Connor Goldson insists he’s ready to lead Rangers in their fight to wrestle the title back from Celtic after admitting he couldn’t give up that winning feeling at Ibrox.
The defender penned a new four-year deal at the Light Blues despite the chance to cash in on the fact he was available on a free transfer.
Goldson has grown into one of the senior figures in the Rangers dressing room and the vice-captain said that status as one of the squad’s leaders is important to him.
It’s also vital to boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst as Goldson admitted the Dutchman made a last-ditch plea for him to stay following the Scottish Cup win over Hearts at Hampden last month.
And now Goldson is sticking around until 2026, the 29-year-old said his first aim is to make sure they are champions of Scotland again after surrendering their crown last season.
The former Brighton man said: “I’ve got used to winning games most weeks and I love that feeling.
“I want to keep on winning, I want to keep on trying to take this football club to the next level.
“I said last year that I wanted to stay and try and win 56 and 57. That was a massive part of me committing to the football club.
“We obviously lost the league this year and we need to go and win it back next year. It is an exciting time for this football club. Over the last two years we have really shown what we’re capable of.
“But as I said before, we now need to go and replicate that on a year-on-year basis. I think with the group of players we’ve got at the moment, there’s no reason why we can’t.
“That was the reason why I’ve ended up staying. I want to stay here and win. I want to stay here and win as many pieces of silverware as I can.
"I spoke to Ross (Wilson) and I spoke to the manager and said we wanted to do it. I want to stay here and try and win. That’s the main reason for me staying.
“Everyone knows I had a decision to make. I went away with my family over the last week and we made that decision. And it was to stay here.
“We’re all settled here, my family’s settled here, and football-wise I’m happy. I just thought this was the right decision to make and I’m happy I have.
“Being a leading figure in the changing room, I don’t think you can take that for granted. Did I want to leave and go and start all over again? That was the decision I had to make.
“I enjoy that role. I’m used to it now as I’ve been here a long time. I’m happy the boss thinks that way and happy to help the team in any way I can.
“Again, it was another reason both me and my wife spoke about on holiday.
“I spoke to the manager when it all got agreed he said exactly the same to me. I had good conversations with the manager.
"In the season, to be fair to him, he was really good with me. He left me alone to make the decision. Even when we won the Cup, he said to me that he was desperate for me to stay but he would let the decision be made by me and my family.
“I really respected him for giving that time and having that patience with me. He’s come in and done brilliant.
“You look at our run in the Europa League and what we experienced as a club. No-one will ever be able to take that away from us.
“But like we both said on the phone last night, from June 27 it’s time to kick on and try and go to the next level.
“The end of the season was a high and a low. I’m sure there will be many more of both over the next four years but if we can keep on winning the highs are so special at this football club.
“You’ve seen that over the last two years. When we create memories like that, it’s a massive thing to why I’ve committed and I want to carry on this journey.”
Goldson follows on from Scott Arfield and Steven Davis who also signed extensions with Allan McGregor’s future still undecided.
Now, with John Souttar also arriving the defender has set his sights on Champions League qualification.
He said: “We knew if we won the league we had Champions League and we knew if we won the Europa League we had Champions League.
“It was a double blow but we still have a chance of getting there. We need to go and win, we need to win games of football next year.
“We’ve seen what the cups mean now we’ve won one. We’ve won the league and seen what that means to the fans.
“So we need to go and win as much as possible. Hopefully, over the next four years there will be many more memorable nights.
“John Souttar looks really good. I was impressed with him in the Cup final. I thought he played really well. I’m looking forward to seeing him when we get back.
"It will be good to see him day in, day out because I don’t think you realise how good players are until you see them on an everyday basis.”
