IT is 22 years since Brian Laudrup made his first trip across Glasgow to face Celtic – but he doesn’t struggle to bring the details to mind.
Why would he when it was one of the most enjoyable days of his career?
In four success-packed seasons with Rangers from 1994-98, the Light Blues’ greatest-ever foreign import helped the club win the last three of their nine-in-a-row titles, plus the Scottish and League Cups.
Yet it was at Hampden Park in 1994, at the temporary home of the club’s great rivals while Celtic Park was being modernised, that he picked up both his first Old Firm goal and Old Firm victory – and the memory brings an easy smile to his face.
He knew how much it meant.
After all, Laudrup had infamously worn a green tie to a Rangers training session one day – and returned to find it had been cut to pieces!
A Fraser Wishart free kick from deep, a headed flick-on by Mark Hateley then trademark acceleration from the Dane to go past Celtic goalkeeper Gordon Marshall before scoring with a cool finish.
It sealed a 3-1 victory, Laudrup having earlier helped create the second of Hateley’s scores.
It’s the kind of result which the current Rangers side will be dreaming of pulling off in Saturday’s return of the league fixture.
With the club exiled in the lower leagues since 2012, only the likes of Kenny Miller and Lee Wallace have experience of playing at the Hoops’ ground.
“It’s something they will never forget,” said Laudrup of the experience awaiting Joey Barton and Mark Warburton’s other imports from south of the border.
“They will have read about it, heard about from those who have played in the game.
“From the very first minute you join one of the Old Firm clubs, you are told about it.
“But to be part of it yourself is completely different.
“To actually play in one was terrifying.
“As a foreigner, it is difficult to get yourself into the rivalry, so it is all a little bit scary.
“Of course, on the other hand, it’s tremendous to be involved in one of the biggest derbies in the world.”
The Dane’s away day success was all the sweeter for what preceded it, the Hoops having beaten Rangers on their home turf in one of his first games of the 1994-95 season with goals from John Collins and Paul McStay.
“In my first couple of weeks, we were beaten in all competitions.
“We were knocked out of the Champions League by AEK Athens, knocked out of the League Cup by Falkirk and lost to Celtic in the league.
“So it wasn’t a great start – especially not the derby loss – but we picked up really well after that.
“In fact I think we only lost another two or three more times to Celtic in all the times we played against them while I was at Rangers.”
As Laudrup acknowledges, the mid-90s was a very different time.
When he was signed for £2.3m from Fiorentina, it was part of an aggressively ambitious signing policy, aimed at delivering European dominance.
Fast forward to the current day, and it is Celtic who are the dominant force in the game, while their rivals continue the process of consolidating since dropping to the lowest league in 2012.
“You use the word ‘established’ about Celtic, and that’s exactly what Rangers need, to establish themselves again,” said Laudrup, now 47.
“We all know they have been away from the best division for a number of years, but nevertheless they are back and are trying to compete.
“From what I have seen, they have a very good coach who wants them to play the right way.
“But players coming from outside, who haven’t been used to these pressures, who have never had the experience of playing for medals or titles, they have to get used to that environment.
“I think it is going to take some time, but hopefully for Rangers fans, the club, and Scottish football, we will see a strong Rangers side soon.
“That is what we all want – for Rangers to compete and make Scottish football good again.
“It’s great to see them back, but they have drawn two games already, so the other teams are doing anything in their power to stop Rangers.”
So does Laudrup fear that with their advantages, the Hoops will be able to kick on and eclipse the nine-in-a-row heroics of his side?
“Only time will tell. If in 10 years’ time that is the case, then that is the case,” he said.
“I’m sure Rangers will do their utmost to close the gap, but the economic power of playing in the Champions League will be to Celtic’s advantage.
“That’s for Rangers to catch up. And for Aberdeen too.
“Hopefully, one day it won’t just be Celtic playing in the Champions League.
“But it is getting increasingly difficult for Scottish clubs to play in the Champions League.
“We’ll see what happens, but it’s great to see Rangers back.
“Even Celtic fans will be looking forward to the Old Firm games again.”
BRIAN LAUDRUP was speaking at an event organised by the Ashfield Academy of Football, in Glasgow’s Possilpark, where he gave youngsters a one-off training session.
He said: “I played a lot of football in Scotland, but this was my first time running a coaching session. So it was a bit special.”
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