James Tavernier (cropped)

James Henry Tavernier (; born 31 October 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Rangers, where he is club captain.

After starting at the Leeds United Academy, he began his professional career at Newcastle United, spending most of his tenure on loans at six lower level clubs, including winning the League One playoffs with Rotherham United. In 2014, he signed for Wigan Athletic, where by his own admission, he struggled. He spent the second half of his only Wigan season on loan at Bristol City, playing more consistently as they won League One.

Tavernier signed for Rangers in 2015, winning two trophies in his first season. He scored the goal that won Rangers the Scottish Championship, and was man of the match as they won the Scottish Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup the following season. He was the top scorer as they finished runners-up in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League. He has made over 400 appearances for the club, scoring over 100 goals, and was PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year in 2021. He was inducted to Rangers Hall of Fame in 2023. In March 2024, Tavernier became the highest scoring defender in British professional football history.

Career

Leeds United

Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Tavernier joined the Leeds United youth system at the age of nine after being picked up from local club Farsley Celtic. He spent six seasons at Leeds, playing a season in goal before moving to a central midfield role.

Newcastle United

Tavernier moved to Newcastle United in 2008. He made his first-team debut in a 2–0 defeat against Peterborough United in the League Cup third round on 22 September 2009, playing the full 90 minutes.

On 7 January 2011, Tavernier joined Gateshead of the Conference Premier, along with Newcastle teammate Jóan Símun Edmundsson, on a 28-day loan. He made his debut the next day, in a 1–1 home draw against Kidderminster Harriers. Afterwards, his loan deal at the club was extended until 9 April. Gateshead manager Ian Bogie commented by saying Tavernier had a big future in the game. He was recalled by Newcastle on 24 March because of a suspension picked up by defensive cover player James Perch in a reserve team game. Tavernier appeared on the bench for Newcastle's 4–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 2 April.

On 11 August 2011, Tavernier joined League One team Carlisle United on an initial one-month loan that was extended to mid-November a month later. Just like his Gateshead counterpart, Carlisle manager Greg Abbott was impressed by Tavernier. He came back to Newcastle after a successful loan spell during which he made 17 appearances. Tavernier joined fellow third-tier team Sheffield Wednesday on 21 November, on loan until 9 January 2012. On 31 January 2012, Tavernier joined a third League One team, Milton Keynes Dons, on loan until the end of the season. His loan spell was cut short when Alan Pardew recalled him in April.

Tavernier made his European debut on 23 August 2012, playing the entirety of Newcastle's 1–1 draw at Atromitos in UEFA Europa League qualification. He totalled seven appearances for the team across four competitions that season, making his Premier League debut on 29 September by coming on for Steven Taylor in the 56th minute of a 2–2 draw away to Reading. Tavernier joined Shrewsbury Town on 26 July 2013 on an initial month-long loan, but returned to his parent club early having aggravated a pre-existing metatarsal injury. He joined Rotherham United on 28 November 2013 on a short-term emergency loan deal. Two days later on his debut at the New York Stadium, he scored his first career goal to conclude a 4–1 win over Gillingham. He totalled five goals in 27 games – all starts – including both on 29 March 2014 in a 2–1 win over Bristol City. He won promotion to the Championship with Rotherham, beating Leyton Orient on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May.

Wigan Athletic

Tavernier signed for Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee on 28 June 2014. He made his Championship debut on 9 August, replacing Don Cowie for the final 18 minutes of a 2–2 draw with Reading at the DW Stadium in the first game of the season.

Tavernier signed for League One club Bristol City on 15 January 2015, on loan for the remainder of the season. He scored three times in 12 games for the champion Robins, including two on 14 April in a 6–0 win at his hometown team Bradford City. He also helped them win the 2014–15 Football League Trophy, for the final of which he was on the bench.

Rangers

2015–2018: Arrival and promotion

On 20 July 2015, Tavernier and Wigan teammate Martyn Waghorn both signed three-year contracts with the then Scottish Championship club Rangers for a transfer fee of £200,000. He scored on his debut five days later from a free kick in a 6–2 win at Hibernian in the first round of the Scottish Challenge Cup in the same round of the Scottish League Cup at Ibrox Stadium.

