Lawrence Shankland Appointed Rangers Captain Two Months After Hearts Move

Lawrence Shankland has been appointed the new captain of Rangers, the club confirmed on Wednesday, handing the responsibility to the Scotland striker just two months after his arrival from Hearts. The 30-year-old succeeds James Tavernier, who led the Ibrox side for the past seven seasons and captained them to the 2021 Scottish Premiership title, the Scottish Cup and the League Cup, as well as the 2022 Europa League final.

Shankland, a boyhood Rangers fan, wore the armband at Hearts, where he scored 88 goals in 171 appearances before departing in May. His move to Rangers was completed in early June, and manager Derek McInnes has now entrusted him with the captaincy ahead of the new season.

The announcement comes two days before Rangers open their Scottish Premiership campaign away to Dundee United on Friday, 31 July (20:00 BST, Tannadice Park). The match will be broadcast live on BBC Sounds with highlights on BBC iPlayer.

Background and context

Shankland’s appointment marks a significant change in leadership at Rangers. Tavernier, 33, had been a mainstay in the dressing room since joining from Wigan Athletic in 2015. Under his captaincy, Rangers ended Celtic’s dominance in 2021, secured a domestic double, and reached the Europa League final in Seville, losing to Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties. The right-back also became the club’s highest-scoring defender in history, with over 100 goals.

Tavernier’s departure from the captaincy was widely expected after a transitional summer at Ibrox. McInnes, who took over as manager in October 2025, has been reshaping the squad. Shankland’s leadership qualities and experience – he has 28 caps for Scotland and has captained both Dundee United and Hearts – made him the natural successor.

Key facts

Shankland’s leadership record

Shankland first captained a senior side at Dundee United during the 2018-19 season, when he scored 34 goals in the Scottish Championship. At Hearts, he was appointed captain in 2022 after the club’s relegation and led them back to the Premiership, scoring 24 league goals in the 2023-24 campaign. His international career includes a key role in Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup, though he has not yet worn the armband for the national team.

What this means for Rangers

The captaincy decision underlines McInnes’s faith in Shankland to lead the team on and off the pitch. Rangers have been active in the transfer market this summer, bringing in several new signings, and the striker’s goal-scoring record will be central to their title challenge. With Celtic also strengthening, the captaincy is a statement of intent.

Shankland’s appointment also signals a shift in the dressing room hierarchy. Tavernier remains a key player, but the change of captain may alter the team’s dynamic. Rangers fans will hope the leadership change brings stability as they aim to reclaim the league title.

Upcoming season opener

Rangers’ first league match of the 2026-27 season is against Dundee United at Tannadice. The Tangerines, managed by Jim Goodwin, finished sixth last season. Rangers will be expected to take three points, but the early fixture is a test of the new captain’s influence. The match is available to listen to on BBC Sounds and will be shown on BBC iPlayer as part of the channel’s Scottish Premiership coverage.

Source: BBC Sport Football – “Scotland striker Shankland named Rangers captain” – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy0jwlx5pkeo