Ian Durrant at Kilmarnock: From war-torn Bosnia to Hampden heartbreak
The midfielder arguably played some of his best football at Rugby Park
Ask a fan who the most talented player they’ve seen play for Kilmarnock is and their answer will be heavily dependant on age.
Those of a certain vintage might say Tommy McLean, younger supporters might point to Alexei Eremenko.
For those who fall into the era of Bobby Williamson, the answer is invariably Ian Durrant.
Though his time at Rugby Park was short he was a key man in a side which regularly qualified for Europe, while the injury-induced end to his career will leave many asking what might have been.
This is the story of Durrant at Killie.
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During his time at Rangers Durrant had been on the receiving end of arguably the most infamous tackle in Scottish football, and it would shape everything about his later career.
In a clash with Aberdeen at Pittodrie in October 1988 a wild challenge by Neil Simpson left the 21-year-old sprawled on the turf, and with no stretcher available he was carried off on the back of the Rangers physio.
He wouldn’t play again until a reserve game against Hibs in January 1991 and though he’d play more than 300 games for his boyhood heroes he never started more than 20 league games in a season, with many feeling a player of his talents should have moved on in search of more first team football.
His final SPL appearance came against Killie, Durrant coming on for the last 10 minutes at Ibrox as Ally Mitchell scored in a 1-0 win for the visitors that would end Rangers’ hopes of 10-in-a-row and signal the end of an era.
Walter Smith had already announced his exit as manager and following defeat to Hearts in the Scottish Cup final Ally McCoist, Brian Laudrup, Richard Gough and Andy Goram would also depart.
Durrant, too, was available on a free transfer with incoming boss Dick Advocaat having made clear he was not part of his plans.
Bobby Williamson moved quickly to make his interest known, with the Daily Record reporting he was willing to make Durrant the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
The manager said: “Ian is a player I’ve admired for a long time and he would improve the players around him.”
The midfielder was initially reluctant to move to another Scottish club, not wanting to play against his beloved Rangers, and had held talks with J League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima but was ultimately convinced to cut short a family holiday in Marbella to sign a three-year deal.
Durrant said: “Most of my pals have left Ibrox anyway and I already know a lot of the boys here.
“It will be an emotional day when I turn out against Rangers but my job now is to do my best for Killie. The start of the season can’t come quick enough and with Kilmarnock in Europe again this season it will be a very exciting start.”
Having made his debut in a pre-season tour of Germany, Durrant’s Rugby Park bow came in Ray Montgomerie’s testimonial - against Celtic of all opponents.
Though Killie were beaten 2-1, Williamson was impressed with his new signing.
He said: “You can’t tell someone like Ian Durrant how to play, I’ll just let him go out there and do his own thing.
“If you buy a player with his experience, skill and ability then you let him play his own game, we’ll just have to fill in around him.
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