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Leon Balogun revels in Rangers reward from Philippe Clement after 'tough weeks' on the outside left him wondering

The Nigeria international returned for a second Ibrox spell in the summer but barely featured under Michael Beale.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 05: Rangers' Leon Balogun celebrates at full time during a Viaplay Cup semi-final match between Heart of Midlothian and Rangers at Hampden Park, on November 05, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

You probably had to be there to get a true feel for the sheer exasperation of it all.

But Philippe Clement could hardly have made his utter bemusement over the decision making of Michael Beale any more clear. “On Thursday we have a really big game,” mused the Belgian in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s Viaplay Cup semi final win over Hearts. He then added: “We also miss some players that I cannot select because they are not on the European list, that I didn’t make in the beginning of the season. It is again a puzzle.”


That he stopped just short of asking what on earth his predecessor was thinking about didn’t dilute the message. Leon Balogun has probably been thinking something very similar ever since returning to Rangers in the summer, at a time when Beale was taking a scattergun to the transfer market.


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At times, the big Nigerian must have wondered if he’s been coming or going given the way his two stints at Ibrox have worked out. Shown the door against his will by Giovanni van Bronckhorst despite helping the club reach a European final in May 2022 and win its last piece of silverware in the Scottish Cup Final a few days later.

Then unexpectedly brought back in by Beale two years later only to be made to feel like an unwanted fringe man within a matter of weeks - jettisoned from the very Europa League squad which is now causing Clement such obvious consternation. And yet there he was at Hampden on Sunday, in the heart of Clement’s defence, hardly putting a foot wrong as Rangers romped their way back to the national stadium for a showpiece final against Aberdeen on December 17.

That’s two games on the trot for Balogun who was given a surprise start by Clement last week at Dens Park but who must now return to the sidelines for Thursday’s Group C clash with Sparta Prague. At the age of 35, he’s been around the block more often than he cares to remember - and he’s way too respectful and well mannered to say what he really feels. But even so, much like Clement, he too seems completely bamboozled by what was going through Beale’s head as the Englishman took a flamethrower to his own managerial career.

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Balogun said: “I am very, very happy at the moment. I am coming off the back of quite some tough weeks, shall we say. I found myself out of the active squad, not the whole squad completely. So to come back from that I am just really, really grateful. I am so happy I was able to capitalise on my chance. I’m just looking forward now.

“Of course, it was a predicament where you do start to think. I’m a bit on the older side now, so I have seen pretty much everything. I did think to myself, ‘OK, yeah, let’s see how this goes.’ But if you look throughout my whole career I have hit many, many setbacks, many obstacles. I was never one to stick my head in the sand and give up. So I just stayed patient and tried to do my thing in training. I tried to be there for the boys and I was needed last Wednesday. I stepped up and I was rewarded.”

Rangers' Leon Balogun (Image: SNS Group)

There was no heart-to-heart with Clement. No outpouring of self pity from Balogun either even though he had reason to feel hard done by. From the day the new boss arrived, Balogun sensed that life under Clement would be full of business.

Asked if he had held discussions with Beale’s replacement the defender said: “I actually don’t think that’s in his nature. He spoke to the whole squad and said that if you work hard that everyone will get their chance. He’s very clear, which I like. That’s why everyone is on their toes, you feel as though you don’t really have a guarantee.

“The manager said that if you work hard and the ones who haven’t been playing, if you show me in training there will be a moment. I needed to be ready. You could probably say I had a point to prove, but that’s not how I felt. I just thought, ‘You know what? This is my time to play for my club again.’


“That’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to do well for myself and represent the badge well too. I showed people I can still do it, but I didn’t go into the games thinking I had a point to prove. If you think like that you can put more pressure on yourself. I was just enjoying the chance and I am grabbing it with both hands.

“Now we have a final to look forward to and that feels good. When I walked out onto the pitch I thought to myself, ‘It’s nice to be back again’. I am happy we have made it through. The club hasn’t won it in 12 years so obviously it is massive. If I was to be involved in that having come back for a second spell then I would be happy beyond measure.”

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The confidence Clement is currently showing in him - coupled with the manager’s clear frustration at having to do without him on Thursday night - suggests Balogun may very well be back in the frame when that final does come around. Certainly, it feels for now as if a relationship between the pair is beginning to blossom.

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Balogun went on: “He’s very demanding. If you look at his stature and his presence it’s different and that is not a dig at Mick Beale. They are just two completely different characters and he’s got everyone on their toes. I wouldn’t say it’s fearful, it’s not intimidating. But you look at him and you think, ‘OK, let me make sure I’m on my A game here’. He asks for standards the whole time and he comes across as quite strict. But he gives you a good level of confidence. He wants you to go at it all the time.”

Balogun was ready when required. And, this time, he might just be hanging around for a while.

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