As Bobby Shearer's career drew to a close, Scot Symon tended to switch Davie Provan and Eric Caldow from left to right to fill the number two berth, a job surely meant for Junior McGillivray following his move from Third Lanark to Rangers. For reasons which remain a mystery, McGillivray (widely regarded as Scotland's best uncapped prospect) never wore a blue jersey in anger so the manager moved to sign Kai from Morton in 1965, little more than a year after he had arrived in Scotland as part of old Hal Stewart's Viking invasion.
A League Cup Final chasing from a brainless battering ram called Hughes gave the Dane a harsh introduction to life as a Ranger and, with Large John putting together a useful team on the dark side of the city, it speaks volumes for Kai that he was able to come out of those early experiences with his reputation intact. An athletic, football-playing full-back, as opposed to Bobby Shearer's no-nonsense approach to the job, he was tailor-made for the more cultured demands of the game in the mid-sixties.
With the Timmies bragging about Hughes giving Kai another roasting in the Scottish Cup Final, it was great to see their words rammed down their throats when our man snuffed out the threat in the first game, then smashed in the winner in the replay. Having been brought up idolising all my old fella's heroes, that night in 1966 is etched in my memory as the first time I could acclaim a hero of my own.
Unfortunately, Rangers were about to enter one of the darkest periods of our proud history - those of you who think things are grim now should sit down with a few of us old-timers and learn what real heartbreak is all about!!! Yet Kai Johansen was outstanding throughout it all, having the physical presence and the pace to handle even the most difficult of wingers and showing great composure in his use of the ball out of defence.
He was, however, set to fall foul of Willie Waddell when, after Davie White's brief reign, the new manager set about rebuilding Rangers in 1970. Not shy in assessing his own worth, Kai had words with Deedle when terms for the new season were being discussed, Waddell was having none of it and, seeing the potential to convert Sandy Jardine from midfield to right-back, the Dane's bluff was called and he was out on his ear.
With Jardine stepping into the position as if it had been made for him, it has to be said that Rangers never really missed Kai Johansen. But that should not be allowed to detract from the job he did. The period 1965-1970 was a very troublesome time for Rangers but I would rate him only just behind John Greig, Ronnie MacKinnon and maybe Colin Stein as our team's best player.
He was certainly worthy of the respectful silence accorded to him on May 13. Wouldn't it have been nice if we had been able to honour Bobby Shearer in the same dignified manner?