Rangers legend Jim Forrest has died at age 79, the club have announced.

He was the most prolific goalscorer in the Ibrox side's post-war history, netting 145 times in 163 matches.

A club statement read: "Jim grew up supporting Rangers from a young age and joined the club as a schoolboy, scoring twice against Germany in a schools international at Ibrox which piqued the interest of clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United and Leicester City.

"However, Rangers were the only club for the teenager who grew up in Townhead, and he was quoted as saying: 'Even a group from Germany tried to persuade me to join up over there'

"'But frankly they never had a chance! How could they? For they were trying to sign a boy who had supported Rangers since he was no taller than an Ibrox turnstile.'

"Forrest’s goalscoring exploits were such that he soon displaced the legendary Jimmy Millar in the Gers first-team as a teenager, forming part of a new Rangers era in the early 1960s.

"Indeed, the forward was only 18 when he was rubbing shoulders alongside a 19-year-old Willie Henderson, 20-year-old John Greig and 23-year-old Jim Baxter as the Light Blues clashed with Real Madrid in the European Cup in 1963.

"Domestically, Forrest wasted precious little time in finding his shooting boots for the club he dreamed of one day representing, netting a double in a 3-0 Old Firm victory at Parkhead.

"39 goals were plundered by the Forrest in his first full campaign at Ibrox, while he found the net on four separate occasions in the 1963 League Cup success over Greenock Morton en route to a famous Treble for the club.

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"Jim continued to push the goalscoring boundaries in Britain as he netted an incredible 57 times in the 1964-65 campaign, making his mark in yet another League Cup final by netting a brace against Celtic.

"A five-goal haul arrived for the prolific forward in a league outing against Hamilton Academical in 1965, while he broke the record for the most goals scored by a Rangers player in a League Cup match the following year by netting five times in an emphatic 8-0 victory over Stirling Albion.

"International recognition duly followed for Forrest as he represented Scotland on a handful of occasions.

"Sadly, Forrest’s time at Ibrox came to an end in 1967, with Jim making the move south of the border to Preston North End.

"He would soon return to Scotland in Aberdeen colours, making over 100 appearances in the north east and lifting the Scottish Cup in 1970.

"The prolific shooting boots were hung up six years later by Jim as he ended his career at San Antonio Thunder, via spells in South Africa and Hong Kong.

"Forrest remains one of the most talented and natural finishers to don the famous blue jersey and has left an indelible mark in the club’s history.

"The thoughts of everyone at Rangers are with Jim’s family and friends."