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'Always loved them': Rangers complete 'thrilling' Mikey Moore loan deal as Spurs make statement

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'Always loved them': Rangers complete 'thrilling' Mikey Moore loan deal as Spurs make statement - The Scotsman
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Martin delighted to get his man as highly-rated youngster signs up for Ibrox revolution

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Rangers have completed the loan signing of Tottenham Hotspur’s teenage forward Mikey Moore for the 2025/26 season.

Moore, 17, is regarded as one of English football’s most exciting prospects after making the breakthrough at senior level with Spurs last season under Ange Postecoglou. He made 19 first-team appearances for the north London side, but new head coach Thomas Frank believes a loan move will best suit his development and Rangers have won the race for his signature.

Moore is capable of playing all across the front line, but is expected to be used predominantly as a winger by Rangers head coach Russell Martin. The Ibrox club have been keen to reinforce in that area following the departure of Vaclav Cerny, a key wide man from last season.

Rangers have been linked with Go Ahead Eagles winger Oliver Antman and Crystal Palace’s Jerusun Rak-Sakyi in recent weeks. Moore becomes Rangers’ eighth summer signing, following Max Aarons, Emmanuel Fernandez, Nasser Djiga, Joe Rothwell, Lyall Cameron, Thelo Aasgaard and Djeidi Gassama through the Ibrox door.

Moore revealed that as soon as he heard of Rangers’ interest, he wanted to join the club.

“I’m excited to get going,” he told the Rangers website. “As soon as I heard Rangers were interested and wanted me to come, it was a massive opportunity for me. I’m excited to be here and hopefully I can show the fans and everyone what I can do.

Moore: I have always loved Rangers

“I’ve always loved Rangers as a club. My family have always loved them. I think with the new boss and the way that we play, it’s a great place to be at the minute. It was a pretty easy decision for me to come here.”

Speaking on the loan deal for Moore, Martin said: “We are thrilled to bring Mikey on loan for this season. His profile as a brave, aggressive attacking player is one that we were keen to add to the squad, and he is certainly a player who, despite his age, can make an impact on the team from day one.

“He is a player with huge potential, and it is testament to his quality that he has been entrusted by Spurs in both the Premier League and UEFA Europa League with such regularity over the last 18 months.”

Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell added: “It is no secret that there was significant interest from elsewhere in Mikey and we are delighted that he has chosen Rangers at this stage in his career.

“He rose to prominence with Spurs last year and it is a reflection of his temperament and quality as a player that he made an immediate impact at a senior level which demands the best.

“We are convinced that Mikey is a player who will enhance our attacking unit. He is stepping into an ambitious, demanding environment that will test him, support him, and provide the platform to deliver and fulfil his potential, to the benefit of both himself and the club.”

What Spurs had to say on the move

A statement on the Tottenham website read: “Mikey Moore has joined Rangers on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

“Having joined us as a seven-year-old, the forward progressed through our ranks to help our Under-17 and Under-18 teams secure the Premier League Cup double in 2022/23.

“In May, 2024, he earned his competitive first team debut against Manchester City, becoming the youngest ever player to appear for us in a Premier League fixture. The 17-year-old has made 21 senior appearances in all competitions to date, scoring once.

“Mikey registered his first senior goal for the Club in a UEFA Europa League fixture against Elfsborg in January – we memorably went onto win the competition in May, defeating Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao. At international level, Mikey has appeared for England up to Under-19 level to date.”

The move is subject to international clearance and if all paperwork is concluded swiftly, Moore could make his Rangers debut against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday evening in the first match of the new Premiership season.

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Jermain Defoe gives Rangers transfer target glowing reference and reveals why 'special' talent can excite fans

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Jermain Defoe gives Rangers transfer target glowing reference and reveals why 'special' talent can excite fans - The Scotsman
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Former Rangers hero hails Russell Martin target amid strong transfer links with Ibrox club

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Ex-Rangers striker Jermain Defoe has believes the Russell Martin’s reported interest in Tottenham Hotspur teenager Mikey Moore could turn out to be the ideal move for both player and club, if they can get the deal over the line.

