Smith, Henderson, Penman, Stein, Johnston, Persson

Amazing that 8 of those players never won a League Title whilst at Rangers.
 
He’s on the Rangers Archives Facebook page and pops up with a comment from time to time. Seems a real genuine guy.

My old man thinks that him, Dave Smith, Andy Penman, Willie Johnston and Kai Johansen made up one of the most skilful and best footballing sides he’s seen at Ibrox.


Would agree with that Sorenson was a great keeper as well.
 
I thought he was a wonderful player
He's still the king of impossible angles to me - never seen anyone quite like it since
He was still more than decent at scoring less than spectacular goals as well of course - including flying headers - actually they were pretty special too
Thanks for the memories Orjan

& Thanks for posting this OP
 
Was that first game against the mentally challengeds also Jim Baxter’s return for his second spell with us?
 
Great post OP. Too old for me. Always been scratching my head wondering how they managed 9 with the players and teams we had at the time.
 
I am proud to proclaim that Orjan scored the first goal I ever witnessed - the opener in a 3-0 victory over Scottish Cup holders Dunfermline Athletic (October 1968).
 
I've never read anyone write better articles about the Rangers of the 1960s than the OP.

And this is another to add to the list.

I did that Persson goal in a What Goal Was Better poll a few weeks ago. It won :))
 
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I've never read anyone write better articles about the Rangers if the 1960s than the OP.

And this is another to add to the list.

I did that Persson goal in a What Goal Was Better poll a few weeks ago. It won :))


I like to think I know a fair bit about the history of Rangers but the OP's articles are always informative and I always find myself discovering new facts about our great club and its players every time I read one of them. This is another cracking read!
 
Orjan Persson is hidden but the ball's going into the back of the net and Rangers have beaten Celtic at Ibrox, 16th September 1967:


qqN1lWw.jpg
 
I loved big Persson,but I still say we let Davie Wilson go far too early.

With all due respect to Davy Wilson, and to yourself, as sad as it was to see Davy Wilson go, he was not in his prime by the summer of 67'.
From the time he made that Outside Left position his at the start of the 59-60 season, Wilson would score 22, 23, 29 and 33 goals over those four seasons 59-63.
He missed a chunk of the 63-64 Treble season with a broken ankle, but still weighed in with 15 Goals in 30 appearances.
Those were the 5 prime years of Davy Wilson's career, which makes him our most prolific winger ever.

The following three seasons 64-67 Wilson scored 14, 7 and 8 Goals respectively.
In that last season 66-67, Wilson only got back in the side when Willie Johnston broke his ankle against Berwick , and as soon as Johnston was fit again, Wilson was dropped for our last 3 vital games
(which I personally disagreed with at the time, and still do to this day), but that is a whole other story.
Wilson was very much second choice for that Left Wing berth as far as Symon could see.

With Persson on the wing, in the two full seasons he had, the Big Orange would score 17 and 13 goals.
With Willie Johnston operating as an Inside left, or twin striker alongside Ferguson, then Stein,
Johnston would score an amazing 49 goals over those two seasons, by far his two most prolific seasons.

I think Symon was actually being progressive in his insistent pursuit of Orjan Persson, as a player for the future.

Time would prove that Persson was very much a player for the future, as he went on to play in 2 World Cup Finals, after Willie Waddell deemed him surplus to requirements at Ibrox in the summer of 1970!
 
After we drew 2-2 at Parkhead in January, they won 16 games in a row. I believe this is unprecedented.

Some cynics always question the validity of this.

They did go on to win all 16 League Games after the ne'erday 2-2 draw, and lost their Scottish Cup first round game 0-2 at home to Dunfermline in January. They were already out of Europe (first round also), so from Feb onwards they had only the League to concentrate on.
We had 5 Scottish cup ties (including 2 replays, where we were forced to play 4 games in a week),
2 European games v Leeds Utd, and our remaining 16 league games.
I think those extra half dozen games eventually caught up with us.
 
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He’s on the Rangers Archives Facebook page and pops up with a comment from time to time. Seems a real genuine guy.

My old man thinks that him, Dave Smith, Andy Penman, Willie Johnston and Kai Johansen made up one of the most skilful and best footballing sides he’s seen at Ibrox.
I concur 100%
 
Was ridiculous Wilson was only 28 should never have been sold.

