Ronald De Boer Speaks Rangers

[Ibroxric72 199]

What a legend. Sorry if its been posted elsewhere. 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40976325

 

Rangers: Old Firm derby 'a privilege' to play in - Ronald de BoerBottom of Form

 

"The Old Firm derby turned players into angry wolves"

Former Rangers star Ronald de Boer has praised the "intensity" of Old Firm derby matches and insists they were a "privilege" to play in.

De Boer, who played for the Ibrox club for four years from 2000, said in games between the Glasgow rivals Scottish players turned "into angry wolves".

"People say you've never experienced something like this [Old Firm] before and it was true," he told BBC Scotland.

"It was amazing. It's part of life as a Glaswegian."

The former Dutch international, who signed for Rangers from Barcelona in 2000, praised Glasgow's insatiable appetite for football.

De Boer earned 67 caps for the Netherlands and played in two World Cups

Scoring in first Old Firm game

"The experience was like, you've heard about it and people say you've never experienced something like this before and it was true. It was amazing. And you see the change in the Scottish players, a button turns: red eyes, they're like angry wolves. They were in another world and they kicked everything that was green and white, vice versa also.

"I'd never seen so much kicking in my life in a football game. And the referee was like, 'it's okay'. Normally in Holland, it would be a red card or at least yellow.

"It ended up with nine men or something; that was really what I remember from my first [Old Firm] game. Scoring was a great feeling and going to the fans - a great feeling."

Where does Old Firm derby rate?

Why Ronald de Boer chose Rangers over Manchester United

"I always say: El Clasico, not far in comparison with intensity with Rangers v Celtic. You feel it, even the Barcelona players say that, when they go to Celtic Park, when they lost when Rod Stewart was crying, it was a great moment.

"The intensity - an unbelievable privilege to stand on the pitch. Everywhere I go, if I go to Dubai or Australia, and you meet Scottish people, in Holland maybe they'd never say 'I'm a Feyenoord fan' or 'I'm an Ajax fan' - [the Scottish people say] 'I'm a Celtic fan' or 'by the way, I'm a bluenose' always - until they die. It's unbelievable, it's so in their veins and in their blood. It's part of life as a Glaswegian."

Stopping Celtic's domination under Martin O'Neill

"Yes of course, because it hurts. Not winning the league and your biggest rival is getting away with it quite comfortably. They had a great team, but you also feel like, maybe a [few] quality injections, then we could do it.

"I have a blue heart"

"So, the pressure was on every time, especially when you play those games and you meet each other at least four times a year.

"Then the third year, when it happens, so much (pressure) fell off your shoulders and you were so happy for the fans - and winning the treble was also a long time ago when it was [last] achieved - it makes it special.

"Then you look at yourself and what I said about winning the Champions League, you're really part of it. You have 12, 13 players who are really important in that treble - you were one of them."

On scoring 20 goals that season

"Yes, and I had over 20 assists. That was also one of my skills - sending someone away. I had a lot of great moments and [was] really consistent the whole season. When I look back, even with Ajax, scoring 20 goals and having 20 assists [for Rangers] I had never achieved that."

Was Barry Ferguson like one of those "angry wolves?"

"Yes, especially the first game. He was really kicking everybody, and I thought: 'Barry, you can do so much better than this', because he was a really good player. But then he forgot his football skills and he was like: 'I'm going to kick everything that's green and white'."

Ronald de Boer and Barry Ferguson in action during their Rangers days

Final day when he won the treble

"It was difficult but an unbelievable relief when we won it because it was so important after two seasons of not even being close to Celtic. To win the treble was amazing."

How far away are Rangers from challenging Celtic?

"I think that in two years' time they can challenge. Not this season, another season… two seasons more and from the third season then they can challenge."

Ronald de Boer: Rangers can challenge Celtic in 2019-20

On Rangers' financial troubles

"You thought this was a never-ending story. Celtic and Rangers will always be together and no one gets those clubs down. And when this happened, it's so sad. When you're playing there for four years you know what it means for the fans and that's something that's very painful.

"I have a blue heart… it's something that you always wear. You always hope that they do well, when you see them struggling so much, it hurts."

 

[sRcFoCt 7,637]

god forgot we signed him from Barca amazing we could tempt him to come to Rangers how times have changed.

P.S what a player

[BlueMexican 204]

Good honest interview

Incredible we managed to sign him and he was amazing even with 1 good knee.

Top influence on and off the park.

[ritchieshearercaldow 22,123]

Pity he was interviewed by the cunt English, obviously doesn't know any better.

[Smile 26,600]

Remember when he injured himself kicking the Hoarding was a special talent him and Ferguson looked awesome together.

Those were the days. Ferguson was awesome in this game.

 

[Deanzmeanzheinz 4,312]

Ive always argued that if Ray Wilkins (nothing against Razor i liked him too) is in the Hall of Fame then so should Ronald de Boer.

An unbelievable talent 

[Cedrick 8,048]

What a player also one of the best players I've seen in the air for not being particularly tall 

[siddiqi_drinker 14,635]

Not just about DeBoer what a team we had in those days, players like RDB,  Albertz, Amo, TAF and Mols.  Wonder if/when we will ever see that calibre of player again?

