precious few players can claim to have made a good career move when leaving
Rangers. From Jim Baxter to Paul Gascoigne, Willie Johnston to Brian
Laudrup, Colin Stein and Derek Johnstone to Mark Hateley and Mo Johnston,
each and every one of them found their better days behind them when they
left Ibrox. I had fancied Gio Van Bronckhorst to make a big impact at
Arsenal but, unfortunately, injury problems have put the brakes on his
progress and, although he recently picked up an FA Cup winners medal as an
unused sub, England has yet to see him at his best.
But if it takes the exception to prove the rule, Rino Gattuso did it big
time at Old Trafford when he was the best player on the park when AC Milan
beat Juventus on penalties to win the European Cup. The wee man dug into
tackle after tackle, he was first to every ball and his distribution,
whether from the back or midfield, was first class. Not bad for a guy who,
if you believed the 'experts' who write about Scottish fitba, couldnae play.
Now known by his Sunday name Gennaro, Rino has established himself as the
vital cog in his team, just like he threatened to do when he arrived at
Ibrox in 1997 as a wee growler, his hair all over the place, constantly in
need of a shave, and with a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp. These days,
he seems to have had a bit of a makeover, with his hair neatly cut and
wearing a trendy arty-farty beard.
I felt Rino was tailor-made for Scottish football and reckoned Walter was
grooming him for the Stuart McCall role in the middle of the park. The
media men expected Italian imports to be classy acts, no-nonsense enforcers
like Porrini, flamboyant posers like Amo or ruthless hit-men like Negri.
How could Rangers justify going to Italy for a midfield grafter when
Scottish football was overloaded with argumentative, talentless
hod-carriers?
Sadly it didn't quite work out for Rino. Part of Walter's team which blew
ten-in-a-row, he didn't hit it off with Tricky Dicky and was soon heading
back to Italy and Salernitana (did they ever come across with the money they
owe Rangers?). But Ibrox had been a great learning experience, he blossomed
into a real player and it wasn't long before AC Milan swooped. It has all
come good for him and he scaled the heights at Old Trafford.
When a top quality player like Edgar Davids doesn't fancy it, you can be
sure his opposite number knows his stuff. Rino was all over him like a rash
and it was no surprise to see the Dutchman start to complain, rub his shins
and develop a limp, looking towards the dug-out with a 'get me out of here'
grimace. From that moment onwards, I fancied AC Milan to win it and my only
disappointment was that Gattuso did not get to take one of the penalties.
At times like this, we tend to wonder what might have happened if he'd
stayed with the Gers. I'm not convinced it would have been a happy story,
either for Rino or for Rangers. He is hardly likely to be regretting a move
which led him to a European Cup medal and I reckon he was a sure fire
certainty to find himself in constant trouble with refs. You need only look
at the problems Fernando Ricksen is having with those jokers. For Bears
unfamiliar with Rino's style, think Ricksen - then multiply it be ten!!!
But I'm delighted it has all worked out for the wee man. His presence at
Old Trafford gave me a special interest in the European Cup Final and, while
it was hardly a classic, Rino did all I expected of him and played the game
of his life. And in his quieter moments, I'm sure the news that the Gers
are back at the top of the heap will put a smile on his 'handsome' face.
Nice one Rino.
LITTLE BOY BLUE