Ivor Pandur: Left Hull City as club planned to sign new first-choice goalkeeper

Image caption: Ivor Pandur played at Ibrox for the first time in Wednesday's win over St Etienne

New Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur has revealed he passed up the chance to be part of Hull City's return to the Premier League after being told they planned to sign a new number one this summer.

The 26-year-old, who was part of Croatia's squad at the World Cup, arrived at Ibrox at the same time as former England cap Jack Butland made the opposite journey to join Sergej Jakirovic's squad.

"It's strange," Pandur, who made 48 appearances last season as Hull won promotion via the play-offs, said. "The gaffer is also Croatian like me. He told me he wanted me to stay and to play.

"But the club had a different idea of bringing in another keeper who has Premier League experience, which I don't have yet.

"So they made it clear for me to know there would be somebody coming in as a number one.

"Whether I agree with it or not, it doesn't matter. That's football.

"I'm just proud and happy I got to share those two and a half years at the club with all these great people. It means everything to me."

Interest from Rangers

Rangers' interest in Pandur began before he joined Hull from Fortuna Sittard in 2024. He described playing in front of the Ibrox crowd for the first time in Wednesday's pre-season friendly win over St Etienne as "a lovely experience".

"I remember my agent was talking to a director who is not with this club any more and it came close," he recalled.

"It is probably better because I am much better than I was three or four years ago — I have developed quite a lot and there's still more to come and I think I'm in a perfect place to improve."

Pandur revealed that contact with Rangers "was ongoing through the season" but that "I didn't have much to think about" when the approach came and a deal was done "in a couple of days".

Working with Allan McGregor

His arrival at Ibrox coincides with the return of former number one Allan McGregor as goalkeeping coach.

"It means a lot to me to have him as my coach," Pandur said. "It is up to me to learn from him and ask him questions and develop under him.

"He is a legend of the club and also in Europe he played a lot of games and in the national team as well.

"When I found he was the goalkeeping coach, it just filled me with happiness. I want to learn from the best and that's why I came as well."

Advice from former teammates

Pandur consulted Hull team-mates John Lundstram and Kieran Dowell, and former Rangers striker Antonio Colak, before making his decision.

"They told me they demand a lot," he revealed. "There is pressure. They want trophies.

"I want all of that as well, so I never ran from pressure, from responsibility all my career — it's just the way I've been raised.

"I want to test myself on the biggest stage and I think Rangers are one of the biggest clubs in Europe. In my mind I know I'm ready for it."

Related topics

• Football
• Scottish Football
• Scottish Premiership
• Rangers
• Hull City
• Premier League

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