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The captain had a bust up with boss Danny Rohl that saw him left out of the squad for the game against Hibs
20:07, 13 May 2026Updated 23:23, 13 May 2026
Rangers captain James Tavernier’s farewell to Ibrox
James Tavernier reflected on his “crazy” Rangers rollercoaster in his final message before he was sensationally bombed from the squad after a bust-up with Danny Rohl – only to appear at Ibrox before kick off against Hibs.
The long-serving Light Blues skipper was on the cover of the match programme for the game against Hibs which was supposed to be his emotional farewell.
He penned a message to fans in his notes ahead of the game but it was overtaken by the bombshell news that he was out of the squad.
Legend John Greig made an official presentation on behalf of the club after the shock of his omission.
It means Tavernier’s final appearance at Ibrox was a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Motherwell when he was introduced as a half time substitute in a bid to rescue his team who were two goals down.
It’s almost 11 years since Tavernier first ran out at Ibrox Stadium and scored in a League Cup win over Peterhead. And in his notes he wrote: “It’s crazy that it has gone full circle and that my first game for Rangers was against Hibs and my final home game will be against the same team.
“It’s not quite sunk in yet that the upcoming match will be my last at Ibrox. Once I officially leave I’ll have the time to sit down, reflect and fully take it all in. To be preparing for my final home game against Hibs, it does feel strange because Ibrox is where I’ve played for the past 11 years and it’s where I call home.
“I just felt the time was right for both myself and my family. Eleven years is a long time in football and you don’t really see that at clubs anymore. I think personally, what I’ve put in over the years I have given absolutely everything so it’s the right time for a new chapter. What that will be I have no idea but it’s something that has probably come at the right time.”
Rohl views tonight’s game as an important clash, even though his team’s title bid has crumbled, and picked a team he felt could win the game.
Ibrox sources insist the club chiefs are behind the manager’s decision.
But that huge call infuriated Tavernier, who had arranged for his family to be there in person to see his big send off..
It remains to be seen if he will feature again for the club – who bring the curtain down on another trophy-less season against Falkirk this Saturday.
Tavernier revealed last month he would quit the club he first joined back in 2015.
He was part of the team that led the club out of the Championship in 2015 and led the side to it’s first league title in a decade in 2021.
He’s also lifted one Scottish Cup and one League Cup as skipper and led the team to the final of the Europa League in 2022.
It now appears that Tavernier – who has scored 144 goals in 562 appearances – might have played his final game for Gers in Sunday’s Old Firm defeat to Celtic.
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