Fernando Ricksen’s battle with motor neuron disease may have left him unable to play any part in today’s Legends Return match but that didn’t stop the former Rangers defender from getting the biggest cheer of the afternoon.
The star-studded charity fixture saw some of the club’s biggest stars return to Ibrox to raise money for the Rangers Charity Foundation and the Rangers Youth Development Company.
And while fan-favourites like Michael Mols and Barry Ferguson were welcomed back with a fabulous reception, the noise inside the stadium went to a whole other level when Ricksen appeared from the tunnel.
The ex-Netherlands international, who spent six years in the Light Blue jersey, revealed he had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2013.
Ricksen’s condition has left him requiring a wheelchair and he now struggles to speak without the help of an interpreter… but he’ll surely have had his spirits raised as the players quickly surrounded him for a picture as he took to the pitch:
Class video this, Rangers players past and present surround Fernando Ricksen ahead of the #LegendsReturn game at Ibrox (via @RFC_Charity) pic.twitter.com/YGb0ivy32y
— talkingbaws.com (@talkingbaws) March 24, 2018
The match eventually ended in an 8-3 victory for Ally McCoist’s side, as the club’s top-scorer got the better of legendary manager Walter Smith.
RSS