It is debatable whether Wilson was 28, or whether in fact he was actually 30 years old,
but nonetheless,
with all due respect to Davy Wilson, and to yourself, as sad as it was to see Davy Wilson go, he was not in his prime by the summer of 67'.
From the time he made that Outside Left position his at the start of the 59-60 season, Wilson would score 22, 23, 29 and 33 goals over those four seasons 59-63.
He missed a chunk of the 63-64 Treble season with a broken ankle, but still weighed in with 15 Goals in 30 appearances.
Those were the 5 prime years of Davy Wilson's career, which makes him our most prolific winger ever.

The following three seasons 64-67 Wilson scored 14, 7 and 8 Goals respectively.
In that last season 66-67, Wilson only got back in the side when Willie Johnston broke his ankle against Berwick , and as soon as Johnston was fit again, Wilson was dropped for our last 3 vital games
(which I personally disagreed with at the time, and still do to this day),
but that is a whole other story.
Wilson was very much second choice for that Left Wing berth as far as Symon could see.

With Persson on the wing, in the two full seasons he had, the Big Orange would score 17 and 13 goals.
With Willie Johnston operating as an Inside left, or twin striker alongside Ferguson, then Stein,
Johnston would score an amazing 49 goals over those two seasons, by far his two most prolific seasons.

I think Symon was actually being progressive in his insistent pursuit of Orjan Persson, as a player for the future.

Time would prove that Persson was very much a player for the future, as he went on to play in 2 World Cup Finals, after Willie Waddell deemed him surplus to requirements at Ibrox in the summer of 1970!
 
It is debatable whether Wilson was 28, or whether in fact he was actually 30 years old,
but nonetheless,
with all due respect to Davy Wilson, and to yourself, as sad as it was to see Davy Wilson go, he was not in his prime by the summer of 67'.
From the time he made that Outside Left position his at the start of the 59-60 season, Wilson would score 22, 23, 29 and 33 goals over those four seasons 59-63.
He missed a chunk of the 63-64 Treble season with a broken ankle, but still weighed in with 15 Goals in 30 appearances.
Those were the 5 prime years of Davy Wilson's career, which makes him our most prolific winger ever.

The following three seasons 64-67 Wilson scored 14, 7 and 8 Goals respectively.
In that last season 66-67, Wilson only got back in the side when Willie Johnston broke his ankle against Berwick , and as soon as Johnston was fit again, Wilson was dropped for our last 3 vital games
(which I personally disagreed with at the time, and still do to this day),
but that is a whole other story.
Wilson was very much second choice for that Left Wing berth as far as Symon could see.

With Persson on the wing, in the two full seasons he had, the Big Orange would score 17 and 13 goals.
With Willie Johnston operating as an Inside left, or twin striker alongside Ferguson, then Stein,
Johnston would score an amazing 49 goals over those two seasons, by far his two most prolific seasons.

I think Symon was actually being progressive in his insistent pursuit of Orjan Persson, as a player for the future.

Time would prove that Persson was very much a player for the future, as he went on to play in 2 World Cup Finals, after Willie Waddell deemed him surplus to requirements at Ibrox in the summer of 1970!


Great player and Davy Wilson was one of my heroes at the time.
 
Orjan Persson is hidden but the ball's going into the back of the net and Rangers have beaten Celtic at Ibrox, 16th September 1967:


qqN1lWw.jpg

A great photo, and cheers for all those brilliant photos you have posted.

This one in particular is a favourite of mine.

It was the third time in just over four weeks that we had played the recently crowned 'Champions of Europe'.
For those that don't know,
The first encounter was a midweek League Cup tie, our first official home game of the season, that attracted 95,000 Paying customers to Ibrox, and God knows how many liftovers, and we played them off the park that night.
We trailed 0-1 at the break, thanks to a Tommy Gemmell penalty, but we bombarded them for the entire second half, with Simpson making a string of excellent saves, none more so than an Andy Penman penalty, that was well struck, shoulder high into the corner, that somehow Simpson kept out.
Penman was not to be denied though, in this, his official home debut (as were 3 others in Eric Sorensen, Alex Ferguson, and Orjan Persson), as he scored the equaliser direct from a freekick some 25 yards out, with two mins left to play.
The roar of that massive crowd could be heard 2 subways away on Cornwall St.
We were better than them, and we knew it!

