RICHARD Gough could throw his boots to the back of a cupboard today

and live the rest of his life in the warm glow of satisfaction that

would come with knowing he has operated at the top of his profession and

left an impression.

The central defender has had an illustrious career as captain of both

Rangers and Scotland and has a chest full of winner's baubles to show

his new son, Andrew.

However, the badges of honour already in his possession are not

enough. Gough wants more, and set off yesterday on perhaps the most

important mission of his time in football.

The captain and his team-mates arrived in Greece in the evening

knowing that their European Cup preliminary tie against AEK Athens is

the most crucial match Rangers have faced in the past 10 years.

They felt the warmth of the Mediterranean sun on their faces, and had

to wend their way through carefree holidaymakers en route to their

hotel.

But they dare not allow their minds to stray from business.

It is essential Rangers reach the Champions' League stages of the

competition because of the finance and prestige which comes with entry

to those elite groups. And the significance is not lost on Gough, who

struggles to recall a more crucial tie in any of his eight years at

Ibrox where thinking has gone beyond the domestic scene.

Rangers' chairman, David Murray, says he always budgets for the

Doomsday scenario, which would see his team lose in the first round of

every competition with business continuing normally, but the fact is

that the club's ambitions would be damaged severely by another early

exit from Europe.

Apart from the money and credibility of competing regularly in Europe,

the learning experience of playing against the best for as long as

possible this season would help Rangers to achieve their ambitions more

quickly.

The manager, Walter Smith, tries to shelter his players from off-field

pressures, but this time everyone is acutely aware of how much the two

games against AEK mean.

Gough said: ''We have made great strides in recent years, and the

signings of Brian Laudrup and Basile Boli show how much the chairman and

manager want to achieve.

''Also, time is running out for many of us at Ibrox, and who knows how

many more chances to play in European Cups are ahead of us. From that

point of view alone, this tie is important and I want to play at this

level as many more times as possible. I also want to keep winning titles

until my career finishes.''

Often Gough has been accused of being detached, perhaps even aloof in

a game based on passion and feeling, but the 32-year-old central

defender, one of seven Rangers players 30 or over, retains the

enthusiasm of a much younger man and has been further invigorated by the

arrivals of Laudrup and Boli.

''I feel much more excited this time than I did at the start of last

season, which was a bit flat,'' he said.

Last season Rangers spent most of their money on Duncan Ferguson, who

has been hampered by injuries and off-field controversies, and Gough

admits the prospect of playing with Laudrup and Boli in the side is a

mouth-watering one. Boli can't help against AEK because of suspension,

but much is expected of Laudrup.

''He has settled in well and quickly and if we can get the ball to him

on Wednesday night I'm sure he will be able to keep it and that will

offer us a valuable out. However, the Greeks will probably single Brian

out for special attention.''

Between them Smith and his assistant Archie Knox have watched the

Greeks four times and they have been impressed. In fact, they have told

the players AEK are a better side than Sofia or Sparta Prague and that

the midfield players are creative.

They would be happy to see Rangers try to defend, but Smith will not

allow that to happen and will be insisting that the Greek side's defence

also be put under serious pressure.

He has not seen the opposition defending for prolonged spells because

AEK played against inferior sides when he or Knox spied, but if Rangers

strike the kind of form which helped them progress to the brink of the

European Cup final two years ago they should make it to the Champions

League.

Rangers expect a hostile reception in the 34,000 capacity Nikos Goumas

stadium, but that shouldn't bother them much at all. ''A hostile

environment won't be anything new for us,'' said Smith, who has taken 22

players with him to Athens.

''The ones I feel are most ready will play,'' he added.

The AEK Athens coach, Dusan Bajevic, has watched Rangers three times

and has been impressed with the strike force, although he feels the

defence can be exploited.

Bajevic is of the opinion the Ibrox defence are not quite together

and, therefore, could be vulnerable, but Gough has pointed out that the

Rangers' challenge two years ago was based on their defending,

especially in the away matches.

* European challenge for Motherwell; how Celtic fared against

Blackburn Rovers -- reports on Page 21.