Ivor Pandur is still learning the ropes at Ibrox, but the new Rangers No1 reckons there’s nobody better to teach him how to hoist trophies than Allan McGregor.
The big Croatian keeper has given up a chance to fight for Premier League action at Hull to instead scrap for silverware in Scotland. At 26, Pandur reckons he’s served a decent traineeship having started his career with stints at hometown club Reijka, Italian outfit Hellas Verona, Dutch side Fortuna Sittard and lastly the Tigers. But he’s facing his toughest examination yet as he now seeks to add to a medal collection that so far extends to just one Croatian Cup triumph.
But the apprentice has a pretty decent master to take guidance from, with Gers goalkeeping great McGregor now on Derek McInnes’ coaching staff. Pandur has already been picking the brains of a man who ended his playing career with four league titles, nine cup and 42 Scotland caps on his CV.
Learning from a legend
He said: "It means a lot to me for to have him as my coach because I can only learn and it's up to me to take everything from him, ask him questions, from his lessons, if I can learn anything. I'm in a really good place to learn, to improve, to develop under him. So yeah, I'm truly happy."
"Do I remember seeing him play? Yeah, of course. He's a legend of the club but also in Europe. He played a lot of games for the national team as well so when I found out he's the goalkeeper coach here, it just filled me with happiness. I want to learn from the best, and that's why I came as well."
"We’ve been in touch over the last few weeks. He wanted to see how I work, the way of working on the training ground outside with analysis and everything. He made sure he knows me. So we've been in touch and I told him straight away, I'll be ready to go as soon as I come and they fulfilled my wish."
First steps at Ibrox
Pandur only checked in at Ibrox on Monday having been given some extra time off following his World Cup duty with Croatia. But he was quickly down to work when he made his first run-out in front of the Ibrox crowd as Derek McInnes’ new-look side ramped up their pre-season preparation with a 2-1 win over St Etienne on Wednesday night.
"It was really enjoyable," he said. "I think first time walking out seeing the stadium, sharing it with my teammates, it was a lovely experience, and hopefully there are more to come."
"It’s been class getting to know all the people at the club. Teammates, coaching staff, training ground, I'm really happy with everything, the way they welcomed me. This is really a privilege to be here and share the dressing with these boys because, first of all, good people and everyone around is also really good."
Pressure and ambition
Pandur did his homework before agreeing to the £6million move to Ibrox - a deal that saw former first-choice keeper Jack Butland make his own £3m switch in the opposite direction. He spoke with Hull team-mates John Lundstram and Kieron Dowell, both of whom served spells in Govan. And he was also quick to call up Antonio Colak for advice on the Old Firm landscape. None of those men had it easy in Glasgow as they failed to put a halt to Celtic’s era of dominance. But Pandur isn’t shying away from the challenge he’s now facing.
He said: "Yeah, they told me it is pressure. They demand a lot from the players and they want trophies, they want to win. But I want all of that as well. I’ve never run from pressure, from responsibility, in all my career. It just the way I've been raised, so it matched perfectly in my opinion."
"I want to test myself at the biggest stage. I think Rangers is one of the biggest clubs in Europe, so I want to see how I will handle it because in my mind, I know I'm ready for it. And like I said, it's a privilege and honour to be in this position and to give absolutely everything I have for this city, for this club. It's just a proud feeling."
