Rangers icon assesses immediate future of four players as he imparts wisdom on next generation in new role
New goalkeeping coach claims he was ‘shocked’ to be asked to rejoin the club
Rangers legend Allan McGregor is looking forward to taking on his new role as club goalkeeping coach and working with the current crop of Ibrox shot stoppers.
The 44-year old made over 500 appearances at Ibrox over two spells as a player, winning 13 major honours and helping them reach two European finals. After hanging up his gloves, he returned to the club as an interim coach under Barry Ferguson in February 2025. Nearly 18 months later, he’s now snapped up the same position on a permanent basis.
Having also enlisted new manager Derek McInnes, Rangers are clearly aiming to acquire a Scottish core for the upcoming campaign, both on the pitch and in the dugout. As someone who spent 15 years at the club all-in, McGregor is certainly a player that fits the bill. The former Scotland international will now impart his wisdom on the current crop of goalkeepers - Ivor Pandur, Liam Kelly, Mason Munn and Rydnn McGuire.
McGregor assesses future of Rangers number ones
As a young stopper himself, McGregor was farmed out on loan twice while at Rangers to St Johnstone and Dunfermline Athletic. 20-year old Munn had loan spells at the Pars and Forfar Athletic last season and McGregor thinks another year getting minutes under his belt will do him the world of good.
He told Rangers TV: “Rydnn (McGuire) is young, up and coming and he was training with the first team at 16, so what a prospect he is. Mason Munn, again another great prospect. Hopefully we can get him a loan move to go and play first team football and get used to that environment. Even though I know he had a couple of spells last season.”
In the case of Pandur and Kelly, McGregor is excited for the battle between the two stoppers vying for the first choice spot. He continued: “With Ivor (Pandur) and Kells (Liam Kelly), they’re both pushing to be Rangers number one and to play for the first team. Competition for places is always a good thing. As a player, I never took anything for granted and never really ever saw myself as the ‘number one.’ I always had the mindset that nothing is ever guaranteed.”
Pandur is yet to join the Rangers team since his £6m transfer from Hull City, however McGregor confirmed this is just to give him some extra rest after a long year. The Croatian has only recently returned from World Cup duty and also had a Championship Play Off Final to prepare for with Hull after the regular season. He is set to join his new teammates at their summer training camp in Spain a week on Monday.
McGregor on answering the Rangers call
The fan favourite claimed he was ‘shocked’ to be offered the position and that it took him a while to get back to CEO Jim Gillespie. He added: “It is great to be back, there are a lot of familiar faces, I obviously had a spell at the end of the season before I enjoyed my time. It is a lot different to being a player, but I enjoyed it and I am really glad to be back, buzzing actually.
“I was shocked, I spoke to Jim [Gillespie] a couple of days before they actually offered me the job and it was just a general chat. I met him a couple of days later and they offered me it. I was surprised, but I went back and spoke to my family and had a really good think about it.
“When Barry [Ferguson] phoned me, I jumped at the chance because it was short term and I wanted to help the boys out. This one took a bit more thought because it is a longer-term thing and I thought about how it would look on the club with me not having my badges and having to start them and what I could bring here, it was really important to me.”