Rangers team join mourners to pay homage to Ricksen

Glasgow (AFP) – Rangers players past and present were among thousands of mourners who gathered in Glasgow for the funeral of Fernando Ricksen on Wednesday.

Led by manager Steven Gerrard, the Rangers first team stood at the front door of Ibrox, joining supporters who lined the streets outside the stadium, to pay tribute to Ricksen as his funeral cortege drove past before the service at Wellington Church.

Former Rangers team-mates Michael Mols, Thomas Buffel and Nacho Novo wore black shirts with Ricksen’s name and number two on the back as they carried his coffin into the church.

The Dutch international died last week aged 43, following a six-year battle with motor neurone disease.

Ricksen’s wife and family, also wearing black football tops with his surname and number on the back, were applauded by crowds around the church as they arrived.

With Rangers in action later on Wednesday away to Livingston in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals, the club was represented at the funeral by Gerrard, his assistant Gary McAllister and goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who came up against Ricksen in his playing days, was also in attendance.