🗣️ “It’s a special number… but I’m nowhere near finished.” James Tavernier opens up after hitting his 100th league goal

James Tavernier stood just outside the Rangers dressing room at Ibrox, boots still on, shirt clinging with sweat, the captain’s armband tucked under his arm. The stadium was beginning to empty, but the significance of the moment was still hanging heavy in the air. A 3–0 win over Dundee. Three points secured. And one milestone that had been quietly building for years.

His penalty early in the second half wasn’t just the opener on the day — it was his 100th league goal for Rangers. A number few defenders ever reach. Fewer still while wearing the armband of a club that lives and breathes expectation.

When asked what the moment meant to him, Tavernier didn’t rush his answer.

“Honestly, it’s massive,” he said, pausing briefly. “When you first come to a club like Rangers, you don’t sit there thinking about numbers like that. You’re just trying to survive, to prove you belong. To reach 100 league goals here… that’s something I’m extremely proud of.”

The 34-year-old was keen to shift the focus away from himself, as he so often does, but admitted this one felt different.

“My family were in the stands, and I knew what it meant to them as well. They’ve seen everything — the injuries, the criticism, the tough moments. So yeah, I’ll allow myself to enjoy this one tonight.”

Naturally, the conversation soon turned to the question everyone has been asking quietly: what’s next for James Tavernier?

With his contract situation often speculated on and his legacy already secure, the Rangers captain addressed it head-on.

“I’m not thinking about walking away or slowing down, if that’s what people are wondering,” he said with a smile. “I still feel hungry. I still feel I’ve got more to give — not just in goals, but in leadership, in standards.”

Tavernier was clear that his future, for now, remains firmly tied to Ibrox.

“As long as the club wants me, and as long as I feel I can perform at the level Rangers demand, I’m here. Simple as that. This club has given me everything. I don’t take that lightly.”

He also spoke about evolving as a player as he’s moved deeper into his career.

“I’m smarter now. I manage my body better, I read the game differently. Maybe I don’t sprint every single minute like I did at 26, but I pick my moments. And those moments still matter.”

Asked whether he sees himself staying in football beyond his playing days, Tavernier didn’t shy away.

“Yeah, absolutely. I think leadership is in me. Whether that’s coaching, mentoring, working with young players — I don’t know exactly yet. But football will always be part of my life.”

The captain reserved special praise for his teammates, particularly the younger players coming through.

“There are lads in that dressing room who will take this club forward. You can feel it. My job is to help them, push them, and make sure they understand what wearing this badge really means.”

Before heading back inside, Tavernier was asked one final question: does reaching 100 league goals change how he views his own legacy?

He shook his head.

“Legacy is what you leave behind in people — not just trophies or numbers. If, when I eventually go, people say I gave everything for Rangers, then I’ve done my job.”

As he disappeared down the tunnel, the answer was clear.

One hundred league goals might sound like a full stop.

For James Tavernier, it feels more like a comma.