Credit: Imago

James Barker

Wed 15 April 2026 7:10, UK

Allan McGregor’s numbers from Rangers‘ 2020-21 Scottish Premiership title-winning team are largely considerably better than Jack Butland’s from this current campaign.

Butland has once again been Rangers’ number one goalkeeper in 2025-26, as he has been since he arrived at Ibrox in the summer of 2023.

The now-33-year-old has had his ups and downs this term, as he’s both been at fault for goals and cost his side points on occasion, but the Englishman has in turn won Gers numerous games too with some massive saves and performances.

Contracted with Rangers until May 2027, his time in Glasgow could soon be coming towards an end, and has been a noble carrier of the shot-stopping torch passed to him by McGregor.

And, with just five games to play this season, Butland is hoping to emulate what the now-retired goalkeeper was last able to do with Rangers in 2020-21, and that’s win a Scottish Premiership title.

Allan McGregor’s and Jack Butland’s Rangers stats compared

Butland replaced McGregor at Rangers for the 2023-24 season, after the latter had decided to call it quits on his long and decorated playing career in 2023.

One of his final seasons as Rangers’ number one goalkeeper was as part of that iconic 2020-21 title-winning side under Steven Gerrard, that won the league at a canter with 102 points.

He played 27 times in the league for Gers that year, making 42 total appearances in all competitions, and played a vital role in an unbelievable defensive unit.

Indeed, that 2020-21 team conceded just 13 times in 38 league games that term, whilst putting it in the opposition net 92 times at the other end.

As per Sofascore, McGregor conceded just 0.4 goals per game in 2020-21, whilst registering a save percentage of 85 per cent and saving 58 total shots.

He also recorded a passing accuracy of 76 per cent, kept 17 clean sheets, made zero errors leading to goals and only one to a shot, whilst also giving zero penalties away.

So, how do those numbers compare to Butland’s from this current campaign? Well, it’s fair to say that Rangers’ number one isn’t particularly close to matching many of them.

Butland has conceded 0.9 goals per game this term, whilst recording a save percentage of 75 per cent with 94 total saves – perhaps showing just how poorer this team are defensively.

He’s also got a passing accuracy of 70 per cent, has kept 12 clean sheets, has made three errors leading to shots and three leading to goals, but has also not given a penalty away.

Butland probably doesn’t have the longevity of McGregor

Butland is a good goalkeeper: that, few Rangers supporters would dispute.

However, we have seen mistakes in his game throughout his time at Ibrox, and he doesn’t bring those same levels of confidence and safety that McGregor gave the Gers faithful.

McGregor was into his 40’s by the time he eventually hung the gloves up with Rangers, and with Butland still only 33, it’s difficult to see him being a reliable and dependable presence in between the sticks at that age.

Therefore, whilst he’s still under contract for next season, Ibrox chiefs should perhaps use that time to start putting plans in place for his succession.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.