Robin Propper says Sam Lammers told him to sign for Rangers – despite move in opposite direction

HE might be a surprise candidate as a Rangers cheerleader.

But Robin Propper has revealed Sam Lammers gave him a glowing recommendation about playing at Ibrox.

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Lammers quit Rangers last month after a disastrous spell where he managed just two goals for the club.

But nevertheless Propper — signed from Twente earlier this month — says he had nothing but praise for life in Scotland.

The 30-year-old, who has now swapped clubs with Twente-bound Lammers, said: “I spoke to a few people before I came, to do the research. I played with Cyriel Dessers at Heracles and against him many times, so I called him directly.

“I spoke to Sam and, of course, I spoke to the coach a few times. The players told me all about the fans — what they want and want to achieve.

“Sam told me how big the stadium is, how loud the fans are — there were only good things about that.

“With Sam, it’s normal in football that pressure is there, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t.

“I have to concentrate on the things I can do and try to do my best.

“I also spoke with my brother Davy. He was at Brighton. It was also a big move for him and his family when he came to the UK.

“I spoke with my girlfriend and my sister-in-law too.

“He talked about how different British football is and the steps we have to make. But he was positive about football in the UK.”

Propper — who has played all his career in Holland — at De Graafschap and Heracles before being skipper at Twente — is expected to take the central defensive role vacated by Connor Goldson.

He said: “He did some good things and I’ll try to be a leader in the team and to lead the players around me.

“I did that a little bit in Holland. It has to be the normal thing to do in defence.

“I try to help every player around me. I do my stuff in the gym to show the young guys what you might have to do, to make better steps.

“I’m more of a role model for the rest of the team. I tried to do that in Holland and I’ll try to do that here.

“In my career I tried to move step by step, and I think I waited for the right option to go abroad.

“I was confident that it was going to happen.

“There were a few times earlier in my career when it was a possibility, but it wasn’t the right club for me.

“Sometimes the club wants something, sometimes the player wants something and it doesn’t happen.

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“But I’m really glad to be here now and I focus on that. I was 12 years in Holland, in a good competition, and I really liked it.

“But it was always a dream for me and my family to go and play in a new stadium, in a new country, make new friends — it was something we wanted to do one time.

“And when Rangers came along it was a no-brainer.

“I know that at Rangers there have been many Dutch players here — and Dutch coaches as well.

“It was nice to see that a few big players had played here and made history here.

“The history is so great here. It’s nice to see a club like Rangers that has won so many prizes. I want to be part of that — that’s why I came, to try to achieve that.”

Propper has yet to see any action this season, though he was on the bench in the midweek Champions League draw with Dynamo Kyiv, but says he’s good to go when needed.

He said: “I did all my pre-season work at FC Twente to prepare — five or six weeks and some friendly matches.

“It’s nice to see what the difference is between here and Holland. I’m new so I’m learning what to do to become a player in the first-team squad.

“The football here is a lot quicker, the passes are in front of you and you have to realise it’s not building up easily.

“Sometimes in Holland, you have more time so I have to be ready for that.

“I’m the kind of player who wants to build play — I can pass on the left or right. I want to work hard for the team and I’ll do anything to help my teammates.

“I know we play at Hampden this weekend. It’s a big stadium, but it’s not Ibrox. It’s a big stadium and I can see a lot of fans cheering us on.

“I know the history of the club and what the club wants. We have to take it step by step but that means we have to win our games.”

Ironically, if Rangers qualify against Kyiv on Tuesday they could face his former club Twente in the Champions League play-off round, with the Dutch outfit 2-1 down after last week’s first leg away to RB Salzburg.

He said: “It would be crazy to play them. But it would be nice because it would mean both clubs won their ties.

“We will concentrate on our own game — but it would be nice to see my old team-mates.”

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