The 17-year-old midfielder was linked with a potential loan switch to Rangers earlier this week, with reports claiming the Ibrox hierarchy were closing in on a move that would see the youngster arrive on a deal until the end of the season.

Those rumours gained further traction when Thomas Frank opted to leave the teen out of the Spurs squad for their pre-season tour to Hong Kong and South Korea this week, with the Danish boss admitting: “Mikey is a big talent, I’m really excited about his future here at Tottenham. I think for all players, but especially the younger players, they need to get that first-team consistent football into their bodies. If we can find the right option, we’ll do that.”

Part of the last Rangers squad to win the Scottish Premiership in 2021, Defoe scored 32 goals for the club during his three-season stay at Ibrox, but retired in March 2022 following a short stint with Sunderland and went on to become coach of Spurs’ under-18 squad, where he managed Moore in the North London outfit’s academy, and has given the youngster a glowing reference ahead of his potential move to Glasgow.

“Mikey Moore's an amazing young talent,” said Defoe. “When I came into the academy, they said to me there's this young player that you need to see because he's the next best thing. As soon as I saw him, I thought he’s got something special. He deserves the opportunities that he is getting right now, and we must remember, he’s very young, only 17.

“He’s still got time to improve and I don't think anyone has seen the best of Mikey Moore yet. Once he plays consistently and he gets that confidence and arrogance that he had in the youth team, then we'll see the best of Mikey, he is a top player.”

The starlet, who turns 18 next month, featured sporadically under ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou last season, and scored his first senior goal in a 3-0 win over Elfsborg on the way to his team's Europa League success. He is also officially the youngest player to play for Spurs in the English Premier League, making his debut against Manchester City in May 2024 at the age of 16 years and 277 days.

“I still speak to Mikey now,” Defoe told Footy Accumulators. “He's someone that wants to improve, he’s a nice kid. I was so happy when I saw him come on last season in Europe and get his first goal, and he gave me a little mention in the interview after which was brilliant. My advice to him would be to keep working hard, keep improving every day on your game and working on your game every single day.

“Work on those final third actions, whether that's a pass or whether that's a shot. Focus every single day to improve because you’re a young player and there's so much improvement that you can make. But he also needs to embrace it. Learn from the players around you and learn from the players that you play against.”

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Tottenham chief Daniel Levy breaks silence on Ange Postecoglou sacking and explains why Celtic icon had to go

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Tottenham chief Daniel Levy breaks silence on Ange Postecoglou sacking and explains why Celtic icon had to go - The Scotsman
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Spurs chairman stands by decision to axe Australian

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Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has insisted that the controversial decision to sack Ange Postecoglou was the correct one.

Postecoglou was dismissed from his head coach position last week despite winning the Europa League to secure the club’s first trophy in 17 years.

Levy, flanked by new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham in an interview posted on the club’s YouTube channel, said he did not make the “emotionally difficult” decision to fire Postecoglou on his own.

Ultimately losing 22 Premier League matches and finishing 17th cost the Australian his job after two years at the club since he was hired from Celtic.

“I don’t regret appointing Ange,” said Levy. “In his first season we finished fifth and in the second season we were over the moon to win a trophy, but we need to compete in all competitions. We felt that we needed a change.

“It was a collective decision. It wasn’t my decision. We do everything together. Emotionally it was difficult, but we believe we have made the right decision for the club.”

Levy added: “We’ve won a European trophy, but it’s not enough.

“It’s what we haven’t done that is more important. We need to win the league. We want to win the Premier League. We want to win the Champions League. We want to win.”

Tottenham have appointed Brentford boss Thomas Frank as Postecoglou’s successor and Levy hopes a new man with new ideas will help get the club back on track.

“Whenever you have a new coach, it is always a fresh start. You have different ideas,” he added. “We want to build on the success of winning a trophy last season.

