NIKO KRANJČAR JOINS RANGERS FC
The New York Cosmos announced today that attacking midfielder Niko Kranjčar, who signed with the club for its 2016 North American Soccer League (NASL) Spring Season, has joined Scottish side Rangers FC. Croatian playmaker moves to the Scottish Premiership after completing his Spring Season contract with the Cosmos.
“We agreed to a contract with Niko for the duration of the Spring Season,” said Cosmos Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover. “He showed his class by giving maximum effort on the field and representing the club well off it. Any club is lucky to have a player and person like him.”
“It was a pleasure having Niko with us in preseason and during our Spring Season,” said Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese. “He’s a true professional that brought quality to our squad. I wish him all the best at one of Scotland’s most storied clubs.” Kranjčar made seven appearances and six starts for New York in the Spring Season, scoring one goal and adding an assist in 404 minutes.
“Everyone at the club, including the coaches, players and staff made me feel very welcomed,” Kranjčar said. “I really enjoyed my time with the Cosmos, and remain grateful to Gio for presenting me with the opportunity and I feel very fortunate to have played alongside a great group of guys.” Kranjčar was an integral playmaker for then-English Premier League side Portsmouth FC during the club’s FA Cup-winning 2007-08 campaign. He has represented his country at every level, first as a U-16 player in 2000, and debuted for Croatia’s senior national team in 2004. He has 81 caps and 16 goals to date.
The 31-year-old Zagreb native spent six seasons in England split between Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 20 goals in 155 league appearances while playing under manager Harry Redknapp at both stops. In 2013 Kranjčar reunited with Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers on loan from Dynamo Kyiv, helping QPR achieve promotion to the Premier League via a Championship Playoff Final win against Derby County on May 24, 2014.
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