THE fighting spirit that marked Fernando Ricksen’s playing career never faltered.
Just as he was feisty and determined on the pitch, the former Rangers captain maintained a similar outlook as he battled motor neurone disease, the condition which ultimately took his life yesterday at the age of just 43.
The Dutchman faced his fate
head-on, bravely setting up a foundation in his own name to lead the search for a cure that might save others from the ravages of the muscle-wasting disease.
Yet it is not the sight of him in his final years that will be remembered by Rangers supporters. It will be the image of the jubilant midfielder leading the celebrations after skippering the Ibrox side to their most dramatic title win – Helicopter Sunday in 2005 when they leapfrogged Celtic on the final day to secure the league crown.
Born on July 27, 1976, in Hoensbroek near the Dutch-German border, football ran in Ricksen’s blood.
His grandfather Willem Szymiczek won a Dutch title with Limburgia in 1950 but, had the family elder had his choice, Ricksen would have
made his name on the green baize
of the billiards table, having
watched the youngster finish third in the national championships aged just 12.
Though after ditching his
billiards cue, he embarked on the football career that would eventually earn him 12 Holland caps, seven major honours with Rangers and Scotland’s Players’ Player of the
Year award.
Ricksen is survived by his wife Veronika and daughter Isabella.
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