Kenny Miller, one of the most iconic figures of Scottish football, is still going strong at the age of 39. The veteran joined the Championship outfit Partick Thistle in the summer window but is remembered as the one who featured for both Rangers and Celtic in the recent past.
There have not been many who played for both the Old Firm rivals in their illustrious career. Miller’s move to Parkhead back in 2006 was a subject to criticism and controversy, but the Scotsman has recently opened up on the matter. He cited the temptation of Champions League football as one of the reasons why he joined the Hoops after five successful years at Wolves since leaving the Gers.
“I felt going to Celtic at that time and playing in the Champions League. I had a wee taste of it with Rangers, but I had only played one game.
“That year, it was a successful year. It was the last 16 of the Champions League, a title and a Scottish Cup.
“I scored goals in the Champions League as well.
“I got a couple of goals against Benfica and the winning goal against Copenhagen.”
Miller told the Football Daft podcast (as quoted by the Scottish Sun) and revealed how ‘headstrong’ he was during the transfer having represented Rangers before.
He, however, spent only one year at Celtic before plying his trade to England once again to experience the charm of Premier League football with the newly promoted Derby County. But a relegation saw Miller returning to Govan next summer where he spent the most successful stint of his playing days.
Not only did he clinch three successive league titles but also a couple of Cup triumphs before joining Bursaspor. A brief yet successful spell in Turkey earned him a move back to English second tier with Cardiff City. The Scotland international then completed a transfer to MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps FC before being roped in by Rangers for the third time in his career.
The Bears were then struggling for revival, and Miller played a crucial role in Rangers’ return to the top tier of Scottish football. However, his final days at Ibrox were contentious having been suspended by the club following an altercation with the then manager Graham Murty. Ironically, the repercussion was the outcome of a devastating 4–0 defeat to Celtic in the 2017–18 Scottish Cup semi-final.
