Latest news with #Roofe
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kemar Roofe couldn't take constant Rangers questions anymore as he reveals the story of woe fans don't know
The Jamaica international had been playing through the pain barrier for the Ibrox cause. It got to the point where Kemar Roofe just couldn't take it any more. The questions were constant and it was the same one over and over again. 'When will you be back fit?' That's all the Rangers fans - and staff - wanted to know. It was his third season at the club, working firstly under Gio van Bronckhorst and then Michael Beale. Previously, the striker had been Gers' top scorer in their 2021 title triumph. The following year, he'd scored another 16 goals in 40 appearances - and helped them get to the Europa League Final in Seville. But the truth is, the Jamaica international had been playing through the pain barrier for the Ibrox cause. Roofe was taking injections and disguising injuries in a desperate bid to win silverware for the club. Even in that Europa Final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, he was in AGONY while scoring Gers' fifth penalty in the shoot-out. So it's no wonder the 2022/23 campaign was a miserable one when, at times, he couldn't even bear to watch games at Ibrox for fear of being bombarded with queries on his fitness. He managed just six games for Rangers that year, scoring twice. One of those goals was a vital winner against Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final - only for Roofe to then damage his shoulder and spend more time on the sidelines. Roofe endured tough times at Rangers through injury. But he insists it was largely due to him putting his body on the line for the club - and says he has no regrets. In the second part of Record Sport's exclusive interview with the former Rangers front-man, he said: 'That 2022/23 season was annoying. 'Because I had kept playing through injuries, I never had a period of time where I could just strip it back to basics. 'I didn't get the chance to go through all the steps and stages of rehab to get 100 percent fit. 'I was coming back sooner than I should have - just because I didn't want to miss any more games. 'I played games for Rangers when I had injury issues. And it was only a matter of time before my body couldn't take it any more. 'I got silly injuries. I came off the bench against Aberdeen in that semi-final to score the winner. 'But then I fell on my shoulder and tore the ligaments. How can you predict those things? 'I should have had an operation which would have been three or four months out. 'Instead, I just strapped it up, took injections and played with it. I was effectively playing with one shoulder. 'These little things have a knock-on effect on the rest of your body. 'The amount of times I got injured just to play and win - I sacrificed myself to win games and I'd never change that. 'If I took the correct time out, I wouldn't have achieved certain things or scored certain goals for Rangers. 'I wouldn't have made certain finals. 'When I eventually did it and had my hip operation, I hardly played any games. 'So it's a Catch 22. Do you take the time out and miss games or keep trying to go through it? 'It got to the point where I HAD to have surgery. 'Thankfully, my big strength is my mental strength and handling disappointments. 'I use it to fuel me. The only thing I hated and struggled with was when people kept asking me: 'When are you going to back'? 'That's when I started not going to Ibrox and I started just watching the games at home. 'I was trying to avoid people and those questions.' That campaign might have gone better for Roofe if he hadn't been so determined to play in the Europa League Final a few months earlier. He had scored the extra-time winner against Braga in the quarter-final that was vital in getting Rangers to Seville. But an injury against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final win at Hampden meant he was a major doubt. Incredibly, Roofe made it on to the bench against Eintracht and was introduced late on. He set up a golden chance for Ryan Kent to win it but the winger couldn't convert - then he stepped up in pain to score in the spot-kick defeat. Roofe loved the European nights at Ibrox more than anything and he's still devastated he didn't get a winner's medal from that sensational run to the final. He said: 'I was just returning from an LCL knee injury. 'I rushed back to make the final but every time I kicked the ball I was in agony. 'I didn't really train before Seville. I was in a lot of pain. 'My brain knew I was going to be sore before I received the ball. Even taking that penalty was painful. 'I scored but it meant nothing because we didn't win. 'That run in 2022 was special. For me personally, playing in Europe is just the best. 'It's a different feeling to anything else, especially at Ibrox. 'The atmosphere, the buzz, everything about those games - it's hard to explain. 'You can only understand it if you're actually on the pitch playing in it. I'll never forget it. 'We just kept going that year with the fans behind us. 'The only disappointment was getting to Seville, having a really good chance to win - but then losing it. 'We probably won't ever have that chance again. 'I'm just gutted that we couldn't take advantage. 