His 32 goals, often at crucial times, have been terrific, but off the field, his professionalism and daily attitude to the game has worn off on so many of his teammates, and has been one of the many driving factors behind 55 being secured in record fashion last season.
Now, Defoe is staying for at least another year, both as a player, but also as a coach, and he struggled to hide his joy at the news when he spoke with RangersTV exclusively this morning.
"It is well-documented how much I love the club and the relationship I have with the fans, the players and the staff at the club,” Defoe beamed.
"So to get the deal over the line, I am just delighted. It is something I wanted to happen, even before the season finished, especially the way we finished the season with winning the league.
"It was the perfect time to be at the football club and it was so special, so to sign another contract as a player/coach, and to still be a part of it, it is an amazing feeling for me and my family."
The coaching role for Defoe will add a new dimension to his daily work at the Rangers Training Centre, and he views that as the perfect place for him to take his first steps in that area.
He continued: "It is something different and it is something new for me, and first of all, I want to thank the board, Ross [Wilson] and the manager and all the staff that have made this happen.
"It is an unbelievable opportunity for me and it just shows the appreciation I get from everyone at the football club which is the best feeling in the world more than anything else, and I can imagine once I get started, hopefully I will just flow into it and everything will happen quite naturally."
"The changing room is one of the best I have been part of in-terms of characters and people, and like I mentioned before, I just feel like it is the perfect time to be at the football club with winning the league, having that unbeaten run and showing that consistency throughout the season, which is always difficult in any league.
"We also have the best fans in the world, so it was an easy decision to make like the first time. I had a Zoom call with Ross and the manager, and for me, it was a case of 'just put the contract in front of me.'
"I am delighted and looking forward to it, and in-terms of coaching, it is that transition to something I have always wanted to do.
"There is no better place to do it. Winning the league like we did and the relationship with the fans and the players, there is no better place to do it.
"I know everyone involved with the football club and I trust the manager, Mick [Beale], who is an unbelievable coach, Gary Mac, TC [Tom Culshaw], all the staff - everyone who is involved in the football club are just fantastic people.
"I just appreciate the opportunity and I am looking forward to it and can't wait to get started."