It’s said to be rare that any player leaves Rangers for bigger and better things.
It’s a statement which suggests that rarely does anyone come through the gates at Ibrox before moving on to a bigger club and that generally, plenty don’t know what they’ve got in the Gers until they’re gone.
Almost every player who has had the pleasure of playing with Rangers has been indelibly marked by the club and even after they’ve been and gone, plenty keep the Ibrox side close to their heart.
Or, in the case of one former Ibrox international who is set to be released this week, their legs.
Helander sports Rangers colours
Filip Helander has had a disastrous few years when it comes to injury.
Rangers signed the Swedish international centre-back for £3m back in 2019 and fitness issues plagued the talented defender’s four year stint in Glasgow.
Released last summer after years of injury problems which limited his opportunities at Ibrox, a move to OB Odense provided initial optimism that Helander’s career could be salvaged.
But after a recall to the Sweden squad and being gifted and then stripped of the Danish club’s captaincy, an exit beckons at the end Helander’s contract on June 30th.
As much has been already confirmed by OB’s sporting director.
Being put through his paces with the aid of a fitness guru Sam Pepys, Helander has now been snapped stepping up his fitness as he hunts for a new club next season.
But eagle-eyed Rangers fans will notice the defender’s choice of training gear, with Big Fil showing his Ibrox allegiances by donning a pair of his old Ibrox shorts.
Big Fil’s future remains uncertain
It remains unclear what’s going to happen next for Filip Helander.
Briefly linked with a move to Belgian club Anderlecht, the 31-year-old defender is clearly determined to prove his fitness before the new season.
Having hired his own help as he looks to take a new direction in his football journey, the big Swede will hope to finally find some consistency in his career.
Helander is undoubtedly amongst the best centre-backs to play in Scotland in the modern era but it’s those fitness issues which meant he wound up at Rangers in the first place.
It’s good to see Big Fil still holds an affection for the Ibrox side and everyone at the club will be willing the centre-back on as he steps up his hunt for a new team.
Filip Helander made only 60 appearances across four years at Rangers, scoring seven goals, winning the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup at the club.
