Copenhagen Classic

In the summer of 2003, Rangers kicked off their European campaign riding the wave of a record-breaking, treble-winning season on the home front. Alex McLeish’s side were the undisputed kings of Scottish football, sweeping all three domestic trophies, including a league title clinched by the finest and most dramatic of margins.

But following that incredible success, change was in the air. Several of the heroes who had delivered so much moved on to pastures new, leaving the manager with the task of reshaping his squad for the next chapter of his Rangers career with limited funds.

Lorenzo Amoruso departed, signing for Blackburn Rovers. Arthur Numan retired, and Neil McCann joined Southampton. Veteran Claudio Caniggia sought a new challenge and headed to the Middle East. Additionally, Kevin Muscat and Bert Konterman also moved on, both leaving on free transfers to sign for Millwall and Vitesse Arnhem, respectively. Barry Ferguson also departed for Blackburn Rovers, but that came later in the window, and the captain started both legs of the Champions League qualifiers in August 2003.

Their replacements initially brought a spark of excitement. However, as the season progressed, it became clear that aging players like Nuno Capacuho, Emerson, Egil Ostenstad, and Paulo Vanoli were pale imitations of their younger selves, falling short of the quality and consistency of those they had replaced.

After the heroics of the previous season, the reward was just one single qualifying tie standing between Rangers and the promised land of the Champions League group stages, and it was the first time since 1996 that Rangers had such a short route to Europe’s elite competition.

Potential opposition in the draw included some dangerous names such as Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk, while the more favourable options were sides like Vardar Skopje or Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia. As fate would have it, Rangers were paired with the Danish champions, FC Copenhagen.

The first leg at Ibrox brought an early sense of optimism. A Peter Løvenkrands strike after only eight minutes put Rangers in the driving seat to take an advantage to Denmark. However, Faroe Islands midfielder Ståle Jonsson equalised five minutes after half-time to give the Scandinavians a precious away goal and leave the tie finely balanced at 1-1 after the first meeting.

Heading into the return leg, Copenhagen were considered favourites. They held the advantage on away goals, and with the second leg at home, the task of travelling to the Nordic region and claiming either a victory or a score draw, at worst, was a daunting one for the Scottish champions. It would require a big performance as Rangers looked to reach the Champions League group stages for the sixth time.

Alex McLeish made only limited use of his new signings. Both were in defence, with Henning Berg partnering Zurab Khizanishvili at centre-back. They were flanked by full-backs Fernando Ricksen and Michael Ball, shielding the ever-reliable Stefan Klos in goal.

In midfield, Christian Nerlinger joined Mikel Arteta and the outgoing Barry Ferguson, while up front McLeish went with Shota Arveladze, Michael Mols, and Ronald de Boer in a dynamic attacking trio.

A tight first half gave way to a tense second period. Rangers struck first when Mols was fouled in the box, allowing Arteta to smash home a penalty to provide the side with a priceless away goal in the 52nd minute. But the Danes responded in the 83rd, with Alvaro Dos Santos heading home to level the scores.

The game seemed destined for extra time, but in the 87th minute, Arveladze produced a moment of brilliance. Meeting Ferguson’s looping header with his back to goal, he executed a sublime acrobatic effort to put Rangers ahead.

The game finished 2-1 on the night, 3-2 on aggregate, and the full-time whistle sparked jubilation throughout the club. During a time of such financial strain, the £10 million prize money was most welcome, and in an era when the dream of genuine European glory felt like a distant memory, simply qualifying for the group stages and the financial rewards that came with it was an achievement in itself for the club.

A tough draw followed. Placed in Pot 3, Rangers found themselves in Group E alongside Manchester United, Panathinaikos, and group-stage debutants VfB Stuttgart. Realistically, finishing third and dropping into the UEFA Cup was viewed as success, and the first match against the Bundesliga side produced one of Ibrox’s loudest and most memorable European nights.

A thrilling 2–1 win over future Rangers shareholder Felix Magath’s Stuttgart was followed by a 1–1 draw in Athens, with the Greeks snatching a last-minute equaliser. From there, though, the campaign began to unravel.

A narrow 1–0 defeat to Manchester United at Ibrox was followed by a humbling 3–0 loss at Old Trafford, on a night that brutally underlined the gulf in class at Europe’s top table. Another 1–0 defeat in Stuttgart on matchday 5 ended any hopes of reaching the knockout rounds. Rangers needed only a point at home to bottom-placed Panathinaikos in the final group match to secure UEFA Cup football after Christmas , but the campaign ended in dismal fashion as the visitors ran out 3–1 winners, leaving Ibrox deflated.

The 2003/04 European adventure mirrored much of what unfolded domestically that season: a bright, exciting, and promising start that faded into disappointment and frustration. Sandwiched between two of the club’s greatest seasons, it remains a forgotten campaign, yet that night in Copenhagen still stands out as a famous evening. It gave Rangers an entry to Europe’s top competition, and to this day, it remains arguably their finest result on Scandinavian soil.

Fast forward to today, where Rangers travel to Northern Europe again for another vital European match. This time to Norway, to face SK Brann in the Europa League. After two poor results in the opening couple of games, points are a must as the Danny Rohl era officially gets underway. There would be no better way for the German to start his tenure than by claiming three vital and much-needed Europa League points.

Let’s hope Bergen provides the perfect backdrop for the return of the Rangers on Thursdays.