Steven Gerrard says Rangers have “been to hell and back” over the last decade as they stand on the brink of a first Scottish Premiership title since 2011.
Gerrard’s side eased past St Mirren 3-0 on Saturday to move to within one point of becoming champions.
They will also win the league if Celtic fail to beat Dundee United on Sunday, ending their Old Firm rivals’ hopes of a 10th successive title.
The bigger picture
The last decade has been one of the most turbulent periods in Rangers’ history.
In June 2012, a little over a year after their 54th Scottish title success, the club was placed into liquidation after a failing to reach an agreement with its creditors over substantial debts.
The club’s assets were transferred to a new company, but Rangers were forced to begin the following season in the Scottish Third Division.
The Ibrox side returned to the top flight within four years but could not stop Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football.
The 2019-20 season saw Celtic match the record of Walter Smith’s Rangers side of the 1980s and 1990s by winning nine successive titles, and hopes were high among Hoops fans that the famous '10 in a row' could be achieved this campaign.
Gerrard's Rangers had other ideas though, which will make this long-awaited title success even sweeter for their supporters.
What did Gerrard say?
Speaking after Saturday’s game at Ibrox, Gerrard, who became Rangers boss in the summer of 2018, told the club's website: "I don't think while I'm representing this club there will ever be a bigger three points.
"It's been an emotional day, obviously arriving here and seeing the scenes. It was an incredible feeling.
"I'm lost for words in terms of how I want to describe my team. I've been here for three years and they took me on one hell of a journey. It hasn't always been up and up, but I have nothing but plaudits to give my players.
"This club has been to hell and back over the past 10 years. I've only been part of it for three, but I can certainly relate and I've got that feeling and that affection with the fans and I know what they have been through."
Gerrard appeals for calm
With Rangers on the brink of the title hundreds of supporters arrived outside Ibrox to begin the celebrations - in breach of the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 restrictions.
With the supporters’ celebrations within earshot, the Rangers players ran to one of the exit gates at Ibrox at the full-time whistle to celebrate in view of the fans.
Gerrard said he understood the emotions but urged calm and for people to stick to the rules, while stressing his desire for this to be the start of a new era of dominance at Ibrox.
"I can totally understand the scenes,” he added. “But I think it's important they stay safe as well and we all try and be humble and focus on what is left, because there are a lot of big games left and we want more.
"I always said the first one [title] would be the hardest and we're obviously millimetres away from achieving that. But I don't know, I got a feeling upstairs today I want more, I'm hungry for more and I hope my players share that. If they do it's exciting times to be a Rangers fan.
"For me the priority is to really let this sink in, get it officially done and realise the monumental achievement that it is. But that's got to make you hungry for more.
"I'm already thinking about what's next and I want more. That's my drive every single day when I come to work. Since I was a young lad I just want success and I want to win, I want to win football matches and I want to have moments like that in the dressing room. That's what it is all about.”
