Alex McLeish’s time at Glasgow Rangers will forever be remembered for two dramatic league titles won on the final day of the season. Winning by just one goal in 2002/2003 and Helicopter Sunday in 2004/2005 are both immortalised in the Rangers annals.

McLeish wasn’t quite as consistent in the Ibrox hot seat, however, with two poor domestic campaigns following these incredible highs, and his dealings in the transfer market weren’t the greatest either.

One of his biggest disappointments, especially when it came to financial outlay, was on a talented Belgian who looked like he could take the Light Blues to another level…

McLeish had a nightmare on Buffel

Halfway through the 2004/2005 season, McLeish was aiming to strengthen his side ahead of what was shaping up to be a close battle for the league title.

Buffel was seen as an exciting talent who could improve in Scotland and he was duly signed for £2.2m in January 2005 from Dutch side Feyenoord.

It was a promising start for the Belgian – who went on to win 35 caps for his country – as he scored four goals and helped the club win a 51st league crown.

The following two seasons would see Buffel score nine goals and register 11 assists, which appears on the surface to be a solid return, but once McLeish left the club, he struggled for game time under both Paul Le Guen and a returning Walter Smith.

Just two appearances in the 2007/2008 campaign ensured Smith was ready to get him off the wage bill and he joined Cercle Brugge on a free transfer in the summer of 2008, ending his stint in Scotland.

Arriving with a barrel load of talent and promise, he should have been the heart of a Rangers midfield for several years, unfortunately, it just didn’t work out at Ibrox.

The stats show that his goal contributions were decent, yet it might have been so much better, especially if both Le Guen and Smith showed a bit more faith in the player.