Gerrard is now revolutionising Rangers just like Souness did in 1986, says Terry Butcher

TERRY BUTCHER believes a Rangers win at Celtic Park next Sunday would justify the Steven Gerrard revolution in one fell swoop.

As the Light Blues skipper in the second half of the 1980s, the England icon led the club to three league titles plus two League Cups in the space of four seasons.

He insists the platform for that success was laid in an early Old Firm victory, which convinced everyone involved in the even more dramatic regime change under Graeme Souness that they had done the right thing.

Thirty-two years on, Butcher senses the potential for a similar era-defining success under the charge of another Liverpool legend.

“I think there certainly are parallels between 1986 and now,” he said.

“The first one is the whole feeling of change and renewed optimism about the place.

“The feeling that things are moving in the right direction again, and that Ibrox is a place where people want to come to play because this is a club for winners.

“And a big part of that, of course, is down to the manager.

“In 1986, we had a huge name – and a huge presence – up from England in the shape of Graeme Souness.

“He was the one who got us all on board, brought us up to be part of his project, which revolutionised Rangers as a club and transformed the face of Scottish football.

“It is very similar with Steven Gerrard for a number of reasons.

“There is the Liverpool connection, of course, the fact they were both in their 30s moving into their first managerial role and, most of all, their status as huge figures in the game.

“A lot of people in England I know couldn’t believe Stevie had taken the job. They said: ‘Why would he want to do that?

“But, like Graeme, he knows what he is doing.

“He has assessed the size of the club, the potential of the club, the fan-base and thought – as he said – let’s go!

“Again like Souness, he has been clever in that he has appointed an experienced hand as his No. 2 in the shape of Gary McAllister.

“I think Gary can do the sort of the job for Steven that Walter Smith did for Graeme. He can be an excellent guide through the experience.

“At least to an extent. Nothing will prepare him for the game at Celtic Park.

“Nothing will ever prepare you for what the derby throws at you.

“I always said the Old Firm derby was like a season in one game because of its significance in terms of your situation.

“That will apply even more so when it is your first taste of the fixture as a manager of one of the sides.

“It will be an incredibly-intense learning experience for Steven.

“Our first derby came at Ibrox a few weeks in, and we won it 1-0, Ian Durrant finishing off from Davie Cooper’s pass and it was fantastic.

“It justified everything – Graeme’s decision to come up, the decision of myself and all the other lads to get on board, the optimism of the fans.

“If Steven can lead Rangers to a win at Celtic Park, then I think it will provide the same kind of justification for all the work that has been done over the last few months.”

Butcher, whose love affair with Scotland included spells managing Motherwell, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hibs, stresses there is one important caveat to be made.

“We do have to remember there is one big difference. Back in 1986, Graeme had a lot more money to play with than Steven does now,” the 59-year-old continued.

“Rangers were paying top whack to get the very best players, guys Celtic couldn’t have afforded to buy, and that gave us a big advantage.

“I think Steven has done very well in terms of his recruitment.

“He has stealthily brought lots of good-quality players in, and moved out lots of guys who were probably at a stage when a move elsewhere was the best option all round.

“You can also argue he has one big advantage over Graeme in that he hasn’t come north as a player-manager.

“I had to combine the roles at Sunderland and Coventry City and, believe me, it really is Mission Impossible.

“There is just too much going on. A manager has to be able to concentrate on doing just that.”

“The other thing I have always believed in is the importance of getting off to a good start, and Stevie has done that.

“I remember Martin O’Neill speaking to me before he went up to Celtic, and I said: ‘Win your first few games because after that it can become like a snowball rolling downhill – nothing can stop you’.

“So Rangers are in a good position – and it is about time!

“However, we are talking an oranges-and-apples situation because it is not comparing like with like.

“Celtic are comfortably the best team in Scotland under Brendan Rodgers, who has some excellent players at his disposal.

“Can Rangers beat Celtic in this first derby? It will be tough but I think it is certainly possible.

“Without doubt, I would expect them to acquit themselves well, to go there with their heads held high, and to play like the team who have made a more-than-decent start to the season, which, of course, they have.”

Butcher reckons much could depend on the performance of central-defensive partnership, Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic.

“I have been extremely impressed by them. Both by the guys as individual players and as a central-defensive unit,” he continued.

“I think you have to bring Allan McGregor into the equation as well.

“He is exceptionally solid and will have given Connor and Nikola confidence that if a striker gets by them, all is not lost because they will still have a great goalkeeper to beat.

“The same will hold true for Allan as well. He will be getting the benefit of having a very-solid central defence in front of him.

“Connor, in particular, though, is a smashing young player and a great signing.

“I have heard people comparing him to myself and, again, as with Steven and Graeme, I do think there are a lot of similarities.

“We were both brought up to do the same job, basically – to defend, to organise and to lead.

“We are both English, and Connor attacks the game in the same sort of way I did.

“I think he has a brilliant future at Rangers under Steven.

“I only hope he doesn’t break a leg and end up with a criminal record the same way I did!”

The last comment referred to actions taken against him by the authorities in the wake of a tumultuous 2-2 draw with Celtic in October, 1987, which ended up in Glasgow Sherriff Court.

Happily, Butcher’s return to the city next month will be a much-happier affair.

He is the on-stage guest of honour at A Night With Paul Gascoigne & Friends events in two weeks’ time.

“I wasn’t lucky enough to play alongside Paul at Rangers, but we played together for England many times so I can tell you he is a fantastic guy, as well as having been an amazing footballer,” said Butcher.

“The highlight, of course, was reaching the World Cup semi-finals together in 1990 in Italy under the charge of Bobby Robson.

“He was the manager who really got the best out of Gazza. He was world-class in that tournament,” he added.

“As you would imagine, he was up to all sorts and I had to ban him from my room because he kept breaking in and stealing all my chocolate!

“And, let me tell you, on the night before a match, a big bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk was like gold dust.

“It will be great to see him at the dinner, and I am sure all the people who come along will relish his company because he is man who is always full of fun.”

For tickets to An Evening With Paul Gascoigne & Friends at Edinburgh’s EICC (Sept 8) and Hilton Glasgow (Sept 9) see thelongestforty.com or call 07725 850915.