Former Rangers Manager Terms 34-Year-Old’s Criticism Disproportionate: Can They Replace Him? | OneFootball

Rangers skipper James Tavernier has split opinion for over a decade, but former manager Mark Warburton reckons the Ibrox faithful won’t actually appreciate what they have until he’s gone, and the stats tell the same story. Speaking to Rangers Review, Warburton was surprisingly blunt about the 34-year-old right-back. With Tavernier’s contract set to wrap up in May 2026, the club have reached a massive fork in the road.

Why has the scrutiny always felt disproportionate?

Warburton hit the nail on the head regarding the fans’ love-hate relationship with the captain. Supporters often call him to rave about a Tavernier goal, only to immediately backpedal with a but that never seems to go away. Looking at the facts, Tavernier has racked up over 500 appearances across eleven seasons, scored more than 100 goals from defence, and picked up every domestic trophy available while leading the side to a European final.

On top of that, he became the highest-scoring defender in British football history in March 2024 and, as of January 2026, sits fifth on the all-time global list. Even with those credentials, he still catches heat every time a cross goes astray or a defensive slip leads to a goal. It’s easy to see why Warburton finds that narrative frustrating.

“I get calls from Rangers fans who say: ‘He’s got a good goal… but, and he hit a great cross in… but.’ When Tav’s not there, you’ll be the first ones to be saying: ‘If only we had Tavernier back.’ When he hits a 25-yard free kick, or he hits a great delivery, coming in for someone to attack and score, or even change the momentum of a game.

“He can hit one of those dangerous balls, and it might not get the end product of the goal, but the crowd are suddenly lifted, and Tav’s got that in boatloads. He has to be thick-skinned, but he’s genuinely a top-class character. I can’t speak highly enough of him. He’s been outstanding for Rangers. Anyone who criticises him should look themselves in the mirror and say: ‘Look what he’s done for Rangers’.”

What does the 2025-26 season actually show?

This season’s data proves the criticism is often one-sided. So far in the 2025-26 Premiership campaign, Tavernier has kept 11 clean sheets in 28 games, conceded just 16 goals, and is putting up 2.45 tackles and nearly a full interception every 90 minutes.

He’s also chipping in with 3.17 clearances per match. Going forward, he has already banked 7 goals and 4 assists, earning a FotMob rating of 7.57. His expected assists (xA) rank him higher than 97 per cent of the rest of the league. These simply aren’t the stats of someone who is checked out.

Can the club replace him?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 21: James Tavernier of Rangers celebrates after he scores his team’s fourth goal during the William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Rangers are staring down a really tough question; it’s not just about giving Tavernier the respect he’s earned, but whether they can actually replace him. Finding someone who offers that much output without spending way more than his €1.3m market value is a tall order.

The real problem is structural: Rangers haven’t developed another right-back who can replicate that goal threat from deep, and that hole is going to look massive in 2026-27. The fans calling Warburton with their buts might want to start thinking about what life without him really looks like.