Rangers players knew a whirlwind was about to hit the dressing room as soon as Graeme Souness first breezed in – armed with a hairdryer, a perm and a fearsome moustache.
Defying all convention the player-boss wasted no time in setting out his stall, on and off the park at Ibrox.
Dave MacKinnon only spent two months under Souness before going part-time at Airdrie as he fought back from injury.
Even though his Rangers career ended sooner than he’d hoped after more than 100 games, he could not help but be impressed by Souness.
He said: “Graeme arrived on the first day and at that time Rangers were all about tradition.
“Players had to come in with a collar and tie, we had to tie our socks up in training, we weren’t allowed facial hair - it was pretty strict.
“Everyone accepted that.
“Then Graeme burst in with a moustache, a perm and his socks at his ankles! One of the first things he asked me was ‘where do I plug in this hairdryer?’
“Training was brilliant. He had us doing Italian warm-ups focusing on stretching because he had been at Sampdoria.
“He would then set up a 40-yard game, eight against eight.
“One player, who I won’t name, decided he’d show his enthusiasm a bit too much with a real bad tackle on Graeme that cut his leg.
“As soon as play started again the aforementioned player got put up in the air.
“Graeme said ‘has everyone learned a lesson here today?’
“That was it. Everybody knew he had a presence and demanded respect.”
Always one to play for the jersey, MacKinnon ensured he left Ibrox with it too after making his final appearance six weeks after Souness’ arrival.
He said: “I played in Jock Wallace’s last game - the 4-4 draw with Celtic - despite having an operation 10 days before. But my knee popped again.
“Graeme came in a few weeks later and said ‘I need you playing’.
“My last game was against Celtic in the Glasgow Cup Final. We won 3-2. I had been wearing number four jersey and I wanted to take it home.
“Me and the physio Bob Findlay were fighting over this jersey in the marble halls of Ibrox. Him pulling it and me pulling it. I decided to launch into my final slide tackle at the famous old ground.
“That was it over. I left Ibrox with my shirt, my boots and got paid until the end of the month.”
