Former Rangers player Fernando Ricksen dies aged 43 from motor neurone disease
Written by News on 19/09/2019
Former Glasgow Rangers footballer Fernando Ricksen has died aged 43 following a six-year battle with motor neurone disease.
The Dutch star, who played as a right-back and right midfielder, announced he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in October 2013.
He passed away in a hospice on Wednesday morning.
Ricksen spent six years playing for Rangers and earned 12 caps for the Netherlands at international level.
The Scottish club released a statement following his death.
“Rangers is deeply saddened to announce that former player Fernando Ricksen passed away this morning following his battle with motor neurone disease,” the statement read.
“Fernando spent six trophy-laden seasons at Ibrox having initially joined a number of other Dutch players under manager Dick Advocaat in the summer of 2000.”
The club also shared a video tribute to the footballer on Twitter.
The father-of-one was signed by Rangers from AZ Alkmaar for £3.75m in 2000.
His career highlight at Rangers came in the 2004-05 season where he jointly won the SPFA player of the year award after scoring nine goals from midfield in his 40 appearances for the club.
Following his diagnosis, he raised awareness and money to help other sufferers of motor neurone disease through the Fernando Ricksen Foundation.
A benefit match held for him at Ibrox in 2015 was attended by more than 41,000 fans and raised £320,000, with the proceeds split between the sportsman, his daughter Isabella, MND Scotland and the Rangers Charity Foundation.
“The thoughts of everyone at Rangers are today with his wife Veronika, his daughter Isabella and all his family and friends,” Rangers added.
The footballer won two Scottish titles, two Scottish Cups and three League Cups in a six-year spell at Ibrox after joining Rangers in 2000.
He moved to Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2006 where he won a Russian title and the UEFA Cup, beating Rangers in the final in 2008.
In 2010, Ricksen rejoined his childhood team Fortuna Sittard, signing a contract until the end of the season, and in 2014 he was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame.
(c) Sky News 2019: Former Rangers player Fernando Ricksen dies aged 43 from motor neurone disease