He scored his first league goal for Rangers in a 5–1 win over Alloa Athletic on 16 August. Tavernier scored again for Rangers from an edge-of-the-box free kick against Hibernian a week later, putting Rangers on top of the Championship; he was awarded the division's Player of the Month for August and his manager Mark Warburton also received the Manager of the Month award.

In October, having scored nine goals by that stage in the season, Tavernier admitted that he and Waghorn had been short of confidence before moving to Rangers, due to the inconsistency and squad rotation at Wigan. On 5 April 2016, he scored the only goal of the home win over Dumbarton that gave the team the title and promotion back to the top flight after a four-year absence. Five days later in the Challenge Cup Final at Hampden Park, he netted a long-range volley in the first half of a 4–0 victory against Peterhead, and was named man of the match. On 17 April, in a Scottish Cup rivals Celtic, he missed in the penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw, but Rangers nonetheless won 5–4.

After a strong first season, Rangers offered Tavernier a new contract which he rejected, with media reports citing the financial rewards were not good enough. On 19 July, Tavernier agreed a new contract extension with Rangers and signed a deal until May 2019 two days later.

2018–present: Captaincy and Premiership title

In July 2018, ahead of the 2018–19 season, Tavernier was appointed new club captain by new manager Steven Gerrard. In their first match as manager and captain, he scored in a 2–0 win against FK Shkupi in the Europa League at Ibrox on 12 July.

In March 2019, Tavernier was confronted by a Hibernian supporter during a Scottish Premiership match at Easter Road. Cameron Mack, a 21-year-old man from Port Seton in East Lothian, jumped over the advertising boards and approached Tavernier before being led away by police and stewards and arrested. Mack was later banned from attending any football ground in Scotland after pleading guilty to breach of the peace at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

In October 2019, Tavernier was defended by Gerrard after missing his third penalty of the season.

During the 2020–21 season, Rangers had their best defensive start to a Scottish Premiership campaign, keeping seven consecutive clean sheets. As of 8 December 2020 they had conceded only three goals in the league whilst scoring 45, and also progressed from their Europa League group; Tavernier contributed heavily to both the defensive record and attacking returns, with 16 goals and 11 assists in all competitions by that point. He was the league's Player of the Month in September and November. Rangers went on to win the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership, which was their first Scottish league title since 2011. Tavernier won the PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year

On 6 April 2021, Tavernier signed a new three-year contract. He made his 300th Rangers appearance on 25 September in a 1–0 win at Dundee, having 66 goals by that point. In February 2022, he scored a penalty to open a 4–2 win at Borussia Dortmund in the last 32 of the Europa League, and scored both Rangers goals in a draw in the second leg to advance. He netted another brace on 14 April, as the team won 3–1 at home to Braga after extra time to make the semi-finals, where he scored against RB Leipzig. He was the top scorer with seven goals as the team finished runners-up to Eintracht Frankfurt and netted Rangers' first attempt in the penalty shootout loss in the final. He was the first defender to be top scorer in a European season since Ronald Koeman for FC Barcelona in the 1993–94 UEFA Champions League.

On 17 December 2023, Tavernier scored in the only goal in the Scottish League Cup final as Rangers defeated Aberdeen at Hampden; it was his 14th goal in the fixture (all others coming in the Scottish Premiership), tying him with Ally McCoist and Derek Johnstone as the all-time top scorer.Player Records (Filtered) Most Goals [Filter: Vs Aberdeen
FitbaStats (Rangers). Retrieved 19 December 2023

On 30 March 2024, Tavernier scored against Hibernian in a league tie at home at Ibrox to become the "highest-scoring defender in British football history". His 131st senior goal surpassed the previous record held by Ibrox Stadium">Ibrox to become the "highest-scoring defender in British football history". His 131st senior goal surpassed the previous record held by Graham Alexander.

Personal life

Tavernier's younger brother Marcus Tavernier">Marcus is also a professional footballer who plays for English Premier League club AFC Bournemouth as a midfielder. Tavarnier is of Jamaican descent through his mother.

Career statistics

Honours

Rotherham United
*Football League One play-offs: 2014

Bristol City
*Football League One: 2014–15
*Football League Trophy: 2014–15

Rangers
*Scottish Premiership: 2020–21
*Scottish Cup