Rangers new boy Jon Toral isn’t the first Spaniard to play for the Ibrox club.
Rangers swooped to sign Jon Toral on loan from Arsenal earlier this month, and he made his competitive bow in Saturday’s 2-1 Scottish Cup win over Motherwell at Ibrox.
The move sees Toral, 21, reunite with his former Brentford boss Mark Warburton, but also sees him continue Rangers’ history of bringing Spanish players to Ibrox.
Toral is far from the Spaniard to play for the Gers, and here are some of Toral’s compatriots who have starred at Ibrox…
Mikel Arteta in action for Rangers
Mikel Arteta 2002-2004
Arteta, now better known for starring in the Premier League with Everton and Arsenal, spent two years with Rangers following a 2002 move from Barcelona. The midfielder hit 14 goals in 68 games for Rangers before earning a move back to Spain with Real Sociedad, but remains a popular figure at Ibrox having impressed with Rangers. In fact, Toral even told The Scottish Sun earlier this month that Arteta – now a coach at Manchester City – convinced him to make the move to Ibrox having enjoyed his time in Glasgow so much.
Nacho Novo 2004-2010
A real Ibrox cult hero, Spanish attacker Novo joined Rangers from Dundee in 2004, having hit 34 goals in 87 games during his time at Dens Park. Novo went on to make 255 appearances for Rangers, scoring 73 goals, as he became a crowd favourite with the club whilst winning three league titles. Novo was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame, showing just how popular he was at Ibrox – and Toral, whilst he surely won’t have nearly the same longevity with Rangers, will be hoping for similar adulation in Glasgow.
Carlos Cuéllar in action for Rangers
Carlos Cuellar 2007-2008
Signed from Osasuna in 2007, Cuellar spent just one season with Rangers, but his impact was huge. The centre back helped the club win both the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup, and played a vital part in the club’s stunning run to the final of the UEFA Cup. Cuellar made a remarkable 65 appearances in his only season with Rangers, scoring five goals before leaving for Aston Villa in the summer of 2008. An Ibrox return has often been rumoured; in 2011, STV reported that Rangers had a bid accepted for Cuellar but the deal never materialised, whilst Cuellar’s agent Gordon Reid told The Sun in 2015 that the Gers had turned down the chance to sign the Spaniard on a free transfer. Now in Israel with Meccabi Petah Tikva, the 35-year-old remains a popular figure at Rangers despite spending just one season there.
Aaron Niguez 2008-2009
Whilst Arteta, Novo and Cuellar all impressed with Rangers, winger Niguez endured a difficult spell at Ibrox. Tipped as a star of the future during his time with Valencia, Niguez was sent on a two-year loan to Rangers in order to play first-team football. Unfortunately, Niguez made just three league appearances for Rangers, and had his loan terminated after just one year at the club. Niguez told The Scottish Sun back in June 2016 that he would love a return to Rangers, but Mark Warburton avoided the move, with Niguez later joining Tenerife having left Portuguese side Braga.
Juan Manuel Ortiz 2011-2012
One of the more easily forgotten Spaniards to have played for Rangers, winger Ortiz joined the club from Almeria in the summer of 2011, after hitting 12 goals in 135 games for the Spanish side. Ortiz struggled in Scotland though, scoring just once in 14 games before being sent back to Almeria on loan. After Rangers’ liquidation, Ortiz was released from his contract, lasting just one year in a dismal spell at Ibrox. Now 34, Ortiz is playing in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca, having also had spells with Granada and Hercules since leaving Rangers.
Francisco Sandaza 2012-2013
After Rangers’ liquidation and demotion, they swooped to sign striker Sandaza, who had hit 11 goals in 43 games for Dundee United and 18 goals in 31 games for St Johnstone, either side of a poor spell with Brighton and Hove Albion. Sandaza was seen as a proven goalscorer that could help Rangers find the net in the fourth tier, but he scored just twice in 14 league games for the Gers before his contract was terminated in 2013, having stated in a hoax telephone call that he was only at Ibrox for the money. Sandaza has since turned out for Lugo, FC Tokyo and Girona after his acrimonious spell with Rangers.
Who is your favourite Spaniard to have played for Rangers?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
