Academy coach Malky Thomson has excelled in a variety of roles during his more than 20-year association with Rangers and his current position with the Light Blues B Team is one he truly relishes.

The 56-year-old was a young defender with Aberdeen when Sir Alex Ferguson was in the Pittodrie dugout so he knows all about the pressure of operating at the top level under a manager who demands nothing but the best.

While Thomson was always interested in coaching at some stage in his career, it was a path he had to take much sooner than anticipated as a back injury meant he was forced to hang up his boots before his mid-20s.

Lesser men may have crumbled at the prospect of such an early retirement but Malky used this as fuel to fire his coaching ambitions and he has amassed a wealth of experience since that early setback.

He has travelled the world and honed his skills in England, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates and India while his career in Scotland has seen him enjoy Assistant Manager roles with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dundee Utd, Clyde and a player development position at Hibs when Alex McLeish was managing at Easter Road.

It was Big Eck who invited Malky to join him at Rangers, as an Academy coach in 2003, and two decades later Thomson is just as energised, excited and appreciative of his position at the training ground.

Thomson was previously head coach of the Rangers women’s team and guided the club to their first-ever SWPL league title in season 2021/22, the Sky Sports Cup and participation in their inaugural Champions League campaign.

Football is clearly in his blood and his open and approachable personality makes him an invaluable member of staff so when he returned to the Academy in the summer of 2023 he was thrilled to work with the young players who are eager to make the grade in the first-team.

In a wide-ranging interview as he showed his support for The Rangers Youth Development Company – who have donated more than £11.5 million to the Rangers Academy to date – Malky said: “I was at Hibernian with Alex McLeish and when he took the Rangers job he asked me to come here too to try and make a difference. 

“He thought the qualities I had would help enhance the club. He knew what I had done with the youth players at Hibs where we had players like Kevin Thomson, Derek Riordan, Garry O’Connor and Steven Whittaker and it was a great squad.

“There was a real buzz in coming to Rangers as, and no disrespect to any other clubs I had been at, this club is right up there with the best.

“If someone headhunts you like Alex did for me, you take the job and it filled me with pride.

“It was exciting and that enthusiasm only grows so it was a no-brainer for me. 

“To drive though the blue gates at the training ground every morning still gives me a sense of pride.

“To be part of this great institution is massive and the older you get, the more you appreciate it.

“At my age and given all the roles I have performed here also gives me a real appreciation of everyone’s job.

“Creating a vibrant atmosphere is essential and you have to add value and energy and that goes through the corridors from the first-team down to the Academy.

“It has been a great journey for me here. I have left three times but I have returned with more experience each time. 

“The first time I left Craig Brewster called Alex to ask about my availability to work with him at first-team level with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

“So I had that experience and I have gone away and gained more experience and always come back stronger.

“This is my third spell back and I still have the same energy and enthusiasm to deal with any challenges.

“It is up to me and the staff to keep pushing the young players and challenge them.

“I am with the B Team now and it is an important age group as the players can see light at the end of the tunnel.

“You will get young players stepping up to that squad and more experienced players stepping down and it’s about marrying them all together and making sure the young ones get a good learning experience.

“The young ones need to understand they have to be the same standard as the ones coming down from the first-team. 

“They have to try and achieve that by learning from the older guys, who have a responsibility to impart their knowledge and support and encourage the young players.

“Mistakes can be made in games as they are maybe not used to playing together that often but the bottom line is you are developing the players to get better and have the chance to train and play with the first-team.

“We have played B Team games against Luton, Manchester United, Leeds and Huddersfield recently and they are all beneficial.

“If you look at the Luton game for example, we played at their stadium.

“I have experience of coaching down south at Birmingham, in the Premier League and the Championship, and I have been to these old grounds and the feel of them is magical.

“Luton away was a proper game, it was night time, the lights were on and there was a crowd there.

“That experience was invaluable for our players.

“I remember saying to one of the boys that Erling Haaland was playing here and getting changed in this dressing room for Manchester City just a few months before.

“That night time game with the crowd was a really good experience, there was a crowd and our players were representing the badge.

“Let me tell you, every game you go in to you need to win. This is Rangers and you have to win. You have to compete and find a way to win and that challenge is always there.

“To go and play against a team like Luton away from home is great for their development and there are always Rangers fans travelling so you want to put on a show for them too.

“I think it’s fantastic for the young boys to experience that and know the worth of it.

“For any young kid, Rangers is a massive club and they have to think if players like Ross McCausland can progress to the first-team and put games under his belt then so can they.

