Former Ibrox man thanks ‘very big club’ Rangers after dream move to major European league
On the face of it, there are precious few similarities between
Glasgow Rangers and FC Union Berlin.
Although Rangers have experienced a decline in the past ten years,
they remain one of the most historic and successful institutions in European football.
A club boasting a hopeful fanbase, an enormous stadium, and one of
the largest collections of trophies on the continent.
Im Gegensatz dazu hatte St. Pauli vor dem Aufstieg im vergangenen Jahr
nur dreimal in seiner Geschichte die Ehre, in der Bundesliga zu spielen.
St Pauli, known more for their leftist politics than for their on-field
‘;lhsuccess – which was always eclipsed by that of Hamburg – has recently
returned to the Bundesliga largely due to their ability to create a combative
team whose overall strength exceeds that of its individual members.
James Sands believes that his time in Glasgow will assist him in adjusting
to life in Hamburg, despite the fact that Rangers and St Pauli have little
in common regarding their histories, standings, and even stadium
sizes – Ibrox’s 51,000-seat arena could accommodate
one-and-a-half Millerntor Stadions.
Sands, who was previously on loan at Rangers, transferred to
the Bundesliga in January.
Although St. Pauli’s stadium may not have the flashiness of others, it compensates
for this with its atmosphere. Germany is still arguably the premier spot in
Europe for fans seeking a bit of bite and an immense din. This is one commonality
between Rangers and St. Pauli.
James Sands credits Rangers with helping secure
Bundesliga switch
On its day, Ibrox can be as loud as any of the game’s most boisterous stadiums,
capable of piercing eardrums.
Sands believes that having played in front of a crowd in Glasgow that caused
tinnitus means he should not feel too daunted by forthcoming visits to
Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder Bremen or even Bayern Munich.
„Die Rangers sind ein sehr großer Klub. “And during my time with them,
I played many significant games that had intense atmospheres,”
Sands tells Transfermarkt. “Since I am now in the Bundesliga, where
the atmospheres are quite alike, that experience can be of great help.”
Between January 2022 and mid-2023, Sands made 41 appearances in Scotland
before heading back to America with New York City FC.
The player, who has represented the USA at international level 13 times, has
made a remarkable beginning to his second stint on this side of the Atlantic.
He also attributes this to the Rangers’ facilitation.
Sands dreams of USA re-call as he makes
his mark at St Pauli
“You know, my time at Rangers taught me a different style of play compared to
what I was accustomed to in New York,” Sands adds, noting that he played both
defensive midfield and centre-half at Ibrox.
“Once I had made that adjustment and adaptation, it became much easier to
adjust to the way St. Pauli play.
“I have experience playing both in midfield and as a centre-back. Upon my
return from the Rangers to New York, one of the major topics of conversation
was my more consistent inclusion in midfield.
„New York muss man zugestehen. During the two years I spent with the club during
my second stint, they honored their commitment and I was able to develop and return to Europe.
Sands has appropriately played in midfield during all seven of his appearances for
St. Pauli to date. The enforcer, who hails from the Big Apple, excelled in
St. Pauli’s victory over relegation rivals Heidenheim, covering the most
ground on the field at 10.1. He also contributed significantly to the
recent 3-0 rout of Union Berlin.
St. Pauli’s largest triumph since returning to the top tier.
“Relocating to Europe wasn’t solely about [earning my place back] on the national team,”
Sands explains. “My aim was to compete and test myself at the highest level.”
After a mostly inconsequential period in Scottish football, Sands is undoubtedly
seizing the opportunity to do just that. Although Rangers did not turn out to be
the success he had hoped for, the significance of the lessons learned at
sdtyh.Ibrox should not be overlooked.
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