Christian Vieri, Italian powerhouse poster boy,epitome of the golden generation of Football Italia was a mere swing and kick of inflated leather from 12 yards to send Viola Gigliati to a European football final.
That May evening in Florence was tempered by the humid breeze of a Southern European spring in sweet synchronisation with a deathly hush broken only by the thrum of blue heartbeats in the stands.
Vieri stepped forwards, staring blankly at Neil Alexander, his small steps became a steady run up, the penalty spot beckoned, a swing of his left boot and ... blazed over the bar!
Rangers had one foot in Manchester and by God the city certainly would prove to be not big enough.
Less than five minutes later the tie was over and Glasgow Rangers would have their first European final since Barcelona 1972. One man stood in front of the travelling Bears, drenched in sweat earned through battle on foreign soil and led a prompt staunch cacophony of celebration, arms held aloft embracing the wall of blue noise before him.
That man was Rangers own Sasa Papac. The image of the Bosnian international, back to the camera, in front of the travelling bears in Florence that evening is one that will go down not only in Rangers footballing history but also proudly adorns the walls of the Papac residence.
“This picture is on the wall in my house and is a reflection of my emotions from this game. It was an incredible night for all Rangers supporters. When Nacho scored his penalty, it was the greatest feeling in my whole career”.
It was a far cry from an Ibrox career that had been sparked by apathetic indifference.
Brought to the blue half of Glasgow’s dear green place under the cloak of Paul Le Guen’s short lived Rangers revolution, the Bosnian defender arrived with a plethora of other Alpine themed signings from Austria Vienna. Sasa Papac was initially lauded as a Centre back and whilst his early time at the club was uninspiring, the impression that Scotland’s premier footballing institution left on him was anything but:
この記事は WATP Magazine の Issue 19 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は WATP Magazine の Issue 19 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Sasa Papac Ibrox Icon
Christian Vieri, Italian powerhouse poster boy,epitome of the golden generation of Football Italia was a mere swing and kick of inflated leather from 12 yards to send Viola Gigliati to a European football final.
Where Did It All Go Wrong?
David Edgar looks at Mark Warburton’s time at Rangers and tries to pinpoint why it didn’t work out...
Tactical Tribulations
If the truth be told, the early swashbuckling football played under Mark Warburton had been a distant memory for some time.
Loan Rangers
Whilst the January transfer window may not have been as busy as fans had expected or wanted, Rangers approached the period with a focused list of targets designed to strengthen a beleaguered midfield and provide longterm goal-keeping cover.