“One of the things that stood out to me with Thomas — clearly highly intelligent, great communicator, super human being, plus all of the other technical aspects that are important.”

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Celtic title winner 'set' for shock departure just 11 days on from trophy glory

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Ex-Celtic title winner 'set' shock departure from EPL giants just 11 days on from trophy glory - The Scotsman
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The former Celtic boss helped the club win their first trophy in 17 years just last week.

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Ex-Celtic title winning manager Ange Postecoglou is set to be sacked from his role as Tottenham Hotspur boss just 11 days on from helping the club win their first trophy in 17 years, according to a new report.

The popular Australian head coach spent two trophy-laden seasons at Celtic Park, leading the club to two Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish League Cups and a Scottish Cup before leaving for the North London club in the summer of 2023, replacing Antonio Conte in the Spurs dugout following a brief interim period with Ryan Mason as caretaker manager.

The 59-year-old endured a difficult domestic campaign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this year, finishing the English Premier League season in 17th place, but was able to end the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy last month when he guided them to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao thanks to a first-half goal from Brennan Johnson.

Asked if he would like to continue his project at Spurs, Postecoglou said: “I’ve had such a laser focus on winning this [Europa League]. Whatever happens, happens. We are still building this team, it is still very young, we need to add experience. My thought process has been trying to build a team that can be successful for a long time, but I am manager, it is not in my hands but it doesn’t affect me, if it did you would have seen it.”

A report from journalist Miguel Delaney claimed it was looking very likely that the Aussie boss will be sacked by the club. While he cited the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy hadn’t made an official decision on Postecoglou as of Friday, his chances of staying at the club had fallen below five percent in the last few days, with his departure from Spurs expected at some point.

However, it looks as if Levy has now came to a conclusion over the future of the ex-Hoops boss after a report on Sunday claimed they had to decided to sack Postecoglou, with Spurs ready to ‘formally announce’ his departure in the coming days as they ‘press ahead with finding a new manager.’

It is believed that the Spurs boardroom are weighing up their options, with moves for Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola in line to replace Postecoglou.

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Social media was unbearable until Ange Postecoglou did the unthinkable

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Social media was unbearable until Ange Postecoglou did the unthinkable - The Scotsman
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Tottenham Hotspur have won the Europa League

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It will be no surprise to anyone that has logged onto X in the past year or so that the site is now borderline unusable.

Once a treasure trove of memes, news and information, X has become a hellscape, a place where hatred or porn is amplified, or the views of people so confident in their argument they have to pay to ensure people see it. Where once you could open it up and see something interesting or funny, it’s now predominately monetised bigotry, where the worst people in the world invest to have their hatred heard. It has to all extents and purposes become a propaganda machine, a vehicle for the far-right in America to spread misinformation, hatred, and support for Donald Trump. At least they’re things that go together.

As a result, I barely use it, checking in on a big news day, with searching for truth akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. But there is one area, just one, that has remained slightly protected from the relentless march of normalised fascism. I am of course talking about sport, sweet lovely sport, the opiate of the masses I inject into my eyeballs relentlessly and indiscriminately, almost definitely to the detriment of my productivity.

While I don’t post on X any more, preferring the safe space of Bluesky where there’s a better news to Nazi ratio, I do still peruse it after significant events, and few were more significant to me than Tottenham Hotspur winning the Europa league. After 17 long, long years, the mighty Spurs have finally won something, all of it delivered by Ange Postecoglou, the man who always wins something in his second season.

Born in Greece, the former refugee who moved to Australia as a child after a military coup helped Tottenham like he had so many clubs before, lifting silverware and removing the weight I carried around me for so long. For Celtic, these days are expected, but for Tottenham, they are transcendent. It has been days, and I still do not have my voice back, and I am nowhere close to a come down.

