The bizarre tale of ex-Rangers star Filip Helander

Ibrox Noise

·1 July 2024

The bizarre tale of ex-Rangers star Filip Helander

Having been cursed for years at Rangers with injury crisis, former Gers defender Filip Helander has now been hit with a brand new curse, after his apparent big-money move to Anderlecht fell through and instead of glory he now finds himself released by Odense having fallen out with the club’s hierarchy.

After losing the captaincy (yes, they made him captain) somehow he’s fallen terribly from grace at that club and was booted out first chance they got, and sits now without a club seeking his next move.

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No, we’re not advocating a Bosman for him, not particularly, but he is very much a capable left-footed defender far in advance of Ben Davies’ qualities, and on his loss of captaincy and dig from club president Helander said:

“Well, it is the club’s decision. The results have not been so good, and then you will try to change things – for me it is not a big deal. We have a captain group with me, Bashkim (Kadrii), Trybull and Hansen, and I think that Bashkim is a good captain, as he has been at the club for a long time and he knows what it means to people. So for me it’s not a big deal, I try to be the same person all the time. What does it mean to take responsibility for yourself? So for me it’s not a big deal. Of course it’s an honour to be captain, but it’s not something I think about before the game. That you don’t take responsibility for yourself, I have a hard time understanding that. I always try to do my best.”

And now he’s gone, freed up just like that, after Björn Wesström clearly took exception to him for some reason.

A fit Helander is of course quite a fine defender, and his form alerted some top clubs in Europe to his availability.

Probably not one Rangers will go near again, there’s a reason he was freed.

But then, he’s barely been injured since…