Rangers appoint Lawrence Shankland as club captain

Rangers have named new signing Lawrence Shankland as the club’s captain, with manager Derek McInnes entrusting the leadership role to the striker ahead of the Scottish Premiership season opener. The 30-year-old Scotland international, a lifelong supporter of the club, succeeds James Tavernier, who departed this summer after a long tenure as skipper.

Shankland was informed of the decision by McInnes just an hour before the public announcement on July 29. He described the appointment as a "huge honour," stating it was a dream to join the club and an even greater privilege to be named captain. The forward brings significant leadership experience, having captained Heart of Midlothian for the past two and a half seasons, including during their strong league campaign last year under McInnes.

Manager Derek McInnes explained his decision, noting he took time to assess the squad before making the call. He highlighted Shankland’s proven ability to manage a dressing room, his experience, and his understanding of the club’s expectations as key factors. McInnes also emphasized that the dressing room remains relatively young and that Shankland’s existing strong relationship with him was...