Scotland international pays ultimate compliment to new Rangers boss as key factor behind transfer return explained

Reuniting with Derek McInnes, the man who lured him to Aberdeen following his Ibrox exit, the twice-capped Scotland international is excited to be back in familiar surroundings but also in the knowledge that he can adopt an important role as part of McInnes’ new-look squad.

Now aged 28, McCrorie is entering the prime years of his career and gunning for silverware after spending the last three years south of the border with Bristol City in the EFL Championship. And with McInnes now at the helm, the versatile defender is convinced Rangers have the right man to bring success to the club.

After all, he knows exactly how the “gaffer” operates.

“For me, it was kind of in the back of my mind when I left,” McCrorie commented when asked if he ever dreamed of returning to Rangers again as a player. “But at the time I had to leave, I wanted to go and develop myself, go and make myself a better player, go up the levels to unlock that talent I knew I had.

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“It was a good three years at Aberdeen, a good three years down at Bristol and the opportunity arose to come up here. I just spoke with the gaffer at the time and I think a big thing for me coming back was the gaffer. I had a good few offers back down in England, but for me, as soon as the gaffer got the job here, I knew he was the man to take this club forward and he was good for it.”

Discussing the key characteristics which convinced him that McInnes can be a success as Rangers manager, he stated: “The gaffer is a great man-manager, he’s top in that instance. He’s a real leader of men. My team at Aberdeen, I remember it was my first game, there was a lot of stuff around Covid at the time. He took us on the pitch at St Johnstone, brought in all the players.

“It was a ‘us-against-the-world’ mentality and I think you’re going to have to bring that in here as well. Because that’s where it’s going to be at times, it’s going to be tough here. It’s not an easy club to play for and the gaffer has got all the ability for that. I think as a man, he makes you want to run through brick walls for him. That’s the kind of feeling you get when you play under the gaffer and, as soon as I got the opportunity to work with him again, for me it was a bit of a no-brainer.”

New Rangers signing encouraged by standard of fellow Ibrox recruits

McCrorie, who first joined Rangers as a nine-year old and made his senior debut in September 2017, has been impressed by the standard of player recruited so far this summer. One of five new arrivals thus far alongside Lawrence Shankland, Ben Godfrey, Dan Neil and Ivor Pandur, he is confident a successful campaign lies in store.

“Yeah, they’re all really good signings,” he added. “They’re all good quality, the boys know it’s a physical league and they know British football as well. It’s good to get them in the building, get them integrated into the group.

“It’s not just about quality, it’s about the type of character as well. Upstairs have done their due diligence in bringing in terms of the type of boys they’re bringing in. I’ve played with and against a few of them, they’re really good characters who will help to create that unity within the changing room. I’m sure if we can keep that together then we can build a strong team mentality.”