Greatest Ever Ranger John Greig insists Steven Gerrard should be among the pantheon of Ibrox greats for restoring the club's "respect".
The Barcelona Bear and legendary former captain believes current boss Gerrard deserves the highest recognition after the preceding near-decade of dominance from rivals Celtic and all the turmoil off and on the park at Rangers.
Gerrard steered the club to an unbeaten Premiership title last term to stop the Hoops' attempt at 10 pIn A Row and ahead of a friendly against Real Madrid this weekend – a side Greig faced near the start of his career in 1963 – he believes big clubs beyond these shores are starting to see the Govan outfit as their equals again.
The match is part of this season's 150th anniversary celebrations and Greig can't think of many who have given more to the Ibrox cause in that century and a half.
"This club is an institution," he told the Rangers YouTube channel. "There have been some great players, managers and chairmen of the club going through that 150 years.
"I think it would be nice to pause for a second during the next year and think back to some of the famous names that have walked through the door – because they've all helped to make this club what it is.
Nobody more so than Steven.
"As I said to him a few weeks ago, winning the league championship here after all these years wasn't just great for winning the championship.
"I think what he did, after the previous 10 years we had at this club, it gave this club back a lot of respect. Both at home and abroad.
"I think that's important because we are a big club, we had a good name in Europe, and hopefully we're resurrecting it now."
The Barcelona Bear and legendary former captain believes current boss Gerrard deserves the highest recognition after the preceding near-decade of dominance from rivals Celtic and all the turmoil off and on the park at Rangers.
Gerrard steered the club to an unbeaten Premiership title last term to stop the Hoops' attempt at 10 pIn A Row and ahead of a friendly against Real Madrid this weekend – a side Greig faced near the start of his career in 1963 – he believes big clubs beyond these shores are starting to see the Govan outfit as their equals again.
The match is part of this season's 150th anniversary celebrations and Greig can't think of many who have given more to the Ibrox cause in that century and a half.
"This club is an institution," he told the Rangers YouTube channel. "There have been some great players, managers and chairmen of the club going through that 150 years.
"I think it would be nice to pause for a second during the next year and think back to some of the famous names that have walked through the door – because they've all helped to make this club what it is.
Nobody more so than Steven.
"As I said to him a few weeks ago, winning the league championship here after all these years wasn't just great for winning the championship.
"I think what he did, after the previous 10 years we had at this club, it gave this club back a lot of respect. Both at home and abroad.
"I think that's important because we are a big club, we had a good name in Europe, and hopefully we're resurrecting it now."