Farewell, Fernando
Thousands pay tribute to Ibrox star
THOUSANDS of fans joined football stars yesterday to pay their final respects to former Rangers captain Fernando Ricksen.
The Dutch international passed away aged 43 last week after losing a six-year battle with motor neurone disease.
His cortege passed Ibrox Stadium, where hundreds of fans – many in tears as they sang his name – had gathered in a sea of blue to say a final goodbye to the player.
Ricksen’s funeral service at Wellington Church in Glasgow’s Hillhead featured emotional tributes from former teammates including Marvin Andrews.
Ex-Rangers players including Ally McCoist, Michael Mols, Nacho Novo, Thomas Buffel and Tore Andre Flo attended the funeral.
Members of the current squad and manager Steven Gerrard were also in attendance, along with his Celtic counterpart Neil Lennon.
Pallbearers, who included Mols and Novo, wore black shirts with Ricksen’s No2 on the back in tribute to the father of one.
His widow Veronika, 33, also wore the top as she escorted their seven-year-old daughter Isabella to the service. The Rev Stuart McQuarrie told more than 300 mourners inside the church it was not an ‘orthodox service, although nothing about Fernando ever was’. He added: ‘The contribution Fernando made can be seen from fans of Rangers and our greatest rivals, Celtic, and other teams laying tributes at Ibrox.
‘Veronika, you are part of the Rangers family and Scotland will always be your home.
‘All our lives are more beautiful, Fernando, because we lived with you.’
Ricksen’s coffin was brought in to the church as Abba song Fernando played and was applauded out to The Best by Tina Turner. Family friend Roy Knez read a tribute on behalf of Veronika and Isabella.
It said: ‘You know how much I love you and how happy I am to be your wife and how happy Isabella is to be your daughter.
‘I can’t tell you how I feel at the moment now that you are gone. I can’t imagine one single day without you – you are my soulmate and the love of my life, my everything.
‘Keep shining, my love, love you to the moon and back.’
Andrews said: ‘We should all take inspiration from Fernando when faced with a fight.
‘Fernando shows us that no matter who you support, what background you come from, where you work or how much money you have in the account, we are all human beings first and foremost. ‘Let’s love one another.’ Rangers historian David Mason recalled Ricksen’s career at Ibrox.
He said: ‘He was always up to mischief but on the pitch was all about hard work.
‘Fernando was always first in line to meet the kids in the Sick Kids hospital. He was a child at heart. Today we say, “Rest in peace, friend, you did us proud”.’
A private cremation service was held at Linn Crematorium for his family.
Ricksen revealed his diagnosis in October 2013 and played a vital role in raising awareness and money for MND.
‘You are my soulmate’