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.

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: