RANGERS LEGENDS 4 MANCHESTER UNITED LEGENDS 1
It was nostalgia that filled Ibrox. The willingness to recall past glories was a powerful enough draw to bring more than 23,000 people to the stadium, and the opportunity to hail again some old heroes.
The cause was worthy, since the money raised was being donated to the Rangers Charity Foundation and UNICEF. Fans arrived in search of familiar themes, and it turned out that age and weariness had not dulled every instinct.
Ally McCoist scored two goals, Jorg Albertz lashed in a powerful effort from long range, Andy Goram made a couple of sharp and agile saves, and Nacho Novo spurned several clearcut goalscoring opportunities. The latter seemed almost pained by the way his involvement turned out.
Few of the Rangers players received a more rousing reception than the Spaniard, who left the club three years ago. Novo is keen on returning to Ibrox this summer, when his contract at Recreativo Huesca, the second division Spanish club, expires. In a sense, this match was a trial for the 34-year-old, although he played for his club on Sunday and arrived in Glasgow at 11.30pm that night.
"I would have enjoyed it more if I had scored," Novo said. "I would not mind coming back here at all. My agent will speak to some people. I will speak to Coisty and see what the situation is."
Novo had to defer to the Rangers manager yesterday. McCoist came off the bench to score twice – both well-struck shots from long range, the second from a free-kick – and his clinical touch was in stark contrast to Novo's. Although the Spaniard was his usual quick and livewire self, and it was possible to see the energy and dynamism he would bring to Rangers, as well as the personality to raise the spirits of the support, he remains a wayward finisher.
As a free agent, who knows the demands of playing for Rangers and is desperate to return to the club, there would be some appeal to the Ibrox side in re-signing their former striker, who looked fit and industrious.
"It is hard for me in Spain at the moment because my family are at school in Glasgow and my little boy is three years of age and I miss him," Novo said. "They want me back here and we will see what happens. It was really hard to leave and in the three years I have been away I have never stopped following Rangers.
"You can't compare the fans here with those in Spain. It's about the whole culture here, football is part of it and I love that people are always talking about football. They still fill the stadium for the team. I would like to play a part in helping the club back to the top division. I would never say no to this team – it is time now for some talking and we will see what happens."
The occasion was about reliving old memories, and the turnout was impressive just two days after more than 50,000 people attended Rangers' last game of the season. The game began at walking pace and slowed from there, but there were enough cameos and popular figures to entertain the crowd.
Sir Alex Ferguson was the centre of attention in the directors box, and Rangers fans interrupted some good-natured booing of former Celtic player Dion Dublin to cheer Ferguson when his face appeared on the giant television screens.
Brian Laudrup and Michael Mols were still capable of moments of ingenuity, Alex Rae remained fiercely competitive and snapped into tackles, while Stuart McCall played up to the frivolity of the occasion by rolling for several yards after being knocked over, then pretending to be dizzy. He also yelled at the bench to be substituted early in the half and mocked storming off up the tunnel when he was eventually replaced.
United opened the scoring through Ronnie Johnsen, after Dwight Yorke back-heeled the ball to him inside the penalty area.
Albertz equalised with a typical long-range shot, then McCoist took centre stage. Rae added the fourth goal before the end.
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