'I was put on for the last few minutes but I felt if I'd been given more time, I could have had a bigger influence on the game.' When Roofe was fit, he thrived in the big games. His Rangers career had got off to a flying start with a league title win under Steven Gerrard - and an Old Firm brace in a 4-1 victory over Celtic at Ibrox. Injuries curtailed him after that but he still relished derbies against Gers' bitter rivals. And even after having played for the likes of Leeds United and Anderlecht, Roofe says no atmosphere comes close to an Old Firm. He said: 'The Old Firm games were even more special than I thought they would be. 'They were just hectic, 100mph, you got no rest. 'There was football being played but it was just so quick and intense. 'Everyone has to be at it in those games. And the noise levels are incredible. 'I like watching games I've played when I get home to listen to what the commentators are saying. 'But I remember putting Sky on after one of the Celtic games and I couldn't hear what they were saying because the fans were so loud - even on TV. 'I've never experienced that before. 'The Old Firm games and European nights were the best atmospheres I've ever played in during my career. 'Leeds was good as well at Elland Road. But the extra 20,000 or so at Ibrox really makes a difference. 'The way I play football is that I'm all in. I was gripped by Rangers from minute one. 'I can never play half-hearted or not try to win every game. 'So for me, that atmosphere and the relationship with the Rangers fans was ideal for me. It was the perfect match. 'They took to me and I'm grateful for that. I think they appreciated the way I played and the effort I put in.' Roofe's Rangers career ended a year ago with a seven-minute cameo from the bench in a game against Dundee last May. It wasn't the trophy-laden farewell he wanted. But the 32-year-old says he's proud of what he achieved in Glasgow, winning all three domestic prizes. Roofe said: 'I had four really good years at Rangers. 'I spent a bit of extra time applauding the fans at the end of my last game. 'I think they understand that I wish I could have played more games and scored more goals. 'I'd rather have said goodbye that way rather than a token gesture as a sub. 'But I take real pride in my time at Rangers. When people ask me about my career and what it was like at Ibrox - when I break it down, I won all three trophies in Scotland and got to a Europa Final. 'So I had a really good time there.'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kemar Roofe airs his Rangers truths in bombshell address as he calls out Clement for brutally snubbing him
For the first time he's spoken about how he was treated by Clement and the heartache at being left out of the 2024 Scottish Cup Final Four managers in four years. That wasn't the scenario Kemar Roofe envisaged when he got the call from Steven Gerrard to join Rangers in 2020. But that's how it panned out. After Gerrard's title win, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was next in the hot-seat. Despite getting to a European final, the Dutchman was replaced by Michael Beale. And finally, Roofe's final season was under Philippe Clement, who is now also out of a job. Roofe won every trophy in Scotland during his time at Rangers and is proud of what he achieved. But there is also a nagging feeling of what might have been, especially if Gerrard hadn't left for Aston Villa. Roofe also believes the club was wrong to get rid of Beale. And for the first time, he's spoken about how he was treated by Clement - and the heartache at being left out of the 2024 Scottish Cup Final by the Belgian. In part one of an exclusive interview with Record Sport, the former Rangers striker discussed his ex-gaffers - and why he expects Russell Martin to succeed with the backing of the San Francisco 49ers. Roofe loved his time at Ibrox but it ended on a sour note when Clement was in charge, after he was left in the stands at Hampden for that vital Old Firm clash. Roofe said: 'How was Clement with me? Yeah, interesting. 'It was difficult. He stopped wanting to use me because I wasn't going to be there the following season. 'I understood that he wanted to work with players he was going to work with. 'But not to the detriment of winning games for Rangers. 'Even if I wasn't going to be there the following year, I was still going to give 100 percent during my time. 'That's just my character but maybe he didn't understand my character. 'I still felt that I should have played a lot more games to help Rangers win more - especially in the Scottish Cup Final. 'It would have helped the manager so I don't understand it. 'It obviously hasn't helped him now. I genuinely felt if I'd played more I could have made a difference. 'He left me out of the final against Celtic at Hampden. I was fit to play but wasn't in the squad and had to sit in the stand. 'Earlier that season, I had a big moment when I scored the winner against Real Betis in Spain. 'That should have proved to him that I was still giving 100 percent. You'd think that would be the case. 'As a manager you need to know your players properly. 'But Clement obviously didn't know or understand me well enough.' Before Clement, Beale had taken over from van Bronckhorst at Ibrox. And despite injuries curtailing his impact on the team at that time, Roofe is adamant the Englishman should have been given more time to build something at Rangers. He said: 'It was frustrating because I hardly played under Michael due to injuries and I wanted to give him something back. 'He's one of the best coaches I've ever had. His coaching is top quality. 'And the way he wants to play football suits me so much. 'When you've got that, it's really enjoyable and you want to play. 