Maccabi Tel Aviv FC completed the signing of James Tavernier, as the 34-year-old right-back and former Rangers captain joining the club on a 1-year deal, with an option to extend by a further season.
Tavernier arrives at Maccabi after 11 seasons at Rangers, where he made 565 appearances in all competitions, scoring 144 goals and providing 148 assists. In his final season at Ibrox (25/26), he made 52 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists.
After successfully completing his medical and signing his contract, Tavernier, who will wear the number 2 at Maccabi told the official website: “It’s a real honour to join a club with such a rich history as Maccabi Tel Aviv. Coming to a new country and experiencing a different environment is something I’ve always wanted to do in my career, so there’s a real excitement about the opportunity and the challenge ahead. I’ve heard a lot about the club from Kenny Miller, especially the ambitions, the desire to compete for trophies and, of course, the Maccabi fans and the atmosphere they create. Having played for a big club for so many years, I know how important the fans are and how much they can drive a team on. Maccabi is a club that wants to win and compete for trophies, and that’s exactly what you want as a player. The aim is to give everything for the club, and I can’t wait to get started.”
A product of the Leeds and Newcastle’s youth academies, Tavernier joined Rangers from Wigan Athletic in 2015. He was appointed club captain in 2018 and went on to lead Rangers to three trophies in Scotland, winning the Championship (20/21), the Scottish Cup (21/22) and the League Cup (23/24).
Tavernier also developed a notable goalscoring record from right-back, scoring at least 15 goals in five of his 10 most recent seasons with Rangers. His 21/22 campaign was particularly productive, as he scored seven goals in the Europa League to finish as the competition’s top scorer and helped Rangers reach the final, where they were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.
His 21 goals in European competitions for Rangers saw him equal the club record held by Ally McCoist, while his 152 career goals make him the highest-scoring defender in British football history.
Tavernier will now continue his career at Maccabi, where he will reunite with Head Coach Kenny Miller. The pair worked together at Rangers before Miller took charge at Maccabi.
Good luck Tav.