“That’s the way they should look at it and the players here need to own it and take responsibility.

“Ross has done it and the Academy players can see that and know it is achievable.

“Every day they have to come through the blue gates and take a pride in it and appreciate it. 

“This is a special football club and I can remember playing Rangers with Inverness and we were 5-0 down at half-time. 

“I could feel the ground closing in and the atmosphere was crazy and players who pull on the jersey need to be able to perform in front of 50,000 supporters.

“The only way they get better at it is to be exposed to it and we have ex-players here who have graced Ibrox so they can tap into people like Stevie Smith, Jonatan Johansson and Lewis Macleod who have all done it.

“The staff all play a part in player development. It could be a conversation, a few training sessions or a season with a player. It all helps them.

“Also people like Karen who washes their kit and puts it out for them every day.

“It is an education from the second they walk in here. The players have to have respect for everyone and the job they do, not just the coaching staff.

“But you do feel an enormous pride when you know you have had even a small part to play in any player making it to the first-team

“The majority of players will need to go to other teams, not everyone can play for Rangers.

“It is not easy to break through so we have to give players a good grounding and make sure we have made an impact on them if they do have to leave.

“Not everyone can be good enough to play here and that can be a wake-up call for young players who want a career in football.

“It is a mentality. It is ok having the technical ability and being able to handle the physical parts of the game but it also comes down to handling the pressure of playing for Rangers.

“You have to win throughout the course of a season and then do it again the next season and the next season after that.

“Guys like Ian Durrant, Allan McGregor and Barry Ferguson had that character and have done it here in the past. 

“That’s the ‘X Factor’ you are always looking for but players have to have a strong mentality and belief that you can succeed at Rangers. You are Rangers and you have to immerse yourself in the place.

“Players are representing the club on and off the pitch at all times.

“You can see past players who have done that in the past and become legends.

“I’ll tap into Steven Smith’s experience of playing for Rangers. He has played and worn the Rangers jersey and I’ll ask him to tell players how he dealt with certain things and he can impart that knowledge.

“Peter Lovenkrands and Kevin Thomson have done that in the past too.

“Big, big players who played in big games and can pass on their experience to the young players.

“Players are fitter and stronger and quicker now and there is probably more scrutiny now. 

“Players are always being analysed. You have to give players information but they can’t be overloaded. You have to keep it simple.

“I know what is right and what works. There is so much data available now on each player so there is no hiding place.

“Players need to become confident and strong and they have a great support network here.

“Clips of training or games are always available and they can use that to better themselves.

“The game has evolved but it is still played on a pitch 110 by 70 wide and you need to score and defend.

“I was always interested in coaching. I had to stop playing at 24 as I had problems with my back and knees.

“I was always a people person. When I signed for Aberdeen, Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge so there was pressure all the time.

“I liked the pressure and I could always understand players and the journey they are on as I didn’t make it as a player at the very top, like an Alex McLeish.

“I think players need the truth early and that can make or break them.

“There are high-potential players here, guys like Paul Nsio and Bailey Rice, and they need the truth all the time.

“I am open and they can say what they want to me.

“I am always telling the guys to speak to me. Honesty with each other is a good thing and I want players to speak up.

“The word used to describe Rangers is ‘Ready’ and you need to be here.

“At any point things can change and you need to be ready to take your opportunity. It could be tomorrow, next month or next year but players need to be prepared.

“If you train properly, live properly, work hard and be professional then you will be ready.

“If you are good enough you will get the chance and you can go and shine.

“When players go round to the first-team they have Alex Rae who knows what it takes to play for this club and win trophies and Brian Gilmour who had a fine career in different countries and is a good bridge between the Academy and the main squad.

“Brian was in my under 14 and 15s team in the past.

“If you have seen a bit of life I think you become a better person.

“Alex was freed by Graeme Souness and returned here later in his career and won the league and the cup. He did it his way and is happy to share his knowledge with the young players. Honestly and up front.

“That definitely helps them.

“Another thing that absolutely helps their development is the support we receive  from The Rangers Youth Development Company. 

“RYDC have provided more than £11.5 million to the Academy, it was another £400,000 in January this year and that is an incredible amount of money to donate.

“It is great and the players and staff here all appreciate it.

“We know the value RYDC brings and we don’t take it for granted.

“Without that support we wouldn’t be able to do half the things we do behind the scenes.”

Profit from RYDC products Rangers Lotto, Stadium Bricks, Scratchcards and The Union Jackpot draw all go to help with the day to day running of the Academy, while profit from Museum Lotto is donated to the club for the upkeep and maintenance of the museum.

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