Rangers legend Barry Ferguson has spoken out in strong support of Allan McGregor’s appointment as the club’s permanent lead goalkeeping coach under Derek McInnes.
Ferguson, who previously brought McGregor into a coaching role during his own spell in charge at Ibrox, says the move is about far more than sentiment or familiarity.
“This might surprise a few people. But Allan McGregor is a pretty quiet, unassuming guy,” Ferguson said, before adding that everything changes the moment training or a game begins.
Ferguson described McGregor as a different animal once competitive situations arise, pointing to his intensity, organisation, and meticulous preparation as standout qualities.
The former Rangers captain was keen to emphasise that when he first brought McGregor back, it was never an old pals’ act driven by loyalty alone.
“I appointed him because I felt he had so much to give — not just to the first-team goalkeepers but the younger ones in the academy,” Ferguson explained.
He noted that McGregor did things the hard way as a young player, having to leave Rangers on loan to St Johnstone and Dunfermline before establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Scottish football history.
Ferguson believes the perception of McGregor as a public figure can be misleading, given how rarely he gives interviews or courts attention outside the training ground.
“He keeps himself to himself and doesn’t do a lot of interviews. But I like that about him,” Ferguson said, describing him as a fiery, hardworking character whose qualities are self-evident to those who work alongside him.
According to Ferguson, McGregor’s planning for training sessions was meticulous, and the goalkeepers under his care during their time together responded extremely well to his methods.
Ferguson recalled telling McGregor simply to take the goalkeepers away and do his thing, fully confident that the group was in brilliant hands without needing any further oversight.
McGregor’s appointment will see him work closely with Rangers’ new goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, who is arriving from Hull City and will benefit directly from his experience.
Ferguson pointed out that McGregor grew up working alongside a goalkeeper of the calibre of Stefan Klos at Rangers, giving him a rare and valuable education from an early age.
He also recalled watching McGregor as a 15-year-old and being immediately struck by the contrast between his quiet demeanour before a match and the fierce competitor who emerged once the game began.
“He was only 15 but I remember looking at him, thinking: ‘I’m loving that, I’m having him,'” Ferguson said, underlining how long he had recognised McGregor’s exceptional character.
Ferguson also used the column to weigh in on the broader direction of the club under McInnes, arguing that Rangers have been missing a clear identity for far too long.
He stressed that restoring that identity does not mean filling the squad with Scottish players or Rangers supporters, but ensuring the right mix of people who genuinely understand what the club represents.
Ferguson added that one name generating transfer interest, Vaclav Cerny, would be a no-brainer signing if available, calling him a game-changer whose numbers and attitude impressed him greatly during their time working together.
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