Fernando Ricksen

Fernando Ricksen

Ricksen playing for Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Fernando Jacob Hubertina Henrika Ricksen[1]
Date of birth	(1976-07-27)27 July 1976
Place of birth	Hoensbroek, Netherlands[1]
Date of death	18 September 2019(2019-09-18) (aged 43)
Place of death	Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Central midfielder, right-back
Youth career
1980–1986	EHC
1986–1988	RKONS
1988–1992	Roda JC
1992–1994	Fortuna Sittard
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1997	Fortuna Sittard	94	(5)
1997–2000	AZ	92	(12)
2000–2006	Rangers	182	(13)
2006	→ Zenit Saint Petersburg (loan)	14	(2)
2007–2009	Zenit Saint Petersburg	22	(0)
2010–2013	Fortuna Sittard	48	(1)
Total		452	(33)
International career
2000–2003	Netherlands	12	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Fernando Jacob Hubertina Henrika Ricksen (27 July 1976 – 18 September 2019) was a Dutch professional footballer who played as a right back and central midfielder. After winning Eerste Divisie titles with Fortuna Sittard and AZ, he joined Rangers for £3.75 million in 2000. In six years with the club from Glasgow, he won two Scottish Premier League titles, two Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups. He left in 2006 for Zenit Saint Petersburg, initially on loan, and won honours including the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2008. He was dismissed by Zenit in 2009, and spent the final years of his career back at Fortuna Sittard. Internationally, he earned 12 caps for the Netherlands between 2000 and 2003.

Ricksen was elected to Rangers's Hall of Fame in 2014. He suffered from motor neurone disease and died from the disease on 18 September 2019, aged 43.