Rangers are arguably regarded as one of the biggest football clubs in the British game, having been one of the most successful clubs in the history of Scottish football.
Some players have played a big role in making the Gers successful by being prolific in front of goal. However, who has been the most prolific players in the history of the club?
Ally McCoist (355 goals scored in 581 appearances in all competitions for Rangers from 1983–1998)
The former Scotland international is a modern-day Rangers legend for his prolific form in front of goal, as he scored 355 goals in 581 competitive appearances for the club.
McCoist was so prolific that he won the European Golden Shoe in 1991/92 and 1992/93, having already been the European Cup’s top goalscorer in the 1987/88 season. The striker scored 34 goals in all three campaigns. He also won the SFWA Footballer of the Year in 1991/92.
His goals helped Rangers win the SPL title ten times, the Scottish Cup once, and the League Cup nine times.
Bob McPhail (261 goals scored in 408 appearances in all competitions for Rangers from 1927–1940)
The inside left started his career at Pollok before a switch to Airdrieonians, where he was prolific in front of goal. He joined Rangers in 1927 for a fee of £5000.
He proved to be a bargain buy, scoring 261 goals in 408 appearances in all competitions. McPhail helped the club to nine SPL titles and also six Scottish Cups.
Jimmy Smith (249 goals scored in 250 appearances in all competitions for Rangers from 1928–1946)
Smith enjoyed a fruitful first season in football with East Stirlingshire, as he scored 16 goals in just 15 appearances in the space of just five months. In 1928, the forward joined Rangers at the age of just 17.
He went on to represent the Gers for 18 years, scoring a highly impressive 249 goals in just 250 appearances.
Smith partnered McPhail for many of the seasons the pair were at the club. The partnership was particularly lethal in season 1933-34, as Rangers won the league and cup double, with the pair scoring 72 between them in 47 matches.
Jimmy Fleming (220 goals scored in 267 appearances in all competitions from 1928-1946)
The diminutive forward made a name for himself at St. Johnstone by scoring 42 goals in 72 league appearances over two seasons before his move to Rangers in 1925.
Fleming was prolific in front of goal for the Gers, too, scoring 220 goals in 267 appearances in all competitions in an 18-year career with the Glasgow club.
The forward holds the record for the most goals in the Scottish Cup by a Rangers player, having scored 44 times in the competition. He also scored nine goals in a 14-2 victory over Blairgowrie in the Scottish Cup, which is a club record.
Derek Johnstone (210 goals scored in 556 appearances in all competitions for Rangers from 1970/1983 and 1984/1985)
Johnstone came through the Rangers youth ranks, making his debut at just 16 years and 319 days and scoring a brace in a 5-0 win over Cowdenbeath.
He went on to score 210 goals in 556 appearances over two spells with the Glasgow club. During his time with the club, he won the Scottish title three times, the Scottish Cup five times, and the League Cup on five occasions.
On an individual level, Johnstone won both the SPFA Players’ Player of the Year and SFWA Footballer of the Year awards in season 1977/78.
Ralph Brand (206 goals scored in 317 appearances in all competitions for Rangers from 1954–1965)
The Edinburgh-born striker came through the club’s youth system and played for the first team from 1954 until 1965, scoring a highly creditable 206 goals in 317 appearances for the Gers.
Brand’s most prolific campaign in front of goal was in season 1960/61 when he scored 24 league goals in 44 appearances in all competitions, including five goals in the Cup Winners’ Cup.
During his Rangers career, Brand won four Scottish titles and FA Cups, as well as the League Cup five times.
Willie Reid (195 goals scored in 230 appearances in all competitions for Rangers from 1909–1920)
Reid joined Rangers in 1909 after spells with the likes of Morton and, most notably, Motherwell. He enjoyed an 11-year career with the Glasgow outfit, making 230 appearances and scoring 195 goals in the process.
The forward’s effectiveness in front of goal was illustrated by the fact that he was Rangers’ top goalscorer for six straight seasons from 1910 until 1916. Reid also finished as the Scottish top-flight’s top goalscorer in seasons 1910–11 and 1911–12.
His goals helped Rangers win the Scottish top-flight title in four seasons: 1910/11, 1911/12, 1912/13, and 1919/20.
Willie Thornton (194 goals scored in 308 appearances for Rangers in all competitions from 1936-1954)
The forward was a true one-club man during his playing career, representing Rangers for 18 years. In 308 appearances in all competitions, he scored 194 goals.
Thornton also played for the Scottish national team on eight occasions from 1946 until 1952. When he retired from playing, he managed Dundee and Partick Thistle, and he had a short stint as the Rangers’ caretaker boss in 1969.
Robert C. Hamilton (184 goals scored in 209 appearances in all competitions for Rangers from 1897–1906 and 1907–1908)
Hamilton first joined Rangers in 1897, having previously been on the books at Queens Park. The forward was the team’s top goalscorer for nine straight campaigns while also being the league’s top goalscorer in six of the seasons.
His most prolific campaign came in the 1903/04 season when he scored 28 goals in 24 appearances. Hamilton’s goals inspired Rangers to four Scottish titles and also two Scottish Cups.
Andy Cunningham (182 goals scored in 389 appearances in all competitions for Rangers from 1915–1929)
The inside forward joined Rangers from Kilmarnock in 1915 and remained at the Glasgow club until 1929. During his 389 competitive appearances, Cunningham scored 182 goals.
He won the Scottish top-flight title on seven occasions and the Scottish Cup once in 1928, when Rangers defeated bitter-rivals Celtic 4-0 in the final. The victory ended a 25-year wait to win the trophy.