'Michael deserved more time in the job. if he got that, he could have turned things around. 'Just because of his way of playing. It was very similar to Steven's and we'd had success with it. It was enjoyable to play in. 'We didn't have that enjoyment of football again. 'I even heard comments from fans saying how boring the games were after that. 'When you keep changing managers at a club, it's not good for continuity or rhythm. 'Everything gets thrown out the window. It becomes too chaotic.' In Roofe's first season at Ibrox, he'd been Gers' top scorer as they won the title under Gerrard. Which was exactly what the manager had targeted when he enticed the striker to Ibrox. Roofe said: 'I was in Belgium with Anderlecht and got a call out of the blue from the manager, Vincent Kompany, saying Rangers had put a bid in and it had been accepted. 'As soon as Steven rang me - with his legendary status - he got my attention. 'I knew how big Rangers were. 'When I was at Leeds, I played alongside Stuart Dallas and Liam Cooper. 'They were big Rangers fans so they'd always go on about the club. 'Steven just spoke about wanting to win the title and playing European football. 'He believed in me and liked my style. When someone of that stature speaks well of you, it gives you ultimate confidence. 'That first season was strange due to Covid. Because there were no fans, it didn't feel like being a footballer. 'You felt more like a machine. You turned up every day to do your job and win. 'Then you'd go home, isolate, before getting up to do the same again. 'But we achieved what we had to achieve that season. The main focus was always winning the league. 'When I spoke to Steven about the aims, it was that we HAD to win the title. 'As much as I wanted to win the Europa League or go as far as we could - it wasn't ever as important as winning the league. 'And after doing it, I realised how important it was and why it was so important to supporters. 'To be part of that team who did 55, and to be top scorer, is a good feeling. We'll always be remembered for that. 'And people forget we were invincible that season as well too." Gerrard's departure the following season to Villa stunned everyone at Ibrox. Roofe is adamant that if the Rangers hierarchy had backed their manager more at that time - the club could have enjoyed more success. Instead, they allowed Celtic to dominate Scottish football again. Roofe said: "The ideal situation would have been Steven staying and making a few positive additions to the squad. 'If we'd have done that, I feel we could have kept growing. 'But that wasn't the case. We weren't able to grow from the season before because the gaffer left and we didn't really get players in to help. 'It was the perfect chance for the club to kick on but we didn't do it. 'We'd won the title and did well in the Europa League. In any business, when you do well you invest to kick on. 'But we didn't do that. A lot of players left, were sold or - contract-wise - weren't in a positive place. 'That affected us the next season. If I could go back, I'd love us to have invested in the squad and had a massive push. 'That's what Celtic have been able to do since then.' Rangers now have Martin in charge after Clement's exit. But it's Rangers' new American owners - and the influence of the 49ers - which Roofe believes can help the club get back to the top. He said: 'I think good times are ahead for Rangers under Russell. 'They've got owners in there now who are ambitious and won't mess about. 'They'll want Rangers back in the Champions League and respected again around the world. 'So they'll want quick results. I've seen what the 49ers have done at Leeds and they've been massive in their success. 'I've spoken to people involved at the 49ers and everything I've heard is positive. 'But at Rangers, it only comes down to one thing - you have to win. 'Before I got there, there was no silverware. And it's the same now. 'They have to get back to winning ways.' ** Kemar Roofe has launched his own Player Journal at **
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Humble Rangers title winner reveals he trained in waterlogged public park covered in dog poo in bid to find new club
THINGS can change very quickly in the life of a footballer. That's something one of Rangers' 2021 title heroes found out very quickly. 2 Kemar Roofe left Rangers last year Credit: PA 2 The former Ibrox striker is on the lookout for a new club again Credit: Kenny Ramsay Steven Gerrard led the Light Blues to the Scottish Premiership title four years ago, the Gers' first championship in a decade and one that ended Celtic's quest for 10-in-a-row. It as a season that saw Rangers go unbeaten on league duty with several key stars upping their game to relentless levels. One of the Gers' big signings in the summer ahead of the memorable campaign was Kemar Roofe. Formerly of Leeds, the striker joined in a £4.5million deal from Belgian giants Anderlecht. Roofe proved a solid acquisition and would finish as the club's top scorer in the league that season with 14 goals. That was despite the fact he spent plenty of time on the treatment table, something that would hamper his entire career at Ibrox. Roofe's Rangers career came to an end a year ago when he was released at the end of his contract. He moved on after two highly frustrating seasons that saw him manage just three and 15 league appearances respectively. Roofe, 32, probably couldn't have foreseen that he would be without a club for the next EIGHT MONTHS after his Rangers exit. With clubs potentially