JEROME ROTHEN has revealed that he wants to be even more popular at Ibrox than his former team-mate Dado Prso.

The Rangers winger was a colleague of the Croatian's when both men went all the way to the Champions League final with Monaco in 2004.

Rothen is well aware of Prso's reputation - Alex McLeish once described him as the best buy he had ever made - as a former Ibrox favourite and is desperate to emulate the feats of his friend.

"I hope to be as popular as Dado here - maybe even more popular!" said Rothen.

"I only wish Dado was still playing. He was a guy I always tried to emulate and someone I got on with immediately when I moved to Monaco.

"He had a serious injury at the time but was always in a good mood and was never one to complain.

"He's a warrior, he didn't even have any ligaments in his knees and yet he still worked so hard for the team, running everywhere on the pitch to help his team-mates.

"I'm going to try to make as good an impression at Rangers as he did.

"He was happy for me to sign here because he knows I have the same mentality as him."

Rothen, meanwhile, is adamant that Rangers can enjoy a successful Champions League campaign this term. The club have got off to a great start having taken a point from their trip to Stuttgart.

It was the Ibrox side's involvement in the tournament that persuaded Rothen to make the move to Glasgow and he is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

"I had opportunities to go to Germany or England last month and as the phone call came from Rangers asking me to come to Glasgow, PSV were even in negotiations with Schalke 04.

"But none of the teams who wanted to sign me were involved in the Champions League and that was important.

"I'm 31 now and as the years pass you think to yourself, Will I get the opportunity to play at that level again?' This is a fantastic chance.

"There is no doubt we can pass from the group section this season. Our main objective is to finish first or second in the group and when you get down to the knockout stages, home and away, who knows what might happen.

"We are definitely good enough for the last 16."