Rangers icon Ally McCoist made a name for himself by regularly breaking the hearts of Old Firm rivals Celtic – scoring no fewer than 27 times against the Parkhead side – but he’s admitted he could have lined up for in green and white hoops instead after a “big, big rumour” Billy McNeill wanted to sign him from Sunderland.
McCoist moved to Ibrox in 1983 under John Greig but told Jamie Carragher how he is “absolutely ecstatic” that Greig beat his Old Firm rival to the punch and got in there first for the man who would become Rangers’ all-time greatest goalscorer.
The much-loved pundit isn’t sure whether he could have crossed the Old Firm divide and joined Celtic as a lifelong Rangers fan, although he admits that could just be hindsight.
“There was a big, big rumour that Billy McNeill, when he was manager at Celtic, had come in just after Greigy,” McCoist said on Carragher’s Greatest Game podcast.
“And I’m just sitting here absolutely ecstatic that he didn’t come in before, because the decision was completely taken out of my hands!
“I’ve got to be honest, born and bred a Rangers supporter all the way through school, being brought up and my dad taking me to watch Rangers – I’m not sure I could’ve signed for Celtic.
“You know something, that might be me saying that with hindsight but it’s amazing.
“It’s just the exact same as Everton and Liverpool, the rivalry is quite phenomenal and unique.
“I’m just thrilled to bits that Greigy made the phone call before big Billy!”
McCoist as turned our for Celtc in the past, sort of, having played former Celtic striker Jackie McQuillan in ‘A Shot at Glory’ alongside Robert Duvall and Michael Keaton.
Thankfully for Rangers fans, that’s the only time McCoist pulled on the Hoops, with the iconic striker going on to score 355 times for the Gers.
In other news, Rangers teen Euro 2020 spot hailed by former Scotland boss after wowing for Gers
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
