Who was Fernando Ricksen, what was his cause of death, who is his wife and how many children does he have?
THE football world is in mourning for the passing of Fernando Ricksen.
A legend with Scottish giants Rangers, the Dutch star helped the Gers win two league titles, two Scottish Cups and three League Cups in the early 2000s.
Who was Fernando Ricksen?
ABLE to operate anywhere on the right-flank, Ricksen was a no-nonsense Dutchman famed for his combative style.
That won him adulation amongst Rangers fans after the club bought him for a bargain-bucket price of just £3.75million in 2000.
Ricksen began his career at Fortuna Sittard in Holland, before a move to AZ Alkmaar where he made almost 100 appearances for the club.
He won the Eredivise title in 1998, with the Gers swooping in two years later.
Famed for his big personality on and off the pitch, Ricksen was a key member of a Rangers side which went toe-to-toe with Celtic every year for domestic honours at the turn of the Millennium.
But he did occasionally go too far, infamously pushing then Rangers chairman John McClelland into a swimming pool before a match against Panathinaikos in 2003.
A week later he was banned from the Dutch national team for a smashing down a hotel door after coming home from a night out, leaving Rangers boss Alex McLeish tearing his hair out.
He said: “We would rather have Fernando on the back pages and we have told him that.”
In the 2004-05 season Ricksen won the SPFA player of the year and helped Rangers to a league and cup double.
When he left the club in 2006, he went on to Zenit St Petersburg before heading back for a swansong at Fortuna.
He hung up his boots in 2013 having won 13 caps for Holland and the same number of major trophies in a glittering career.
What was his cause of death?
RICKSEN was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2013.
The disease put him in a hospice where he required full-time care, which he knew he would require for the rest of his life.
He has been fighting the muscle-wasting illness for six years, but lost his battle on September 18, 2019.
Ricksen was just 43 years old.
In a statement, Rangers FC said: “Rangers is deeply saddened to announce that former player Fernando Ricksen passed away this morning following his battle with motor neuron disease.
“The thoughts of everyone at Rangers is today with his wife Veronika, his daughter Isabella and all his family and friends.”
What is motor neurone disease?
Motor neurone disease is a rare condition.
About two in every 100,000 Brits develop it each year.
It affects specialist nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing the function of motor neurons to break down.
When this neurodegeneration occurs, everyday activities become increasingly difficult or completely impossible.
Over time, the condition progressively worsens as the muscle weakens and can visibly waste.
The majority of those diagnosed with the disease are given a three-year life expectancy starting from when they first notice the symptoms.
Who is his wife?
THROUGHOUT his battle with motor neurone disease, Ricksen was cared for by his wife Veronika.
The pair married in 2014.
Veronika is Russian and the pair had been dating for six years when he got his diagnosis.
In an interview with the Scottish Sun in 2017, she said: “It has been very hard seeing how his health has deteriorated but I am really proud at how he is handling fighting MND.
“Many others would have given up in this situation but Fernando hasn’t and never will.
“He still has the same sense of humour and he is the still character I fell in love with when I met him.
“We still have a happy marriage. I love him more then ever because I am so proud of him.”
Veronika is Ricksen’s second wife – he was formerly married to Graciela L’Ami.
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How many children did he have?
RICKSEN and Veronika have one daughter together.
Isabella was born in 2011 and Veronika admits that it has been tough looking after them both.
She told the Scottish Sun: “I can’t leave him alone. When I am bringing Isaballa to school, then Fernando is alone.
“But that is fine for him – it’s not a problem. However, the rest of the time I must be with Fernando. I must support him.”