Ally McCoist insists it will be journey complete if Steven Gerrard can steer Rangers back into the Champions League proper.
The Ibrox boss has driven the Light Blues back to the top of Scottish football after a turbulent decade.
Now Gers hero McCoist reckons the club’s faithful will finally be able to put those 10 years of hurt in the rearview mirror if Gerrard’s team can motor into the group stage of Europe’s premier competition.
Rangers kick off their quest to regain a place at the continent’s top table on Tuesday night against Malmo in Sweden.
But they have received a major boost in their bid to qualify for the group stage for the first time since 2010 after swerving a rematch with last year’s controversial opponents Slavia Prague and Austrian cracks FC Salzburg during the draw for the play-off round was made on Monday.
Instead, a win over Malmo would see Gerrard’s side take on either Olympiacos or Ludogorets.
Now McCoist - the man in charge when Rangers set off on the long road back following the club’s 2012 financial collapse - believes his old side are on the right route under Gerrard.
“It would mean everything (to get back to the group stage),” said the club’s all-time record goalscorer. “To see the club back in the group stages of the Champions League, well that would be it for me.
“We are 99 per cent back. All Rangers fans were greetin’ last year when we won the title.
“Let’s not kid ourselves, we were all in tears.
“It was an amazing experience, I had a wee chat with Walter Smith and it meant so much to us all.
“But get us back into the Champions League and the good times will definitely be back.
“Of that there is no doubt and for me that would complete the journey.
“I would be so pleased and proud to see the club back in the Champions League.”
