One of the world’s most famous soccer clubs will visit Ottawa Fury FC at the newly-opened TD Place this summer, the Fury announced Thursday.

Scottish midfielder Nicki Paterson was fittingly on hand as Fury president John Pugh announced the international friendly July 23 would feature Ottawa and the Glasgow, Scotland-based Rangers FC, a team that plays in the Scottish Championship.

It’s the first major announcement for an event coming up in the NASL fall season as the team moves from Carleton University to the new digs at Lansdowne. The team hopes to pack the place for both the friendly and the opening game at TD Place a few days before on July 20.

In a season where every first is a historic moment, the Rangers coming to town is a big deal for Fury FC. The Scottish club is the world’s most successful domestic club having won more titles and trebles than any other and have a massive contingent, both in Europe and around the world, including 27 chapters in Canada, one of which is in Ottawa. Rangers FC last won the Scottish Premier League title in 2011, their third n a row. But those wins are just the latest in decades of success. Since the club was founded in 1872, Rangers FC has won the league title 54 times, the Scottish Cup 33 times and the Scottish League Cup 27 times​.

Stewart Melvin, secretary of the Ottawa chapter of Rangers FC supporters, called the announcement a “dream of a lifetime come true.”

“We are all now anxiously looking forward to the game to watch the famous Glasgow Rangers in our home city,” Melvin said.

While the benefits to the Fury operation are obvious, Fury coach Marc Dos Santos said it was hard for him to talk about the marketing side of this kind of exhibition game.

“I can only talk about it as the coach,” Dos Santos said, meaning his squad would approach the match like any other.

The team wouldn’t be happy to just come out and play for the fun of hosting an international club, he said.

“We want to win,” said the ultra-competitive Dos Santos.

Paterson — who brought some Irish backup in the form of teammate and team captain Richie Ryan — said it would be a big thrill to play such a well-know squad in his new home city.

“I’ve played against them before,” he said of the Rangers. “It should be really good.”

Tickets for the friendly go on sale Saturday at OttawaFuryFC.com.

RICHTER TO OTTAWA?

After solving the mystery of who the new face was at Fury training this week, it remains to be seen if Ryan Richter sticks around.

The Toronto FC defender and former Charleston Battery member has been training in Fury practice gear but he is not officially part of the team yet.

Though the team is believed to be negotiating a lone agreement that would bring Richter to Ottawa temporarily — likely for the fall season — the documents haven’t been signed to finalize the arrangement.

Fury brass haven’t commented on Richter being in Ottawa and Dos Santos declined to speak about it Thursday.

“Nothing is official,” he said.

The fact that Dos Santos is looking to bring in a defender is no surprise. The coach said he planned to bring someone in that could help the team’s backfield after a disappointing last-minute loss to San Antonio two weeks ago.

It’s likely that Richter, if he does stick with Ottawa for the year, would come in and play immediately.

Selected by the Philadelphia Union in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft, Richter won the USL Pro Championship while a member of the Charleston Battery, alongside Fury midfielder Nicki Paterson. Fury striker Tommy Heinemann is also a Battery alum.

Richter made 13 appearances for TFC last season, collecting one assist.

SIDELINES

Dos Santos said Thursday they need to build on a great effort in a 1-0 win against FC Edmonton last weekend if they want to beat the New York Cosmos this weekend. Dos Santos considers the Cosmos to be the best club in the NASL. He also credited his players for having the character to come back with the same attitude and work ethic following a win or a loss ... Dos Santos told TSN 1200 he started thinking about a replacement for departing goalkeeper coach Dave Bellemare as soon as he was told by Bellemare that he was leaving. The head coach also wished his colleague the best and said he understood Bellemare’s desire to move onto something else ... Friday will be the last training session of Fury FC’s spring season. The team leaves Saturday for New York.

chris.hofley@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @chrishofley