This is as much to do with the result as social media, and the numerous ways to celebrate and engage with it, so beyond simply watching the game. I have seen club captain Son Heung-min, a man who signed an extension when the club didn’t have a manager, sobbing with tears after finally winning something after 10 years with the club. I also haven’t just seen it once, but multiple times, from numerous angles, because I want to drink all of this in. I’ve enjoyed clips from the players parties after, seeing these elite athletes off their face in ways that almost makes them relatable. It’s the cuddles with their families, the videos from the stands, the defiant interviews from a team perennially written off.

It’s not even just the celebrations of Spurs that I have devoured, but the love from other teams. Social media is rife with former players celebrating, but also clubs our heroes once represented.

These wonders are not just on X, thankfully, but numerous other social media companies also selling my data. Social media is a disaster for our planet in so many ways, but at least this week, it has brought me and millions of others a little closer together.

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What TV channel is Europa League final? How to watch Man Utd v Tottenham for free

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Europa League final TV channel and live stream: How to watch Man Utd v Tottenham for free - The Scotsman
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TV and live stream details for the Europa League final

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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur square off in an all-English Europa League final in Bilbao on Thursday night.

The pressure is on both clubs to salvage their abysmal Premier League campaigns with Tottenham down in 17th position on 38 points from 37 matches, one place above the relegation zone, with United only one point, and one place better off.

For Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, it is a chance to back up comments made in September where he insisted that he "always" delivers a trophy in his second season in charge. The Australian has presided over the club’s worst ever Premier League campaign with a record tally of 21 defeats, but he also stands on the brink of guiding the North Londoners to their first trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008, and a first continental title since their 1984 UEFA Cup triumph.

There are suggestions Europa League glory may not be enough to save Postecoglou’s job, but it would be quite the way for the ex-Celtic manager to sign off if it were to prove his final match in charge.

United boss Ruben Amorin is only partly to blame for the club's worst domestic top-flight season since suffering relegation in 1973-74 having taken over from the sacked Erik Ten Hag at the start of November.

Despite producing more eye-catching quotes (numerous) than Premier League wins (six) since his arrival at Old Trafford, United fans have stuck behind the candid Portuguese coach in a campaign where the Europa League has offered some relief and hope. But their much-needed rebuild will be hugely damaged if they fall to their first European loss of the season, meaning they would spend a first season without European football since 2014-15.

It has long been a case of Bilbao or bust for United, where the financial ramifications help explain why Amorim says Champions League qualification is more important to him than lifting the Europa League itself.

With European silverware and a highly-coveted place in next season's Champions League on the line, there is plenty at stake for both embattled managers at the San Mamés Stadium.

Man United v Tottenham match details

The Europa League final between Man United and Tottenham takes place at the San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Kick-off is 8pm BST.

Man United v Tottenham TV channel

The Europa League final will be shown live on subscription channel TNT Sports 1 with coverage getting underway at 6pm.

Man United v Tottenham live stream

Subscribers can stream the match live on the Discovery+ app or website. Non-subscribers can watch the final for free by simply registering on the Discovery+ website. Click the link here, select Sign Up, then click on 'Register to watch free content' and fill in your details.

Man Utd v Tottenham team news

United will be without injured defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez. Ruben Amorim took a 26-man squad to Bilbao, which includes full-back Diogo Dalot after he overcame a calf issue that threatened to bring his campaign to a premature end and centre-back Leny Yoro following a foot complaint. But Joshua Zirkzee’s place in training and on the plane was was a surprise after the forward was previously ruled out for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou played down Lucas Bergvall’s chances of being fit after an ankle injury, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski (both knee) also sidelined, but Pape Sarr is available. The big choice for the Australian ahead of his 100th game in charge of Spurs is who will provide creativity in a three-man midfield alongside Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur. Wilson Odobert was used in the attacking midfield role at Aston Villa, but another alternative is to drop Dominic Solanke slightly deeper.

Man Utd v Tottenham referee and VAR

German official Felix Zwayer has been chosen as the referee for the Europa League final. His German assistant referees are Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz. The fourth official is Italian Maurizio Mariani. The VAR for the final, Bastian Dankert, and his assistant, Benjamin Brand, are also German.

