Vanja Dragojevic Prepares for Biggest Derby Against Celtic

Vanja Dragojevic has already felt the heat of Belgrade’s ‘Eternal Derby’. Now he is being told the next one could be even bigger.

The 20-year-old Rangers midfielder is counting down to what he has been assured is “maybe the biggest derby on earth” when Celtic come to Ibrox in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final next month.

He earned that shot at Glasgow’s defining fixture on Sunday, scoring his first goal for Rangers in the League Cup win over St Mirren that sealed the tie against their greatest rivals.

“We’re really happy that [the Celtic cup tie] will happen,” Dragojevic said, still riding the high of his breakthrough moment in blue.

He will not let his mind drift too far ahead, though. There is a European assignment on Thursday and, for now, that takes priority.

“It’s too far away to think about because we have a game on Thursday, we will focus on that,” he added. “But when I spoke with lots of players before I came here, everyone said this is maybe the biggest derby on earth. And maybe the craziest one – in a positive way. So I’m really happy that I have the privilege to be part of it and maybe play in it.”

This is not a youngster naïve to the ferocity of rivalry. Dragojevic has already stepped into the cauldron of Partizan v Red Star.

“I played in three or four Belgrade derbies. It was really hard and fired up,” he recalled. “In Serbia, it’s not just about the football. It’s really about much more than this. But I like this. I’m really happy here and I want to have the privilege to play in this one.”

For now, he is still absorbing his new surroundings, and Scotland is making a strong impression.

“I enjoy it here. This is a great country, with great people,” he said. “I’m surprised how warm the people are here. When I came to the club it was so easy to adapt. Everyone in the city is so nice. I’m feeling really happy here. I’m looking forward to doing everything I can for this club.”

From Belgrade’s fire to Glasgow’s frenzy, Dragojevic has already lived one derby obsession. The next one, if he makes that teamsheet against Celtic, could define his early Rangers story.