Ian Durrant
Encyclopedia
Ian Durrant is a former Scottish
professional footballer
who played for Rangers
, Kilmarnock
and the Scotland national team
. Durrant is a coach of the Rangers
first team, helping with training and also scouts on European and SPL opponents as well as taking an active role with the reserve-team
.
in April 1985. The following season, he was a regular fixture in the Rangers team and scored in his Old Firm
debut that season. Durrant was fined £1500 by Rangers in 1987 after his involvement in an incident in a kebab shop after Rangers had won the league championship. In October 1988 Durrant suffered a career-threatening knee injury in a match with Aberdeen
at Pittodrie
. A challenge by Aberdeen
's Neil Simpson
left him out of competitive football for almost three years. He made his return in April 1991 in a reserve fixture against Hibernian
and was welcomed back by 47,453 Rangers fans. Durrant went on to play a part in both Rangers 1992/93 Champions League
and Rangers' run of finally equalling Celtic's nine successive league championships, the last of which was clinched in 1997.
, Durrant transferred to Kilmarnock
. He spent four years at Rugby Park
before retiring and becoming coach of the youth team.
. His final match was against Republic of Ireland
on 30 May 2000.
as Rangers manager on 4 January 2007, Durrant was temporarily elevated to the manager position at Rangers until Walter Smith
was re-appointed. He lost his only game in charge of the first team, which was a Scottish Cup
tie, 3-2 at the hands of Dunfermline Athletic
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
and the Scotland national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. Durrant is a coach of the Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
first team, helping with training and also scouts on European and SPL opponents as well as taking an active role with the reserve-team
Rangers F.C. Reserve and Youth squads
In addition to the first team, Rangers F.C. also have a reserve team and an under-19 side.On 20 April 2004, Rangers Football Club announced the creation of a new company which would oversee the development of the club's youth players. The company, called Rangers Youth Development Limited, is...
.
Rangers
Durrant started his career at Rangers and made his debut against Greenock MortonGreenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
in April 1985. The following season, he was a regular fixture in the Rangers team and scored in his Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
debut that season. Durrant was fined £1500 by Rangers in 1987 after his involvement in an incident in a kebab shop after Rangers had won the league championship. In October 1988 Durrant suffered a career-threatening knee injury in a match with Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
at Pittodrie
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
. A challenge by Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
's Neil Simpson
Neil Simpson
Neil Alexander Simpson is a former Scottish international footballer known for his time with Aberdeen F.C.....
left him out of competitive football for almost three years. He made his return in April 1991 in a reserve fixture against Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
and was welcomed back by 47,453 Rangers fans. Durrant went on to play a part in both Rangers 1992/93 Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and Rangers' run of finally equalling Celtic's nine successive league championships, the last of which was clinched in 1997.
Kilmarnock
In 1998, along with fellow Rangers teammate Ally McCoistAlly McCoist
Alistair Murdoch "Ally" McCoist, MBE ; 24 September 1962) is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Rangers in Scotland....
, Durrant transferred to Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
. He spent four years at Rugby Park
Rugby Park
Rugby Park is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It was first used in 1899 and is the home of Kilmarnock F.C..It underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–95, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,128...
before retiring and becoming coach of the youth team.
Scotland
Durrant made his international debut on 9 September 1987 against Hungary, eventually winning 20 caps for ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. His final match was against Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
on 30 May 2000.
Coaching career
In 2005 he returned to Rangers as coach of the under-19s and, later, the reserve team. Following the resignation of Paul Le GuenPaul Le Guen
Paul Le Guen is a French football manager and former player. He was recently confirmed as new manager of the Oman national football team.Le Guen had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He has also managed Stade...
as Rangers manager on 4 January 2007, Durrant was temporarily elevated to the manager position at Rangers until Walter Smith
Walter Smith
Walter Smith, OBE is a Scottish football manager. His most recent job was at Scottish Premier League club Rangers.Smith had a relatively modest playing career, consisting of two spells with Dundee United which was split by a short time at Dumbarton.A pelvic injury meant he moved in to coaching at...
was re-appointed. He lost his only game in charge of the first team, which was a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
tie, 3-2 at the hands of Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
.