Tottenham 12/5, Draw 12/5, Man Utd 13/10 - via oddschecker.com.

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15 of the best photos of Rangers fans during entertaining 1

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Rangers vs Tottenham Hotspur proved to be the entertaining Europa League game we all hoped it would be as the sides met at Ibrox on Thursday night.

The home support were sent into raptures early on, when Hamza Igamane finished expertly from a stunning James Tavernier through ball, and but for Spurs’ former Celtic stopper Fraser Forster, it could have been more. In the end, the Gers were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after Dejan Kulusevski’s strike 15 minutes from time.

A result that largely suited both sides as they edge closer to the last 16 of the competition, Rangers boss Philippe Clement said: “Everybody's really happy about the performance, or pleased about the performance, and everyone who watched this game enjoyed a good football game from both sides. We needed to take the three points also, but those are the next steps.”

Here, we take a look at the best photos of Rangers fan - and some travelling Tottenham supporters - at Ibrox last night.

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This was Ibrox at its shaking best as Rangers v Spurs classic delivers drama and 'sacked in morning' barbs

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Battle of Britain high on entertainment - but neither team can find a winner

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Let Ibrox shake. It did a couple of minutes after half time and the stadium did so again when Cyriel Dessers struck what might have been the winning goal had it not been for a pesky linesman’s flag. The substitute also saw an effort brilliantly blocked by Fraser Forster in a predictably erratic cameo.

Hamza Igamane had already proved why he is the current centre forward in favour at Ibrox with an unerring finish to put the hosts ahead after 47 minutes on a lively evening under the lights in Govan. It wasn’t quite the famous night it looked like being as the minutes ticked down and Igamane’s goal continued to separate the two teams. Both sides seemed happy enough to share the spoils at the end and are well placed to advance from the top section.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou certainly felt it was safe to go across and acknowledge the away fans at the end before allowing himself a cheeky wave to the home fans in the Broomloan stand. He was indebted to substitute Dejan Kulusevski, who steered home an equaliser with 16 minutes left, for reducing some of the heat building around him. Cheers, mate.

Ever wondered what might happen when two clearly capable but flawed sides played a football match which both were equally desperate to win? Well, this was the entertaining answer. It seemed apt that neither team did take all three points, although Rangers will rue the failure to do so.

Philippe Clement’s side were grateful for the chaos that can be almost guaranteed when Spurs play. While they lamented not going in at the interval in front, they wasted little time to put that right.

Spurs had come out early for the second half in a seeming attempt to relay the message that it was time to stop messing about. It was time to start playing for real. Quality will out. Kulusevski, named on the bench alongside £65 million man Dominic Solanke, had been brought on to replace the hopeless Timo Werner.

The Swede had barely touched the ball before Rangers were in front with James Tavernier delivering another firm shot into the eye of his critics with a delicious curling ball to find Igamane, who finished like someone who has now scored five goals in his last five appearances, including a double in Nice. The young Moroccan steered the ball past Forster, whose impregnable aura while at Celtic seems to have suffered somewhat since moving to Spurs.

The London club make great demands of their ‘keepers and ensure they have plenty to do. Forster, for all that he was once known as The Wall, could not keep everything out. Neither could opposite number Jack Butland. He was finally beaten by Kulusevski.

Solanke had also come on by this stage and he too played a part in a goal that was greeted with relief by Spurs and their fans. They didn’t want the sorry statistic of becoming the first English club side for 18 years to lose to one from Scotland in a competitive game to be added to the recent roll of dishonour. Postecoglou’s big guns had helped to dig their manager out of a hole. It remains to be seen if drawing at Ibrox, something Dundee United managed as recently as last month, has the Australian back on track with the supporters. He has still overseen just one clean sheet in 11 games although that did come against Manchester City. The supporters applauded at the end here but perhaps only because they realised it might have been worse.

