Jermain Defoe leaves his player-coach role at Rangers
![Jermain Defoe leaves his playercoach role at Rangers](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=%2Fuploads%2Fnews%2F30%2F3077%2F7%2F3077723-jermain-defoe-leaves-his-player-coach-role-at-rangers.jpg&w=750&hash=60f7b4f9bf0ce387a8b654794ba1966e)
Jermain Defoe pens emotional message to Rangers fans following Ibrox departure just months after he signed a player-coach contract, before mentor Steven Gerrard quit - and Giovanni van Bronckhorst then dumped the striker from his staff
- Jermain Defoe took up the player-coach role when he signed a new contract
- 39-year-old striker was part of Steven Gerrard's staff but he left for Aston Villa
- New manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst brought in his own coaching staff
- Ex-England international has found game time limited at Ibrox this season
- Defoe has appeared as a Sky Sports pundit this season as Rangers were playing
By Adam Shergold for MailOnline
Published: 11:53 GMT, 12 January 2022 | Updated: 18:56 GMT, 12 January 2022
Jermain Defoe has left his player-coach role at Rangers just weeks after his former England team-mate Steven Gerrard departed to become Aston Villa manager.
The 39-year-old striker has been at Ibrox since January 2019 and signed a one-year contract extension last summer which included a provision for him to join the club's coaching staff.
Accordingly, Defoe has made only two Scottish Premiership appearances so far this season, both as a late substitute and amounting to only a few minutes of action.
![Jermain Defoe has left Rangers, where he had recently taken up a player-coach role](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F11%2F52835621-10394169-image-m-65_1641988243512.jpg&w=728&hash=839ddf09039c960e519a99bb5da7a182)
![Jermain Defoe has left Rangers, where he had recently taken up a player-coach role](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F11%2F52835621-10394169-image-m-65_1641988243512.jpg&w=728&hash=839ddf09039c960e519a99bb5da7a182)
Jermain Defoe has left Rangers, where he had recently taken up a player-coach role
![The 39-year-old has found playing opportunities limited at the Ibrox club this season](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F11%2F52835613-10394169-image-a-66_1641988275846.jpg&w=728&hash=79be9b557d48353a42a3b201603702d7)
![The 39-year-old has found playing opportunities limited at the Ibrox club this season](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F11%2F52835613-10394169-image-a-66_1641988275846.jpg&w=728&hash=79be9b557d48353a42a3b201603702d7)
The 39-year-old has found playing opportunities limited at the Ibrox club this season
Indeed, Defoe has appeared as a studio pundit on Sky's coverage of the Premier League at the same time that Rangers have been playing.
On October 24 last year, he was in the Sky studio for the West Ham vs Tottenham game just hours after Rangers played at St Mirren.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has since been appointed as Gerrard's successor and he brought in Dave Vos, Roy Makaay and Arno Phillips to bolster the existing coaching set-up, leaving no room for Defoe.
'From the moment I arrived at Ibrox in January 2018, I was blown away by the sheer magnitude of Rangers Football Club,' he wrote on Instagram in an emotional message.
'There are so many people to thank. From team-mates, coaches and staff, to the fans who have given me so so much love and support from the very first day.
'Winning my first ever league title last season was one of my career highlights, and making it 55 title wins at this club makes it even more special. A season I will simply never forget and memories I will cherish forever.
'Rangers Football Club will forever hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for everything and good luck for the rest of the season. WATP.'
Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson said: 'Jermain has made a significant contribution to Rangers over the last number of seasons.
'Even in the ‘twilight years’ of his career, he has shown the expert movement and finishing ability that took him to the very top in his career.
![Steven Gerrard (right) made Defoe part of his coaching team but then departed for Aston Villa](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F12%2F52837407-10394169-image-a-97_1641991779087.jpg&w=728&hash=3e867f5ce4d8831b0faf1ece939930cc)
![Steven Gerrard (right) made Defoe part of his coaching team but then departed for Aston Villa](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F12%2F52837407-10394169-image-a-97_1641991779087.jpg&w=728&hash=3e867f5ce4d8831b0faf1ece939930cc)
Steven Gerrard (right) made Defoe part of his coaching team but then departed for Aston Villa
'His contribution within the training centre was excellent, as he became a role model for his peers, showing professionalism on a daily basis.
'I was particularly pleased that he leaves with a league championship winning medal. It has been a privilege to have an England international of his quality within our group and we wish him well for the future.'
Rangers will also strengthen their attacking options when Cedric Itten is recalled from his loan at Bundesliga club Greuther Furth this month but his return is unrelated to Defoe's departure.
Defoe, who scored 20 goals in 57 appearances for England between 2004 and 2017, was a Bournemouth player when he was initially loaned to Rangers in 2019.
![Defoe helped Gerrard's Rangers team win the Scottish Premiership title last season](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F11%2F52835615-10394169-image-a-67_1641988301235.jpg&w=728&hash=b1a54d3b91d7ceca989ca45ed1afaa02)
![Defoe helped Gerrard's Rangers team win the Scottish Premiership title last season](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F11%2F52835615-10394169-image-a-67_1641988301235.jpg&w=728&hash=b1a54d3b91d7ceca989ca45ed1afaa02)
Defoe helped Gerrard's Rangers team win the Scottish Premiership title last season
![Defoe celebrates scoring in the 4-1 Old Firm derby win over Celtic at Ibrox back in May](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F11%2F52835617-10394169-image-a-68_1641988325388.jpg&w=728&hash=6ae83bd777c0a3c4b45c845119490141)
![Defoe celebrates scoring in the 4-1 Old Firm derby win over Celtic at Ibrox back in May](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2F1s%2F2022%2F01%2F12%2F11%2F52835617-10394169-image-a-68_1641988325388.jpg&w=728&hash=6ae83bd777c0a3c4b45c845119490141)
Defoe celebrates scoring in the 4-1 Old Firm derby win over Celtic at Ibrox back in May
That move was made permanent when his Bournemouth contract expired in June 2020, with Defoe scoring 32 goals in 74 games for the club in total.
He helped them win a first Premiership title in a decade last season, netting four goals in 15 league outings.
Van Bronckhorst has Rangers on course to defend their Premiership title as they sit six points clear of Old Firm rivals Celtic ahead of the post-winter break resumption next week.
They face Stirling Albion in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup later this month and have a mouth-watering tie with Borussia Dortmund in the first knockout round of the UEFA Europa League next month.