Lawrence Shankland has been named captain of Rangers, barely two months after joining the club from Heart of Midlothian.

Rangers announced the appointment of their men's first-team captain for the 2026/27 season on the club's official website. BBC Sport confirmed the news on 29 July 2026.

Shankland, a 30-year-old striker who also plays for Scotland, described the moment as exceeding his dream of playing for the club. He has called himself a lifelong Rangers supporter.

The speed of the appointment is striking. Shankland only arrived at Ibrox from Hearts — a rival Scottish Premiership club — around two months ago. But he came with a track record that made the decision less of a gamble than it might look. At Hearts, he was also captain and scored 88 goals in 171 appearances. A proven goalscorer who already knew how to lead.

He succeeds James Tavernier, who held the armband for 11 years. That is a long stretch by any standard. During Tavernier's time as captain, Rangers reached a Europa League final and won the Scottish Premiership, the Scottish Cup, and the Scottish League Cup — a clean sweep of the major domestic honours alongside a memorable European run. Shankland is stepping into a role shaped by over a decade of service.

Shankland has already pointed to the support around him. He named Dan Neil and Ben Godfrey as fellow experienced players at Rangers who have previously captained other clubs, suggesting the dressing room will not be short of leadership voices.

For Rangers fans, the idea of a boyhood supporter leading the team out carries a particular charge. Shankland's own words — that captaining the club exceeded his dream of playing for it — frame the appointment as something personal as well as professional.

The job now is straightforward to state and hard to do: match the trophy haul of the man who wore the armband before him.