Analysis: McInnes' playing days at Rangers
· Yahoo Sports
Derek McInnes joined Rangers as a player in the mid-1990s from Greenock Morton, making his debut in a 1-0 Scottish Premier Division win over Partick Thistle at Ibrox on 9 December 1995.
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That day, the midfielder wore the number eight jersey usually sported by Paul Gascoigne, who was unavailable for that particular match.
Internationals like Gascoigne, Ian Ferguson and Stuart McCall stood between McInnes and regular game time in Walter Smith's side and the competition for places grew with the likes of Jorg Albertz and Jonas Thern arriving in subsequent years and the emergence of Barry Ferguson.
McInnes helped Rangers win the league in his debut season and the following campaign.
All four of his Rangers goals came in the 1996-97 season, including a vital strike in a Champions League qualifier against Alania Vladikavkaz. The others came in Rangers' successful League Cup campaign in ties against Ayr United and Dunfermline Athletic and one versus Hearts in the league.
With Dick Advocaat's arrival as manager in 1998 came more competition for places in midfield, such as Giovanni van Bronckhorst and later Claudio Reyna, with Ferguson now established as a first-team player.
McInnes spent time on loan at Stockport County in 1998 but was a surprise inclusion in Rangers' 1999 Scottish Cup final win over Celtic as Advocaat's side won the domestic treble.
A similar event ensued during the following season's Champions League campaign as McInnes took the field in a 4-1 home win over PSV Eindhoven.
He soon joined Toulouse on loan and in 2000 moved to West Bromwich Albion. All in all, McInnes made 52 Rangers appearances, scoring four times, and picked up medals for the 1996-97 Scottish Premier Division title win and the 1999 Scottish Cup success.