Kyle Hutton has praised Steven Gerrard for bringing the glory days back to Rangers and blowing Celtic out of the water this season.
The ex-Ibrox midfielder tasted title success the last time Rangers won the top flight in 2010/11 and was part of Ally McCoist's squad that was sent down to the Third Division following the club's liquidation in 2012.
So watching his old club celebrate a first title win in almost 10 years on Sunday was an emotional moment for the 30-year-old, who is now plying his trade in the Lowland League with East Kilbride.
And the Cambuslang man has heaped praise on Gerrard for making Rangers a formidable force again domestically and in Europe.
Rangers have won the league with six games to spare and without losing match, as well as reaching the last 16 of the Europa League.
Hutton told Lanarkshire Live Sport : "It's great it has finally happened. It's been a long time coming.
"Way back then when we played in the Third Division, we were told it would take a long time to get back to the Premiership.
"We knew it would be a few years to get back to the top league, but I didn't think it would take as long as this to win the league again.
"Obviously there's been a few decisions down the line - managers such as Pedro Caixinha - and you just think who made that decision?
"But just at the right time, they've got the right man in Steven Gerrard and it was the perfect time to stop Celtic getting the 10.
"Rangers have been outstanding under him this season.
"Obviously some people will say Celtic haven't been great, but it's not because of that, it's because Rangers have been brilliant.
"They've proved it in Europe as well and I can't believe just how good they have been in Europe.
"It seems there's a whole togetherness there now and hopefully they can carry this forward for a good few years now."
Hutton won four trophies during a five-year spell at Ibrox either side of the club's liquidation in 2012 and made over 30 appearances in the Third Division season that sent Rangers on their way back to glory.
The Ibrox side completed their return to the top of Scottish football on Sunday, as they were crowned champions for a 55th time when Celtic failed to beat Dundee United.
Since leaving Ibrox, Hutton has played for Partick Thistle, Dumbarton and now East Kilbride, where he has linked up with Rangers legend Ian Durrant.
Durrant is assistant to Stevie Aitken, but Hutton admitted he didn't even bother wasting his time trying to get a hold of the Ibrox hero amid the celebrations.
Hutton, now a site-coordinator for a railway software solutions firm, joked: "I've not spoken to Durranty, but I'm sure if I did get a hold of him I don't think I'd have got much sense out of him.
"I'm sure he'd have had a right few good pints in him or whatever.
"But I'll give a few of the Rangers boys I still know there a text.
"It was great. I didn't manage to make it down to George Square or anything because I was working, but I'm delighted we are champions again.
"All my mates sent me some of the daft videos and when the news came through that the final whistle had went at Tannadice at 0-0 it was brilliant.
"There's been a lot of tough moments for the fans during that - especially having to watch me play for them! - but I'm just delighted for everyone involved at the club, everyone in the background as well."
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