Jack Butland has made his name. Now he wants to make memories.
The finest experiences of Butland's career could arrive over the next few seasons. On the park, he is sure that the best has still to come as he aims to raise the bar and realise the ambitions that have been unfulfilled south of the border.
The keeper could have spent the coming years on the books of Manchester United, his boyhood club, or signed up for further campaigns in the Premier League. If he had dropped down to the Championship, he would surely have been a first choice for a side with promotion in mind.
Butland has different ambitions, though. At 30, he is now in his prime and has the time on his side to realise his own dreams and the promise that he showed during his formative years for club and country.
The Englishman admits himself that a lot came his way early in his career. He was capped against Italy after only appearing professionally for Cheltenham Town and would earn a move to Stoke City after establishing himself at Birmingham City.
A handful of loan stints followed. When he left the Potters, he did so with the best of intentions, but his time at Crystal Palace proved to be a case of what might have been as his domestic ambitions faltered and international aspirations were not rekindled.
Butland now finds himself in the right place at the right time and Rangers can offer him the opportunities and the challenges that he seeks. And he is sure he can hold up his end of the bargain by filling the gloves vacated by Allan McGregor and leading by example for Michael Beale's side.
"100 per cent," Butland said when asked if he felt his best was yet to come over the four years of his Ibrox contract. "And that was another part of it. Alright, could you be at United. Well, yes, but what would the rest of my career look like?
"That was important to me. I wanted 30 on to be something l look back on as a successful period and not one that drifted away. As much as I enjoyed Palace and as good as United was, I missed playing. And that’s important to me.
"He (McGregor) is an exceptional example. He kept himself going and kept himself in great shape and I will try to do that.
"But I am just looking forward to getting started and being successful and I am sure at the end of my career it is something I will look back on as being an extremely great time, and that’s the plan."
The acquisition of Butland was a coup for Rangers and a statement of intent from Beale. It is one that must pay off for all concerned as the Ibrox boss seeks to deliver the titles and trophies that will be demanded over the course of the new campaign.
Butland's final fixture as part of the United squad was the FA Cup final defeat to Man City at Wembley. Once again, he had to watch the entire match from a viewpoint on the sidelines.
Even when he has been playing regularly, Butland has still endured his share of trials and tribulations over the course of his career. He arrives in Glasgow older, wiser and stronger for each.
"Of course, what I have experienced, I mean I am still 30, there’s a long way to go," Butland said. "A lot happened early. If I went through my career without any setbacks and without any moments it would have been a miracle.
"These things happen. One or two of them happened at a good time for me, not in my prime if you like. I had tough times at Stoke at a time when the club was really transitioning and not really sure where it was at, and it was difficult.
"But since then I feel I have been in a really good place and on a really good path, just without perhaps the games to show for that.
"Mentality wise, I have been extremely positive all the way through. I feel really good about myself and my game and being here, so yes, no fears on that front.
"Things happen for a reason. This is an opportunity and I am really looking forward to it."
Butland has made the switch across the border with plenty of experiences, both good and bad, to call upon and significant pressure on his shoulders from a demanding, expectant support.
Those that Beale has retained from last term must make amends after seeing Celtic sweep the board once again. Those that have been recruited, meanwhile, must not allow history to repeat itself.
"Huge," Butland said when asked about the importance of medals in his decision to sign for Rangers. "That is it. Rangers is about winning.
"Being in the squad for a Carabao Cup final last season was great, but it is not you. You are not fully part of it. So being successful with this team is what I am here to do. That’s what I am about.
"There are some big numbers we need to hit. There are things to achieve this season which are really important, and as a player that’s what you want to do – you want to win trophies and you want to be successful. You want to be part of a great team and that’s what we are trying to do."
That jigsaw is still being assembled at Ibrox. Butland was the third piece of it when he signed on the dotted line and the work continues as Beale assembles a squad in his name and his image.
The highs of 55 or the run to Seville are natural selling points for any prospective new recruit but Beale is now looking forward rather than back in the pursuit of medals.
Butland said: "I watched the Europa League final. I do remember watching it, long before coming here even became an option.
"You always see the Old Firm games on TV, it is never difficult to see those. But I remember watching the Europa League final and what the fans were like, I remember watching it and wanting to be a part of it. So that has always been there.
"It ramped up the last few months before the end of the season so I was watching Rangers games when I could. I watched the Old Firm and Allan’s last game, things like that. I kept an eye out and I have heard a lot about it since."