To hang with studied, possession-based tactics. This Battle of Britain was rooted firmly in the unsophisticated sod and was all the better for it. Spurs began as if they wanted to be the preening Premier League showmen and strung together a dynamic one touch move before promptly falling apart. Postecoglou, arms plunged deep into the pockets of his regulation padded coat, had his own team to worry about and could not afford to be deflected by whatever barbs were being thrown his way. In truth, the reception seemed pretty mild until the inevitable “You’re getting sacked in the morning!” chorus a few minutes into the second half.

Amid the excitement of Postecoglou’s return to Ibrox for the first time since his days at Celtic, it was possible to forget that another thorn in their side in the shape of Forster, who enjoyed two spells at Parkhead, was also reacquainting himself with the Govan natives. He turned out to be enemy No 1, with his name roundly jeered the moment it was read out.

He was one reason why Rangers did not take the lead earlier than was eventually the case. One block with his legs from Vaclav Cerny was exceptional. The hosts were wasteful too. Nedim Bajrami will still be kicking himself or not flinging himself at a ball from the left from Jefte that simply begged to be converted into the empty net. Spurs rivalled the hosts for profligacy. Son Heung-min should have put his side in front but shot weakly towards Butland after Maddison’s cutback.

The ball was being passed back and forth between the teams like a hot potato. Only one visiting player, Yves Bissouma, had completed 100 per cent of their passes by half-time. So much for the Premier League’s claims to be the cream of the crop.

Arms were shooting up all over the place apologising to teammates for slack passes, with Jefte, who started at left back, one of the principal offenders for the home team. Spurs were not much better. Werner, who was constantly guilty of wasting possession, has seen better nights and was replaced at half time by Kulusevski.

As for Rangers, Robin Propper was guilty of dithering on the ball. It so nearly proved costly just 15 minutes in. When he did finally release it for Nico Raskin the midfielder had been closed down. The Dutch centre half did redeem himself by flinging himself at James Maddison’s shot and managing to gain a crucial touch to deflect the ball over the bar. The defender will be thankful for the run out as he will likely be needed for Sunday’s League Cup final against Celtic. John Souttar’s first-half injury – he was replaced by Leon Balogun - blighted an otherwise positive night for Rangers.

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What channel is Rangers v Tottenham? TV, live stream and team news for Europa League clash

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How to watch as ex-Celtic boss returns to Ibrox

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All eyes will be on Ibrox Stadium as Rangers host a Tottenham Hotspur side managed by a familiar foe in an eagerly anticipated Europa League clash on Thursday.

The Battle of Britain showdown will see ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou pitch up at the home of his former arch-rivals for the first time since departing Scottish football for the bright lights of the Premier League 18 months ago.

Postecoglou enjoyed a glittering two-year tenure at Celtic where he won five trophies and sealed victory in six out of 11 Old Firm matches, including in the 2023 League Cup final. However, he returns to Glasgow under pressure following a run of one win in seven matches, which has seen Spurs slump to 11th in the Premier League amid a frustrating spell of up-and-down form.

Discontent is beginning to grow among an impatient fanbase and Postecoglou clashed with a minority of Tottenham fans at Bournemouth last Thursday after abuse was hurled at the Australian. Another poor result at Ibrox and the pressure will intensify.

Philippe Clement’s Rangers, meanwhile, have enjoyed an upturn in form of late with a run of four consecutive victories, scoring 14 goals, although the general mood around the club remains strained due to an 11-point deficit behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Only goal difference separates the two teams in the Europa League table with both Rangers and Spurson 10 points after five games with the Scottish side ahead of their Premier League opponents after a 4-1 victory at Nice a fortnight ago.

Rangers and Spurs have only met once before competitively, which came in the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1963. Spurs won both legs 5-2 and 3-2 before going on to lift the trophy, becoming the first English club to win European silverware.

Rangers v Tottenham match details

The Europa League fixture takes place at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Kick-off is 8pm.

Rangers v Tottenham TV channel

The match will be shown live on subscription channel TNT Sports 1 with coverage starting at 7pm.

