Alex McLeish is convinced Aberdeen ’s glory days under Alex Ferguson were kickstarted by an extra-time rout of Rangers in the 1982
Scottish Cup Final.
Almost 40 years to the day, on that same Hampden turf, the Pittodrie legend – who went on to manage Rangers to the Treble – witnessed a result and performance he believes may have the same effect on the Ibrox club.
McLeish was at the National Stadium to watch Giovanni van Bronckhorst ’s side deliver the first trophy of the Dutchman’s reign, beating Hearts 2-0 in extra-time.
His mind raced back four decades to the day his great curling effort for the Dons cancelled out an early John MacDonald goal for Rangers.
The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes but Aberdeen found an extra gear in the additional half hour, scoring three times to take the trophy to the Granite City with Neale Cooper banging in the fourth.
The Dons had won the title in 1980 but that Hampden victory was the launchpad for unparalleled success.
Now McLeish believes Rangers’ win last weekend could be just as significant.
He said: “I remember in 1982 at Aberdeen we came to Hampden and beat Rangers 4-1 after extra-time.
“It felt that the game got
us over a hurdle of being able to come to Glasgow and win against the Old Firm.
“That one game and winning something changed the mentality and it helped.
“It’s the same with Rangers. They hadn’t won the Scottish Cup in a long time and now that’s gone.
“They will be bursting to get that winning feeling again.
“You get the adulation from the fans, everyone loves you and you want more of that.
“That’s the thing that keeps you going as players.”
The 63-year-old, who guided Gers to a domestic clean sweep in 2003 – the year Celtic got to the UEFA Cup Final in Seville – insists van Bronckhorst’s side deserve huge credit for recovering from their Europa League Final defeat in the same city just three days before their Hampden showdown with the Jambos.
McLeish added: “Rangers had to show such resilience to lift themselves and going again just a few days later in another final.
“Losing the shoot-out in Seville was horrendous for them and everyone wondered if they would have the stamina to go again.
“But they certainly did that on Saturday. It’s not the first time they have done it though.
“It was the same in the week of the Scottish Cup semi-final when they won in extra time against Celtic just days after 120 minutes against Braga in the Europa quarter-final.
“They’ve shown a fantastic mentality and character to
do what they have. There were some superb performances
at the weekend and some cracking goals to win it again.
“To go out at Hampden days after a final defeat is a hard thing to do.
“At Aberdeen, in 1986 we played Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final.
“It was a week after they had lost to Dundee at Dens Park, which meant they lost the league to Celtic on the final day of the season.
“People wondered how they would respond and I remember standing in the tunnel, I looked across at some of their players and a few heads seemed down.
“We went on to the park and we won 3-0 that day. It was tough for Hearts.
“It could have been the same for Rangers after Seville.
“But they came back from a tremendously tough night in Europe and lifted themselves to triumph.
“You have to congratulate the players, Gio and his staff.
“Hearts made it difficult in the first half but the best team won in the end.”
And having got the Cup under their belts, McLeish is convinced the players will have a thirst for more – including John Souttar, who gave everything for Hearts in his final game for the club before heading to Glasgow this summer, almost certainly as a replacement for out-of-contract Connor Goldson.
Former Scotland boss McLeish is in no doubt Souttar has what it takes to be an Ibrox success story.
He said: “Connor has been a terrific servant to Rangers.
“I’m sure there are players the club can bring in but it will be a shame to see him go if he does leave.
“He has been at the heart of the Ibrox defence for a good few years now and he has been superb.
“Sometimes you don’t know what is in a player’s head, his contract is up and it’s up to him what he does next.
“Souttar is obviously coming in and he played so well in the Final.
“He’s a terrific passer of the ball and he likes to play out from the back.
“I remember Sir Alex Ferguson used to say if you are going to pass the ball, then mean it. Souttar really does that.
“He looks a suitable candidate to play in the Rangers backline.
“You have to have players lined up to take over because every year people move on and you have to be ready to go.
“I’m sure they will have other names in mind to bring in to strengthen them for next season.
“Souttar is already done and he’s coming in in the summer. I’m sure he will do well for the club.
“He’s at a good age, he’s a Scotland international and he is a proven player in the Premiership.
“He’s had a few injury setbacks in his career but he’s got over them and hopefully that stays the case.
“I gave John his first senior cap against Belgium in 2018 and I’m delighted to see him growing over the last few years.
“He had to learn quickly at that level but he has certainly grown since then.
“You get better the more you play at the top level for club and country.
“And I hope that’s the same for John.”
