The Graeme Souness Rangers revolution

1. IT was the day that changed the landscape of Scottish football forever and kicked off a chain of events that would see Rangers re-establish themselves as the dominant force in our game. 
Graeme Souness became the Light Blues’ first ever player-manager and he would have a profound impact on the park and in the dugout. 
Every Gers fan of that generation will remember where they were the day that Souness was paraded at Ibrox and those that saw the midfielder in action and cheered his side on to league and cup glory will look back with fondness at what theSouness Revolution meant for Rangers in a glory-laden spell.

2. FOR all the money he spent and for all the big names he brought to Ibrox, it is arguably the deal for Walter Smith that proved to be the most important Souness completed during his time in Glasgow. 
It was the start of a remarkable period at Ibrox as Smith left his role at Dundee United to move to the club where he would become a legend. 
The pair would lead Rangers to a host of successes while they were together on the touchline and lay the foundations for what would become nine-in-a-row as Smith completed the job that he and Souness had started.

 
3. THE first signing of the Souness era, a six-figure deal for Colin West, was only a taster of what was to come as the Gers boss went on to build a squad that was capable of delivering title glory at Ibrox.
The arrivals of keeper Chris Woods and England hero Terry Butcher sent shockwaves through Scottish football and confirmed Rangers as major players in the transfer market. 
They were the kind of deals that clubs north of the border will surely never be able to pull off again and were significant coups for Souness, owner Lawrence Marlborough and chairman David Holmes. Rangers were off and running and had their sights set on the silverware.

4. A season that would end in a long-awaited title glory started at Easter Road and a whirlwind of headlines for Souness. Already on a booking for a foul on Billy Kirkwood, the midfielder was sent off for a challenge on George McCluskey just minutes later. 
It sparked a melee on the park as players clashed and Souness had to make his way back to the dressing room. 
Souness said of the challenge: ‘my boot ran up his leg!’ It was an explosive way to make an introduction in Light Blue but the former Scotland star was only just getting started.

5. AFTER nine long and frustrating years, the wait was finally over for Rangers by the end of the 1986/87 campaign as Souness delivered the Premier Division title in his first term at Ibrox. 
A Scottish Cup third round exit at the hands of Hamilton was a rare low point as the Light Blues finished six points ahead of Celtic to lift the top-flight crown, the goals of Ally McCoist crucial to the triumph. The league win completed a dream double for Souness, who also led the Gers to the League Cup thanks to goals from Ian Durrant and Davie Cooper.

6. THE next wave of English recruits gave the Ibrox crowd plenty to get excited about but they couldn’t deliver a second consecutive Premier Division title as they finished third behind Hearts and 12 points adrift of Celtic. 
The arrivals of Ray Wilkins and Mark Walters were still crucial, though, as Souness put the building blocks in place for the first of what would become nine straight top-flight wins.
Rangers may not have been able to retain their title but they did get their hands on the League Cup once again, Cooper, Durrant and Robert Fleck scoring before the Gers edged out Aberdeen on penalties in a thrilling Hampden showdown.

7. THERE was another top English talent pitching up at Ibrox and another League Cup to celebrate but it was the Premier Division title that mattered most in 1988/89.
Souness splashed out £1.25million to sign Gary Stevens from Everton in July and by October had made it a hat-trick of Hampden triumphs as Aberdeen were again beaten at the National Stadium thanks to a McCoist brace and Ian Ferguson effort. 
A record of 26 wins from 36 league outings was enough to clinch a second league crown for Souness as the Gers finished six points ahead of the Dons. 

8. IT is arguably the most famous and controversial transfer in Scottish football history. It was the day Souness signed Mo Johnston from Nantes. The story is well told and the impact the arrival of Johnston had at Ibrox was huge, both on and off the park. 
It was a significant blow to Celtic and within months the striker had scored an Old Firm winner as Rangers found their form and motored towards the title. 
They would end the season without any cup silverware but they had made headlines around the world and secured another Premier Division flag.

9. THE Souness years were littered with headlines, bust-ups, rows and controversy. 
He managed the team like he played the game, was a fierce competitor and had the will to win that is essential if you are to be a success at Ibrox. 
His forthright views and tough style often saw him fall foul of the authorities. Speaking after the League Cup final win over Celtic in 1990, the last trophy he would lift at Ibrox, Souness said: “On matters of discipline, we have come to accept we are treated differently. This is no more than we would expect from the SFA.”

10. IT was the end of an era but Rangers’ dominance was still in its infancy. Souness had signed Mark Hateley from Monaco in a bid to take Rangers to another title but he didn’t stay long enough to complete the job.
When Liverpool came calling with a handful of games left, the lure of Anfield proved too great. 
He handed the reigns over to Smith, who would guide the Light Blues to the Premier Division crown on the final day thanks to the famous 2-0 win at home to Aberdeen. The Souness Revolution had come to an end, but he would leave quite a legacy at Ibrox.