Ronald De Boer reveals the wild ways of Rangers icon Fernando Ricksen

Fernando was one of a kind says Ronald.

Ronald De Boer used to shake his head in disbelief at Fernando Ricksen’s wild ways when the pair shared a room together on away trips with Rangers.

But he believes the fearlessness his fellow Dutchman showed back then could be helping him now as he fights against motor neurone disease.

De Boer, a Light Blues star from 2000 until 2004, will appear at Ibrox for the first time in nearly three years this afternoon to play in Ricksen’s tribute match.

Many of the former Holland cap’s old team-mates will also take part including Michael Mols, Arthur Numan, Jorg Albertz, Peter Lovenkrands, Barry Ferguson and Nacho Novo.

Ricksen was often difficult to contain in many senses during his controversy-filled six-year stay in Glasgow and De Boer feels he could have achieved more with enhanced focus.

After all, it was he who, having missed a flight from Amsterdam back to Glasgow early one morning, found a novel way to ensure he still made it to training on time.

Diverting to Newcastle, he paid a helicopter pilot to fly him from there to Murray Park and jumped a few feet to the ground nearby when permission to land was refused.

As a frequent room-mate of his, De Boer experienced the sharp end of Ricksen’s eccentric personality more than most.

But while he admits finding his countryman infuriating at times, a deep affection for the 38-year-old’s talent brings him and several

others back together in his honour today.

That, combined with admiration for the way Ricksen has tackled his condition head on, means De Boer was always certain to lend his support.

“It is a big occasion for Fernando,” he said. “I am looking forward to being at Ibrox together again for him as I have experienced a lot with him.

“He was a great player and was like the full-backs you see now such as Dani Alves, Jordi Alba, David Alaba and Philipp Lahm.

“They can run for ages and with such ease and Fernando was like that. Technically he was very good and he had a good shot but he could attack and defend and was tough to beat.

“As a football player, he was very good but he could probably have had a better career if he was a little bit more serious. I used to room with him and he was definitely a character.

“He did some things that weren’t good for his career but he was very hyper too. When we were walking towards the training pitch, he would make funny tackles to kick the ball away.

“I’d turn to him and say: ‘What are you doing?’ He was like a little puppy who wanted to play. That was typical Fernando and he had the energy of four people.”