spooked by his injury record, the Jamaica international was forced to train alone for several months as he never gave up his ambition of finding another club. Rangers star Kemar Roofe steps up rehab with punishing session in the gym And he was forced to do so in rather humbling circumstances - a public park. He told RG: "The grass wasn't cut, the pitches would be frozen at times. "There'd be dog poo on the pitch and dogs running on the pitch as well." Roofe eventually found a new club in February this year when he joined English Championship outfit Derby County on a short-term deal. He admitted: "(The move) was always going to be a risk because I was out for eight months training by myself." Despite his lengthy spell out of the game, Roofe appeared as a substitute in the two games immediately after his signing. But once again, injury peril struck. He suffered a hamstring injury and wouldn't feature again until the final game of the season. Roofe conceded: "I was pushing myself a bit more to try and get a bit of extra fitness into me, so I'd be better prepared for the game, and yeah, I probably pushed a bit too much." A year after his Rangers release, he finds himself a free agent. Roofe was confirmed to be one of the players leaving Derby when the revealed their list of released players last month. He's admitted that after joining a club mid-season, the end of the campaign doesn't come at a great time for him. Instead of going on holiday as most players do, Roofe will be working hard on his fitness once more. He also revealed how he keeps a JOURNAL to keep him motivated during the tougher periods, saying it keeps him centred and means "there's no kind of hiding place." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers title hero, 32, wakes up unemployed as he's released by club just a year after Ibrox exit
ONE of Rangers' title-winning heroes has been left without a club after being released at the end of his contract. It comes after he spent eight months as a free agent after being let go by the Ibrox club in summer. 3 One of Rangers' title heroes has been released from his contract Credit: The Sun 3 He helped Gers win their 55th league title in 2020/21 Credit: The Sun 3 Kemar Roofe was left without a club for eight months after leaving Ibrox last summer Credit: PA Kemar Roofe spent four seasons with Rangers after joining from Belgian side Anderlecht. The Jamaica international hit 38 goals in 108 games in his time in Glasgow. He was part of Steven Gerrard's title-winning squad in the 2020/21 season, scoring 18 times in all competitions in his debut year. Roofe was left unemployed after being released by Gers last summer, having only scored twice in 24 appearances last season. The 32-year-old then faced a wait of eight months to find his next club, when Derby County snapped him up on a free transfer in February. But things haven't worked out for the striker in the Championship, and he hasn't been offered new terms upon the expiry of his current deal. Roofe has played just three times for the English outfit and has failed to score a goal. Despite playing internationally for Jamaica, Roofe was born and raised in England, and featured for Northampton, Colchester, Oxford United and Leeds earlier in his career. He was then signed by Vincent Kompany in his first managerial role in charge of Anderlecht. He only spent one season in Belgium before transferring to Rangers. Tense scenes in Glasgow as Celtic fans in stand off with Orange walk followers After successful scoring seasons in his first two years at Ibrox, injuries derailed his progress and he only scored four times between 2022-2024. He eventually joined Derby after the Rams had shown interest in him during his spells of good form in Glasgow, but Roofe now faces a hunt for a third club in the last year. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roofe brings goal-scoring knowhow to Rams
Derby County boss John Eustace says Kemar Roofe is an experienced striker capable of making an immediate impact - even though he will be used sparingly to start with. The 32-year-old former Rangers and Leeds United forward has joined the Championship relegation battlers on a deal until the end of the season. He has not featured in a competitive match in more than nine months, having been released by Scottish Premiership side Rangers last summer. Roofe scored just twice in 24 appearances in his final season at Ibrox, having been limited to just six appearances in the 2022-23 season before that because of knee injuries. "He has had a lot of injury problems in the past couple of seasons, but he is fit now and hungry," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby. "We are going to have to manage him properly. He will come in and play a small part initially and let's see where we can get to with him. "If he can help for the short-term with 10-15 minutes and pop a couple of goals in, that would be great." Roofe became Eustace's first signing since he left his job as Blackburn Rovers boss to take the helm of Derby a week ago. The striker was brought in soon after to start training with the Rams. "He trained on Monday and Tuesday and did enough to show everyone that he can still put the ball in the back of the net, which is what it's all about," Eustace said. "He will be involved. Ultimately he knows where the goal is and he can put the ball in the net. "I'm not stupid enough to think that he can come in and start and run channels and press high and all that, but his experience and knowhow is there for everyone to see."
