Ally McCoist shares verdict on Alfredo Morelos Rangers legend status
Alfredo Morelos could become a Rangers legend one day but the level of the team means he probably isn’t, Ally McCoist told the Daily Record.
The Colombian striker has smashed past McCoist’s European goals record for the club since signing back in 2017, taking his tally to 28 with his most recent strike against Borussia Dortmund.
Conversation has been sparked about his standing among the greatest players in the club’s history, and McCoist was speaking to the Daily Record when he gave his verdict on the 25-year-old’s legacy at Ibrox.
“It’s not for me to say but I do think circumstances have been a little bit unfair on him because the team is still in a building process, whereas our team that won nine in a row and had a lot of fantastic players who people say are legends and were winning league titles and cups on a regular basis,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate for Alfredo and for Rangers that his time at the club has been one where there has been massive change and only one trophy – albeit a massive one last season when the title was won with a bit of style – has been achieved so far.
“The time has come that the club has to start winning cups again. The record in recent seasons in the knockout competitions simply hasn’t been good enough.
“It will be easier to judge him, hopefully, if he stays, over the next three or four years, and Rangers continue to win things and he keeps getting goals.
“But certainly, for me, he is vital in terms of Rangers trying to move forward and to achieve the things they want to achieve – and in particular, in retaining the league championship this season.”
Legend?
It’s arguable that Morelos is a Rangers legend and it’s also definitely arguable that he isn’t, but the fact there is a conversation about it at all shows how well he has done at the club.
112 goals in 218 games is a super impressive record considering he was only 20 when he joined the club, and he will go down in history as one of their best in the modern era.
But a club with as much history as Rangers and so many legendary players, it is likely that he needs to do more than win just one league title to be mentioned in the same breath as them.
If you think back to Football Manager terms, Morelos will certainly be among the club’s ‘favoured personnel’ going into the future but a legend may be a step too far for him currently.
As McCoist says though, firing the Bears to the title this season for a second consecutive championship would be a good way of working towards it.
In other Rangers news, Kris Commons sends Rangers title race warning after ‘awful’ developments