RANGERS legend Graeme Souness has revealed that he remains proud of signing Mo Johnston for Rangers as it was “the right thing to do”.
Johnston, who had previously played for arch-rivals Celtic, became the first Catholic to step through the famous doors as a player at Ibrox when he was brought to the club by then-manager Souness in 1989.
Souness, 70, told talkSPORT’s Jim White earlier this week how he opted to sign Johnston as he believed it marked a chance to get “a top player” for cheap, regardless of external factors.
Appearing on talkSPORT, Souness revealed that Johnston was actually the third Catholic to agree to a move to Rangers but the other two were potentially talked out of signing by their families.
Souness said: “I was 33 years old; and that was the right thing to do, I believed at the time it was the right thing to do and undoubtedly it was the right thing to do as I sit here today.”
Host White explains to others in the studio exactly how big the transfer was, adding: “He was recognised as the first high profile Catholic player to play for the club.”
White continues to explain to those off-camera about why the move was so key, saying: “It was an enormous move, that poked the fans in the eye of both Rangers and Celtic.”
This leads Souness to reveal that Johnston wasn’t the first man on his radar ahead of the transfer in the summer of 1989.
Souness said: “John Collins had initially said yes to coming to Rangers, Ray Houghton had said yes initially ‘I’ll do it’, but both maybe sat down with their families and thought better of it.”
The former Blackburn Rovers manager told White how Mo Johnston was the third one but that he “went for it” and deserves enormous credit.
The three-time European Cup winner added: “It was a chance to get a top player for not a lot of money.
“We did the deal, what you’re referring to – we didn’t take into account at the time – I just thought [he was] a great addition to the team.
“What it did to the Celtic supporters, it made them angry towards their board for maybe a decade, I think it took the best part of a decade for them to recover from that.”
Jim White adds that Johnston became a star player following a tentative first few months at Ibrox, saying: “After a nervy start, Mo Johnston proceeded to be a great player for Rangers.”
Souness looks to his old Sky Sports colleague adding: “Oh Maurice was a fabulous player, he had everything, workaholic, brave, eye for a goal, what is there not to like?”
As the segment ends White questions Souness, asking: “Do you always look back on that as a moment of pride for you in what you did as a manager?”
The Scotland legend replies: “Yeah definitely, because you know I grew up in Edinburgh, religion never played a part in my house – is he a good guy or a bad guy, that’s what mattered.”
The clip was shared online earlier this week with the caption: “Graeme Souness is proud of signing Mo Johnston at Rangers.”
The video received over 1,500 likes with hundreds of comments from followers of Scottish football who were quick to share their views.
One said: “He was right to do it, but Rangers were throwing money around for fun, hence the club went under. Celtic played by the rules.”
Another added: “Mo Johnston was one of the best strikers in Europe at that time.”
A third replied: “Souness – what a legend.”
Another commented: “Maurice was a great player for the Gers.”
Graeme Souness managed Rangers for five years between 1986 and 1991 winning three league titles and four Scottish League Cups.