Rangers v Tottenham live stream

TNT Sport subscribers can stream the match live here and through the discovery+ app. Details on how to subscribe can be found here.

Rangers v Tottenham team news

Philippe Clement will be forced into at least two changes from Rangers' weekend win over Ross County as Danilo and Ianis Hagi are not registered in the Europa League squad. Tom Lawrence remains out and while Rabbi Matondo is training he is not fit enough to be in the squad. Oscar Cortes is getting closer to playing some minutes and could feature off the bench.

Tottenham will be without several players due to injury including Guglielmo Vicario, Mikey Moore, Richarlison, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and Cristian Romero, but captain Son Heung-min is set to feature along with England forward Dominic Solanke while Rodrigo Bentancur returns from a domestic suspension.

Swiss referee Sandro Schärer will take charge with fellow countryman Fedayi San on VAR duty.

Rangers 12/5, Draw 35/12, Tottenham 11/10 - via oddschecker.com.

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Why Ange Postecoglou's Celtic record at Ibrox will provide little comfort to Spurs fans ahead of Rangers clash

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Ex-Celtic boss returns to Ibrox for Euro showdown

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Ange Postecoglou may have got the better of Rangers over his two years in charge of Celtic, but one arena where he failed to establish dominance was at the home of his greatest rivals.

The former Australia head coach won five trophies out of a possible six during his time in Scottish football, including a treble in his final season before departing to take over the reins at Tottenham Hotspur. However, Postecoglou’s success was not reflected in his record at Ibrox Stadium, where he returns on Thursday when he leads his Spurs side into a Europa League showdown, and where his record stands at one victory, one draw and two defeats in four visits.

Despite that overall losing record in Govan, he still managed to deliver back-to-back league titles. Interestingly, and despite his attack at-all-costs Ange-ball philosophy, Celtic’s only Ibrox victory under Postecoglou came when they were under the cosh. That was in April 2022 and helped clinch the Scottish Premiership title in the Australian’s first season in charge. Aaron Ramsey's early opener gave Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side hope that they could close the gap at the top of the table. But it was cancelled out inside seven minutes by Tom Rogic's close-range strike before Celtic went ahead before half-time thanks to a Cameron Carter-Vickers strike.

Untypically of style which took Scottish football by storm, his side enjoyed only 39 per cent possession that afternoon – but they were able to soak up relentless Rangers pressure in the second half. Postecoglou lost two of his three other visits to Ibrox – with the other game ending in a 2-2 draw. They dominated possession in all three of those clashes but were unable to register a win.

They had 66 per cent of the ball in a 1-0 defeat in August 2021 and had an incredible 68 per cent possession in May 2023, despite losing 3-0. They had already been crowned champions by then. And they enjoyed 60 per cent possession in the 2-2 draw in January last year. Overall, in his four previous Ibrox visits, Postecoglou’s men had an average of 58 per cent of the ball, scoring four times and conceding seven.

Postecoglou arrives at Ibrox under pressure from his own supporters with an inconsistent start to the season leaving Spurs languishing in 11th place in the Premier League table.

Rangers v Spurs match odds

www.instantcasino.com have Spurs priced at 3/1 to win on Thursday night without conceding, Something they have rarely been able to do in England this term. A spokesperson from www.instantcasino.com said: “Ange can expect a tasty reception from the Rangers fans, and history shows us that he hasn’t always been too comfortable taking sides to Ibrox. You don’t see many of his teams being happy to give up possession, but that is precisely what happened in that crucial encounter in April 2022 when he led Celtic to a vital 2-1 win on their way to the title.

“Looking at Spurs recently, they are as gung-ho as ever and often come flying out of the blocks as we witnessed against Chelsea at the weekend, but their staying power isn’t always what it might be. We fully expect them to take this match to Rangers in the white-hot atmosphere of Ibrox Park. It will come as no surprise if they score first but what happens after that is anyone’s guess. One thing is for sure – it won’t be a night for the faint-hearted.”

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