Two weeks later in the return game at the Piggery, with Willie Johnston in for the injured Orjan Persson, we took an early lead through Willie Henderson in the opening 10 mins.
With less than 15 mins to play, Rangers were awarded a penalty, giving Kai Johansen the opportunity to seal the game.
Another penalty missed, this time coming off the underside of the bar.
We blew it, and a much relieved Celtic would go on to score 3 goals in the final 12 mins.

Just over two weeks later, and we get them again at Ibrox in the league, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, that brought another 90,000 plus crowd to Ibrox.
Orjan Persson who was fit again came straight back into the starting line up, with Willie Johnston on the bench.
It did not start well, with that dirty bastard Bertie Auld breaking Davie Provan's leg in the opening 5 mins.
Willie Johnston came off the bench, as Rangers rearranged, with Greig dropping to cover Left Back, Penman going central in midfield, and Persson given a free roaming role, as Johnston took up the left wing berth.
These changes saw Rangers dominate the first half, and only a couple of bad misses by Alex Ferguson, with only Simpson to beat, allowed Celtic to go in level at the break.
Celtic's luck lasted all of two mins into that second half, and yes we once again played them off the park, and though the margin was just a solitary goal, what a fuckin' goal it was.
Orjan Persson, back in the side after a three game absence, picked up a clever lob from McKinnon, on the right, and the big Swede meandered past four Celtic defenders over a thirty yard waltz, before turning, and smashing an unstoppable shot beyond Simpson, from an acute angle.
Fair to say, one of the best goals Ibrox has witnessed.
(that is the photo from above)
Thereafter we had several chances to increase that lead, but by the end, it mattered not, we had won the game, that our play richly deserved.
We had now played them three times, and in all three games, we had looked the better side.
This win finally convinced us all that The Rangers were back, and there was a season ahead that we could be proud of!

Unfortunately, it was not to be.
Six weeks later, whilst Rangers sat at the top of the League, still undefeated after 8 games, conceding only 2 goals, Scot Symon was sacked, whilst 3rd placed Celtic were in South America playing in the World Club Championship.
 
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A great photo, and cheers for all those brilliant photos you have posted.

This one in particular is a favourite of mine.

It was the third time in just over four weeks that we had played the recently crowned 'Champions of Europe'.
For those that don't know,
The first encounter was a midweek League Cup tie, our first official home game of the season, that attracted 95,000 Paying customers to Ibrox, and God knows how many liftovers, and we played them off the park that night.
We trailed 0-1 at the break, thanks to a Tommy Gemmell penalty, but we bombarded them for the entire second half, with Simpson making a string of excellent saves, none more so than an Andy Penman penalty, that was well struck, shoulder high into the corner, that somehow Simpson kept out.
Penman was not to be denied though, in this, his official home debut (as were 3 others in Eric Sorensen, Alex Ferguson, and Orjan Persson), as he scored the equaliser direct from a freekick some 25 yards out, with two mins left to play.
The roar of that massive crowd could be heard 2 subways away on Cornwall St.
We were better than them, and we knew it!

Two weeks later in the return game at the Piggery, with Willie Johnston in for the injured Orjan Persson, we took an early lead through Willie Henderson in the opening 10 mins.
With less than 15 mins to play, Rangers were awarded a penalty, giving Kai Johansen the opportunity to seal the game.
Another penalty missed, this time coming off the underside of the bar.
We blew it, and a much relieved Celtic would go on to score 3 goals in the final 12 mins.

