James Tavernier's Rangers legacy: Penalties, unfair stigma and the thorny testimonial issue

If the joke’s on anyone, it’s not the Rangers skipper. It almost goes without saying that he has benefited from the largesse of Scottish referees over the years but he still had to hold his nerve, which isn’t easy. It would be the ultimate irony if the last penalty he takes for Rangers remains the one he flunked against Celtic in the Scottish Cup quarter-final shootout last month.

There’s never a perfect time to go. And let’s face it, it’s unlikely Rangers won’t be awarded a penalty in the next five games. It’s more a question of whether Tavernier, 34, is on the pitch to take it or not.

His involvement is not as certain as it once was, although he did start Rangers’ last game against Falkirk as well as the majority of matches this season, his 11th in a Rangers shirt. His Ibrox career has spanned an extraordinary period for the club, including the last years of their spell outwith the top flight, the arrival of Steven Gerrard and winning that all-important Scottish title in 2021. And then there is the run to the Europa League final in Seville the following year when – speaking of penalties – Rangers could have done with five James Taverniers when they came unstuck against Eintracht Frankfurt in the shootout.

That unfortunate evening in Spain is one of those ‘failures’ struck up against his name. As Barry Ferguson once pointed out in a newspaper column, he carries the unfortunate stigma of being a Rangers skipper “synonymous with NOT winning trophies”. Although that’s hardly Tavernier’s fault, something Ferguson – who won 15 honours at Rangers – addressed. Tavernier is persecuted for the sins of others, most notably boardroom decision-makers.

It’s worth remembering that when Tavernier signed for Rangers back in the summer of 2015, he had to yield to Martyn Waghorn – signed on the same day – when it came to column inches. Although both were captured from Wigan Athletic, Waghorn was considered the most noteworthy signing.

Waghorn retired last year having played for six further clubs after a Rangers exit that saw few shed tears. Tavernier, meanwhile, will make his 563rd appearance if he features against Motherwell on Sunday. The statistics have been trotted out before: 144 goals, a record in British football for a defender, and 148 assists.

He could pick his moment, including what became a trademark free-kick strike on his debut in a 6-2 Petrofac Cup win over Hibs. Those of us present, while being able to confirm he could hit a ball, could hardly have imagined what would follow. It seems Tavernier has picked the right moment to call an end to his Ibrox love affair. Like all love affairs, it risked curdling. He has so often been cast as the punchbag - sometimes justifiably, more often unfairly.

The thorny question of a testimonial remains. Some might find it repugnant that someone paid so handsomely over so long can even be in line for such an award. And if he signs for someone else, would he be able to come back and participate? Pat Stanton was honoured by Hibs two years after he signed for Celtic. Tavernier’s new club could be invited to Ibrox for a game where the receipts go to charity or to the Rangers youth programme.

Tavernier deserves some sort of formal tribute although as he suggested in a farewell post on social media, the most fitting exit will be lifting the Premiership trophy. Before then picking up a burger from Five Guys – one memorable criticism once levelled against him – on the way home.