Stricken football hero Fernando Ricksen made an emotional return to Ibrox to watch old team mates play in today's Legends fundraiser match.
The Dutchman was photographed with the teams, made up of players such as Barry Ferguson, Lorenzo Amoruso and Michael Mols, who rallied around the former player for the emotional snap.
There is only one Fernando Ricksen. #RangersLegends pic.twitter.com/MEnCPMoWJR
— Kevin Wakeham (@kwrfc1995) March 24, 2018
📸Dutchman Fernando Ricksen with Jorg Albertz and Lorenzo Amoruso before kick off in today's #LegendsReturn game at Ibrox. pic.twitter.com/uJ87CGtIYy
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 24, 2018
Fans were both delighted and heartbroken to see Ricksen who received a standing ovation when he took to the pitch ahead of the match.
Many fans also took to social media to praise the 41-year-old's bravery and strength.
Absolutely breaks my heart seeing Fernando Ricksen now 😢
— Stewart (@StuWrites1) March 24, 2018
How much Fernando Ricksen has deteriorated in the last few months is honestly heart breaking! #SimplyTheBest
— JS (@Sanderson7Jamie) March 24, 2018
Emotional moment seeing all the team rally around Fernando Ricksen #rangerslegends pic.twitter.com/Vb5V11X44F
— Kenny Mc (@monkmc01) March 24, 2018
Ricksen, who played almost 200 times for Rangers between 2000 and 2006, was diagnosed four years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of motor neurone disease.
As reported by the Evening Times last month, Ricksen has admitted his battle with motor neurone disease leaves him breaking down in tears.
Describing how the muscle-wasting condition is taking its toll, Ricksen said: “I have medication, but it doesn’t always work.
“It’s usually events that mean a lot to me and the emotions of others that cause the crying.”
Today's charity match which saw Ally McCoist's Legend's side score a hat-trick against Walter Smith's men, hopes to raise funds for the Rangers Charity Foundation and the Rangers Youth Development Company.
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