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Fernando Ricksen funeral: Procession for former Rangers star passes Ibrox in emotional scenes


Thousands of Rangers supporters gathered to pay their final respects to Fernando Ricksen along with former team-mates and opponents on Wednesday.

A funeral cortege drove past Ibrox ahead of a funeral in Glasgow’s west end.

The former Holland international died a week ago, aged 43, after a six-year fight against motor neurone disease.

Ricksen played more than 250 times for the Gers after joining from AZ Alkmaar in 2000, winning two league titles during his time in Glasgow.

He remained a firm favourite among the Rangers fans and spent his final months at St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie.

Ricksen’s hearse was draped in Rangers scarves

Tributes adorn the area outside Rangers’ Ibrox stadium

A number of Ricksen’s former Gers colleagues were present, including Steven Thompson, Billy Dodds and Nacho Novo.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was also in attendance.

Ricksen’s hearse was draped in Rangers scarves, as it made it’s way down to the stadium.

Thousands of fans turned out in memory

A statement from Rangers before the procession began read: “The funeral cortege will make its way to Ibrox Stadium, for 1pm where it will stop briefly outside the stadium front door to allow fans to pay their respects from the opposite side of the road.

“The procession will come down Broomloan Road and proceed along Edmiston Drive driving east before heading to the Clyde Arc bridge, and on to the church.

“The cortege will then proceed to Wellington Church for the funeral at 2pm, before a private, family service at Linn Crematorium is held.

Ex-Rnagers players Steven Thompson and Billy Dodds attend the funeral

Celtic manager Neil Lennon arrives at Wellington Church, Glasgow

“The family would like to thank everyone who has paid their respects to Fernando over the last week, it has been a source of comfort at a very difficult time.”

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard led his current squad, including England star Jermaine Defoe, to pay their respects to the former player.

Speaking following Ricken’s death, Gerrard said: “It’s very sad news for everyone, more importantly for his young family.

“On behalf of the club, I would like to pay tribute to Fernando. A fantastic player who played with his heart on his sleeve.

Ricksen was a popular figure among fans at Ibrox

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“I was lucky enough to meet him a couple of times, you could see the fight he was putting up. The tributes will pour in not just for the footballer, but for the man.”

Ricksen raised awareness and funds to help other sufferers of motor neurone disease through his own foundation.

A benefit match for the Dutchman, held at Ibrox in January 2015, saw more than 41,000 fans attend Ibrox and raised £320,000, with the proceeds split between Fernando, his daughter Isabella, MND Scotland and the Rangers Charity Foundation.





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