Kevin Phillips has admitted he understands the pull of Rangers after revealing he himself considered a move to Ibrox during his playing days. The former Sunderland and England striker, now a coach at Derby, has backed Dan Neil's decision to join the Light Blues despite interest from Premier League side Coventry.
Phillips' Own Rangers Consideration
Phillips, who scored 70 goals in four seasons for Sunderland after helping them to Premier League promotion in 1999, had opportunities to join Rangers and Celtic during his career. He recalled how then-Gers boss Alex McLeish, through former Sunderland teammate Alex Rae, tried to lure him north in 2003. However, Phillips opted to stay in the Premier League, making nearly 150 further appearances for Southampton, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, and Crystal Palace before retiring at age 41.
“I wouldn't say I was close to going up there, but I had opportunities to go to Rangers and Celtic at points in my career,” Phillips told Record Sport. “But I was still playing in the Premier League in England. And for me, it's no disrespect to the Scottish football. The Old Firm games would have been great to play in, but I wanted to stay in the Premier League. And that was the only reason why I didn't go up there.”
Dan Neil's Path to Ibrox
Neil, a lifelong Sunderland supporter, captained the club to Championship promotion in 2024, ending an eight-year top-flight exile. However, the arrival of Granit Xhaka for £13m limited the 24-year-old midfielder to just three appearances last season before a loan spell at Ipswich. With his contract expiring, Neil could have joined Premier League newcomers Coventry but instead chose Rangers, where new manager Derek McInnes made him a priority signing.
“Every player who helps a team get promoted to the Premier League and then all of a sudden finds himself sitting on the bench and losing their place is going to feel hard done by,” Phillips said. “But unfortunately, you understand as a player that that's football. Xhaka came in and was an inspiration for Sunderland. I felt for Dan, but it's part and parcel of football. You either get your head down and get on with it or you get sold. And I think Dan dealt with it in a very, very good way.”
What Neil Brings to Rangers
With competition from Nico Raskin, Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande, and Tochi Chukwuani in midfield, Phillips believes Neil offers the goalscoring threat Rangers have lacked. “He will make a tackle, no shadow of a doubt,” Phillips said. “But he's more renowned for scoring goals and getting in the box. He is a box-to-box player, technically very good, can handle the ball in high-pressure situations, and he very rarely loses the ball. So I think it's going to be more of a technical aspect that he'll bring to the football club.”
Old Firm Derby Excitement
Phillips, who has experienced the intensity of the North East derby between Sunderland and Newcastle, expects Neil to thrive in the Old Firm atmosphere. “I've been to a couple of Old Firm games over the years and the atmosphere is intense,” he said. “It goes beyond the atmosphere as well. I think he'll relish it. He's that type of player. He'll take it on his shoulders, he'll look forward to it. And if I were in his shoes, I'd be excited about playing in those games.”
Phillips was speaking to the Daily Record on behalf of BestBettingSites.co.uk.
