Fighting Spirit
The Autobiography of Fernando Ricksen
Published on 16. May 2014
Book
Hardback
488 pages
978-1-909715-20-2 (ISBN)
Description
Fernando Ricksen was a fighter.
As a footballer, Ricksen carved out a fearsome reputation for Rangers, Zenit St Petersburg and Holland. Throughout his time at Ibrox, his aggressive approach won him hero status among the Rangers fans, and off the field he was just as dynamic a force, finding himself on the front page as often as in the sports section.
After leaving the club in 2006 and signing for Zenit St Petersburg, he went on to defeat his former teammates in the final of the 2008 UEFA Cup and established as wild a reputation in Russia as he had in Glasgow.
Ricksen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2013, and here his extraordinary life story is chronicled, along with his 6 year battle with the disease. Fighting Spirit details his wild experiences both on and off the field, in a rollercoaster journey of football, alcohol, drugs, sex, violence and corruption.
As a footballer, Ricksen carved out a fearsome reputation for Rangers, Zenit St Petersburg and Holland. Throughout his time at Ibrox, his aggressive approach won him hero status among the Rangers fans, and off the field he was just as dynamic a force, finding himself on the front page as often as in the sports section.
After leaving the club in 2006 and signing for Zenit St Petersburg, he went on to defeat his former teammates in the final of the 2008 UEFA Cup and established as wild a reputation in Russia as he had in Glasgow.
Ricksen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2013, and here his extraordinary life story is chronicled, along with his 6 year battle with the disease. Fighting Spirit details his wild experiences both on and off the field, in a rollercoaster journey of football, alcohol, drugs, sex, violence and corruption.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Birlinn General
Illustrations
16 Plates, color
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
554 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-909715-20-2 (9781909715202)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Fernando Ricksen | Vincent De Vries | Barry Ferguson
Fighting Spirit
The Autobiography of Fernando Ricksen
E-Book
05/2014
Arena Sport
€5.99
Available for download
Persons
Fernando Ricksen was born in Hoensbroek in1976 and played professional football for Fortuna Sittard, AZ Alkmaar, Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg as well as gaining international honours for the Netherlands. He worked as a freelance journalist for Panorama, ELF Voetbal, Helden Magazine, Life After Football, Men's Health, Quote and the Dutch Soccer Federation (KNVB) among many other publications. He died in September 2019.