Given Rangers off-field troubles back in 2012, Rangers fans wouldn’t have believed their team would reach another European final in the space of 14 years.
Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his players have booked their date with destiny against Eintrahct Frankfurt in sunny Seville on Wednesday night.
While the competition is now called the Europa League, the Ibrox club fell at the final hurdle in its previous incarnation as the UEFA Cup.
Following the high of their penalty shoot-out triumph over a Fiorentina side full of experienced internationalists in the semi-finals, the Gers were brought crashing back down to earth as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg in Manchester.
Two members of Walter Smith’s squad (Allan McGregor and Steven Davis) are remarkably set to feature at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium this week.
The current crop of players will hope they can honour Smith, who passed away last year, and legendary kitman Jimmy Bell by lifiting the iconic trophy in the Andalusian capital.
GlasgowWorld looks at the starting XI that night in 2008 and where their careers have subsequently taken them:
UNUSED: Graeme Smith (GK), Christian Dailly, Charlie Adam, Amdy Faye
NOT IN SQUAD: Allan McGregor (GK), Roy Carroll (GK), Alan Hutton, Thomas Buffel, Ugo Ehiogu, Alan Gow, Chris Burke, Ian Murray, Steven Naismith, DaMarcus Beasley, Andy Webster, Filip Sebo, Steven Smith, Daniel Cousin, Paul Emslie, Dean Furman, John Fleck
9. KEVIN THOMSON - (CM)
Signed for Gordon Strachan’s Middlesbrough side in 2010 but injuries hampered his progress. Re-joined Hibernian for a second spell in 2013 before a year-long stay at Dundee. A third spell at Hibs followed before returning to Rangers as an academy coach. Replace ex-teammate Ferguson as Kelty Hearts boss and led the Fifers to the League Two title this season Photo: SNS Group Alan Harvey
10. STEVEN WHITTAKER - (RM)
Joined Norwich City in 2012 after Gers’ liquidation and would spend five years at Carrow Road before re-joining Hibernian in 2017. After three seasons at Easter Road, he signed for Dunfermline as a player/coach. Agreed to become Scott Brown’s assistant at Fleetwood Town last week | Other 3rd Party Photo: SNS Group Craig Williamson
11. STEVEN DAVIS - (LM)
Still involved with the current squad. Enjoyed seven successful years at Southampton before returning to Ibrox for a second spell, initially on loan in 2017. Unlikely to start in Seville and is out of contract at the end of season. Northern Ireland’s most capped player with 134 appearances Photo: SNS Group Bill Murray
12. JEAN-CLAUDE DARCHEVILLE - (CF)
The Frenchman wasn’t the most prolific scorer but Walter Smith liked what he brought to the team, especially in Europe. Went back to play in France with Valenciennes and Nantes and spent a year in Greece before retiring in 2014. | Other 3rd Party Photo: SNS Group Steve Welsh