Just over two weeks later, and we get them again at Ibrox in the league, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, that brought another 90,000 plus crowd to Ibrox.
Orjan Persson who was fit again came straight back into the starting line up, with Willie Johnston on the bench.
It did not start well, with that dirty bastard Bertie Auld breaking Davie Provan's leg in the opening 5 mins.
Willie Johnston came off the bench, as Rangers rearranged, with Greig dropping to cover Left Back, Penman going central in midfield, and Persson given a free roaming role, as Johnston took up the left wing berth.
These changes saw Rangers dominate the first half, and only a couple of bad misses by Alex Ferguson, with only Simpson to beat, allowed Celtic to go in level at the break.
Celtic's luck lasted all of two mins into that second half, and yes we once again played them off the park, and though the margin was just a solitary goal, what a fuckin' goal it was.
Orjan Persson, back in the side after a three game absence, picked up a clever lob from McKinnon, on the right, and the big Swede meandered past four Celtic defenders over a thirty yard waltz, before turning, and smashing an unstoppable shot beyond Simpson, from an acute angle.
Fair to say, one of the best goals Ibrox has witnessed.
(that is the photo from above)
Thereafter we had several chances to increase that lead, but by the end, it mattered not, we had won the game, that our play richly deserved.
We had now played them three times, and in all three games, we had looked the better side.
This win finally convinced us all that The Rangers were back, and there was a season ahead that we could be proud of!

Unfortunately, it was not to be.
Six weeks later, whilst Rangers sat at the top of the League, still undefeated after 8 games, conceding only 2 goals, Scot Symon was sacked, whilst 3rd placed Celtic were in South America playing in the World Club Championship.

Great post again mate. That Johansen penalty miss at the piggery. He blasted the rebound into the net in celebration as he thought it had crossed the line. The ref and linesman said otherwise. If he'd left it alone Andy Penman was behind him and would have had a tap in. As it was, they took the ball down the other end, won a corner and equalised from it and we fell apart. Another of many "could've been different" games in that era. The 1967 to 1970 Rangers teams must be by some distance the best never to have won a trophy. I wish we had a team that good today to be honest.
 
Great post again mate. That Johansen penalty miss at the piggery. He blasted the rebound into the net in celebration as he thought it had crossed the line. The ref and linesman said otherwise. If he'd left it alone Andy Penman was behind him and would have had a tap in. As it was, they took the ball down the other end, won a corner and equalised from it and we fell apart. Another of many "could've been different" games in that era. The 1967 to 1970 Rangers teams must be by some distance the best never to have won a trophy. I wish we had a team that good today to be honest.

I remember putting a post up some 18 -20 years ago, on the old board, about how Davie White was not a bad Manager, despite the no Trophies, and that Rangers team of that era was a great team, and I got slated for it by several, claiming that White was our worst manager ever, and that Rangers side were serial losers.
Fortunately over the years, with input from many of the good older bears in here, that Rangers side of 67-70 started to get recognised as not really such a bad side after all, and it's fair to say that at least now more people realise that this was in fact a very good team, with some excellent players.
Legends like Henderson, Greig and McKinnon had all won titles,
but Players like Kai Johansen, Dave Smith, , Andy Penman, Colin Stein, Willlie Johnston, Orjan Persson, even somewhat fringe players such as Bobby Watson and Alex Willoughby, would not have been out of place in many a Rangers side over the years, before and since, that won League Titles, yet none of these excellent players won a LeagueTitle with Rangers.
 
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I remember putting a post up some 18 -20 years ago, on the old board, about how Davie White was not a bad Manager, despite the no Trophies, and that Rangers team of that era was a great team, and I got slated for it by several, claiming that White was our worst manager ever, and that Rangers side were serial losers.
Fortunately over the years, with input from many of the good older bears in here, that Rangers side of 67-70 started to get recognised as not really such a bad side after all, and it's fair to say that at least now more people realise that this was in fact a very good team, with some excellent players.
Legends like Henderson, Greig and McKinnon had all won titles,
but Players like Kai Johansen, Dave Smith, , Andy Penman, Colin Stein, Willlie Johnston, Orjan Persson, even somewhat fringe players such as Bobby Watson and Alex Willoughby, would not have been out of place in many a Rangers side over the years, before and since, that won League Titles, yet none of these excellent players won a LeagueTitle with Rangers.


I've always thought Davie White was the right man at probably the wrong time. Yet even then he came desperately close to success. It really was by the slimmest of margins that he didn't win that league in 1968 and if he had things would likely have been so different (no 9iar for a start). No one would claim that was the best Rangers team ever, despite being a very good one, yet they ran the Celtic team of that era so close, and that's rightly regarded as their best. Makes you wonder what might have been doesn't it? If those players were playing at their peak today they'd skate the present league and cups no problem.
 
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