Ross McCrorie is adamant Derek McInnes has the qualities to be a success at Rangers, saying the manager was the number one reason he returned to Ibrox.
The 28-year-old defender had options in England after Bristol City triggered a contract extension but the prospect of linking up with his old boss again proved decisive.
“The biggest thing for me was the gaffer,” said McCrorie, who played under McInnes at Aberdeen for three seasons.
“I had a good few offers in England but as soon as the gaffer got the job here I knew he was the man to take this club forward.”
McCrorie first joined Rangers as a nine-year-old and made his debut in September 2017.
He played more than 50 matches before making the decision to move on to Aberdeen in 2020, with some coaxing from McInnes.
“The gaffer was the one who gave me that belief to step up and leave Rangers,” recalled the Scotland international.
“I wanted to be the main man and get games under my belt to unlock the talent I knew I had.
“The gaffer came out to my house and persuaded me to go up to Aberdeen and I had a great three years up there.”
McCrorie made 115 appearances for the Dons, playing in a variety of positions and captaining the side on occasions before he left for Bristol City in 2023.
Describing McInnes as a “great man-manager” and “a real leader”, McCrorie remembered an “us against the world mentality” from his time at Pittodrie.
“He makes you want to run through brick walls for him,” he added.
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