Gareth McAuley decides to retire after Rangers exit

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Rangers allowed Gareth McAuley to leave Ibrox this summer.

Rangers released defender Gareth McAuley at the end of last season, and he’s now calling it quits as he hangs up his boots.

The Gers were re-tooling their defence under Steven Gerrard last summer, landing Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Joe Worrall to bolster his options.

Goldson aside, Katic and Worrall were inexperienced players, and adding a veteran in that area of the pitch was key, even if only to pass on help and tips to those younger defenders.

Gerrard decided to pounce for free agent McAuley, who had left West Bromwich Albion following their relegation from the Premier League.

The Northern Ireland international was a Rangers fan, meaning he jumped at the chance to make a dream move to Ibrox, but he barely played last season.

McAuley made 10 appearances for Rangers, and at the age of 39, Gerrard unsurprisingly allowed McAuley to move on when his contract expired in June.

Now approaching 40, it’s no great shock that McAuley has received little interest, and has now admitted that he’s hanging up his boots and retiring.

McAuley has admitted to The Scottish Sun that he knew he was finished the game late last season, but Rangers was the only place he wanted to be as he lived out his boyhood dream, and wishes he had been able to win something during his time at Ibrox.

“I knew towards the end of last season I wasn’t playing beyond that. I knew I was finished with it,” said McAuley. “I spoke to Steven Gerrard before signing and knew I wouldn’t be playing every week. He told me he wanted me to help set the standards in the dressing room and help the younger lads.”

“I also got injured at bad times after not having a proper pre-season. I’d have liked to have played more or won something at Rangers but it was the only place I wanted to be,” he added.