Seville: Ten years after financial oblivion plunged them into Scotland’s bottom tier, Rangers are on the brink of lifting their first European trophy in half a century as they meet Eintracht Frankfurt in the final of the Europa League on Wednesday.
Administration, liquidation, and relegation all blighted a broken club in 2012. Still, if the Ranger’s recovery was complete when they won the Scottish Premiership again last season, a final in Seville now offers them a shot at European glory.
“We’re one game away from making history,” Rangers midfielder Aaron Ramsey said on Monday as the squad departed for Spain, the final leg of a journey that began eight months ago in defeat and disappointment.
With the chance to play in the Champions League on the back of winning the Scottish title, the Rangers instead lost to Malmo in the third qualifying round, which set up a play-off to reach the Europa League with Alashkert from Armenia.
There were more prestigious opponents to come as Rangers, under Giovanni van Bronckhorst from November after Steven Gerrard left for Aston Villa, defeated Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga, and Leipzig in the knockout rounds to reach their first European final in 14 years.
A victory would earn the club its first cup on the continent since the Rangers beat Dynamo Moscow 3-2 in Barcelona to lift the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972. Read More