[siamthedanger 2,847]

Cracking player. Always remember being in the players lounge after the Motherwell game(I think), Arteta scored the first with a great free kick and De Boer scored the second. Was standing next to him watching the goals from the game and he just stood there with a big smile on his face seeing his goal, he loved it. 

[gregswanson 19]

I remember the goal he got in the old firm derby game of 06 October 2002; a great example of a perfectly timed header; class player indeed we were over joyed to have him at Ibrox

[Don54 25,517]

1 hour ago, gregswanson said:

I remember the goal he got in the old firm derby game of 06 October 2002; a great example of a perfectly timed header; class player indeed we were over joyed to have him at Ibrox

And here it is

 

[Don54 25,517]

Quality quote,

"Yes, especially the first game. He was really kicking everybody, and I thought: 'Barry, you can do so much better than this', because he was a really good player. But then he forgot his football skills and he was like: 'I'm going to kick everything that's green and white'."

[born a blue nose 90,693]

?

[Billy1984 6,314]

What a player he was.

[sandyinroyalblue 16,478]

5 minutes ago, Don54 said:

And here it is

 

Magnifcent header from De Boer but that cross again from Neil McCann was equally magnificent.

[kaiser1041 9,088]

The most intelligent player I've had the pleasure to watch live.

his awareness of space the timing of his runs were outstanding 

[Don54 25,517]

4 minutes ago, sandyinroyalblue said:

Magnifcent header from De Boer but that cross again from Neil McCann was equally magnificent.

Yeah wish we had someone now who could put a ball into the box like that, btw did you spot the tim celebrating just as the cross was sent in around 0.34, must have been a fucking  psychic 

[sandyinroyalblue 16,478]

Another McCann cross and late run goal by De Boer

 

 

 

[brazz1972 397]

Loved De Boer at Rangers. Real class act he was. Had a unique turn as well not quite the same as Mols but a similar wee dip of the shoulder that worked all the time. 

I can actually remember Rangers fans giving him pelters as well for not chasing lost causes into corners and his casual body language. Just shows when you look back how lucky we were to have a player of his calibre at the club.

[ForeverAndEver 71,347]

Him and Barry Ferguson together  

 

[stevemac 4,997]

3 hours ago, siddiqi_drinker said:

Not just about DeBoer what a team we had in those days, players like RDB,  Albertz, Amo, TAF and Mols.  Wonder if/when we will ever see that calibre of player again?

Doubtful pal. Whenever a player becomes any sort of top talent, they want away to England, Spain, France or Germany. 

Even sellick, who can offer champions league football, cup and league wins, comprises of premier league rejects, football manager specials and players that wouldn't get in the top half of a premier league side. Patrick Roberts is a coup for them, and he isn't near that class.

[Straight-Edge-Loyal 6,681]

What a player he was arguably the biggest name signing we ever made.

[McEwan's Lager 30,473]

30 minutes ago, Straight-Edge-Loyal said:

What a player he was arguably the biggest name signing we ever made.

Definitely up there. IMO the five in no particular order:

Terry Butcher - Captain of England
Ronald de Boer - World class attacking midfielder, Champions League winner, from Barcelona
Paul Gascoigne - World class midfielder - almost the first name on England's team sheet when fit
Brian Laudrup - World class winger / forward - European Championship winner, signed from Fiorentina via the Champions League holders
Basile Boli - European Cup winner, France's centre back
 

[Straight-Edge-Loyal 6,681]

46 minutes ago, McEwan's Lager said:

Definitely up there. IMO the five in no particular order:

Terry Butcher - Captain of England
Ronald de Boer - World class attacking midfielder, Champions League winner, from Barcelona
Paul Gascoigne - World class midfielder - almost the first name on England's team sheet when fit
Brian Laudrup - World class winger / forward - European Championship winner, signed from Fiorentina via the Champions League holders
Basile Boli - European Cup winner, France's centre back
 

 

46 minutes ago, McEwan's Lager said:

Definitely up there. IMO the five in no particular order:

Terry Butcher - Captain of England
Ronald de Boer - World class attacking midfielder, Champions League winner, from Barcelona
Paul Gascoigne - World class midfielder - almost the first name on England's team sheet when fit
Brian Laudrup - World class winger / forward - European Championship winner, signed from Fiorentina via the Champions League holders
Basile Boli - European Cup winner, France's centre back
 

Stephane G'Vivarsh (sp) world cup winner.

[McEwan's Lager 30,473]

9 minutes ago, Straight-Edge-Loyal said:

 

Stephane G'Vivarsh (sp) world cup winner.

Guivar'ch was average at best in the World Cup (he was taken off in the first half hour in their opening game) and was only in the squad because Jacquet needed a work horse to allow Zidane and Djorkaeff to play off and he didn't fully trust Dugarry to put in a shift.

We also signed him from Newcastle where he was discarded after 4 games.

In fact I think he actually surprised most on signing for us because we weren't expecting much but he did a job in the limited amount of time he was with us.