Fernando Ricksen

[Ross420]

'Wherever I go trouble followd... but I dont give a s**t' - says bad boy Ricksen

By Keith Mcleod
Daily Record


RANGERS bad boy Fernando Ricksen has lifted the lid on his controversial lifestyle and admitted trouble follows him around.

The Dutch international revealed his stormy relationship with girlfriend Graciela was now back on, following a major split and the purchase of a luxury penthouse apartment in Glasgow .

And he dubbed neighbours near the couple's former home in posh Newton Mearns, in Glasgow, as ``moaning old age pensioners'' who were ``always complaining'' and in bed by 11 o'clock.

Ricksen, who spoke freely to a Dutch newspaper, admitted he now has a reputation for boozing, womanising and being in trouble with the police.

He said: ``Fernando is the one with the reputation.

``He has a screw loose anyway. He'll take all the hammering.

``And because people know I don't give a s***, they think I'm not going to moan about it either.''

He added: ``I don't give a monkey's. I am Fernando Ricksen and I do what I want.''

The defender said his attitudes may stem from a troubled childhood.

His parents divorced when he was eight. He has never seen his father since and is no longer on speaking terms with his mother.

During his stay in Newton Mearns, Ricksen incurred the wrath of his neighbours by setting off a firework in his garden in the middle of the night.

He said: ``That was just a bit of fun. Sending a big rocket to the sky from your own garden, is that such a crime?

``I know it was a bit impulsive but that's me, you know. I like doing things like that.

``At the time I was still living in Newton Mearns where I was surrounded by a mountain of old age pensioners, who are in bed by 11 pm and start moaning and ringing the police.''

Ricksen also faced a drunk-driving rap, where a sheriff rejected his claims that he had downed swift drinks after crashing his car near his home and that he had been sober behind the wheel.

He admitted that the various incidents he has been involved in have fuelled his reputation as a hell-raiser. But he also claimed the press blew incidents out of all proportion.

Ricksen said: ``I don't know what it is with me. I am in the papers all the time.

``Even when I think there is no news around me I still finish up in the bloody papers.

``Well, that's life here in Scotland. It is a bit strange for a Dutchman like me who does not get carried away about anything. I just take it in my stride. ``Wherever I go,wherever I go out, whether to eat or drink, there always seems to be bloody trouble when I am on the scene.

``I seem to set things in motion. In a bar, in a pub, in the dressing room and on the pitch of course.

``Look at what happened against Aberdeen. An Aberdeen supporter comes running half way across the pitch to give me a hiding.''

After Graciela returned to Holland with her son Wim in the summer, stories emerged of Ricksen's alleged affairs with other women and public bust-ups.

He said: ``I laugh at it. Honestly, I don't go out to upset people.''

Ricksen also admitted that, following a sickening head injury inthe Champions League two weeks ago, he went on a night out. That angered his club as exclusively revealed in the Record.

He said: ``Yes, the medical staff of Rangers were not too happy about that.

``Well, sorry. I am just not the type of guy to sit at home on the sofa. I did not have to play on the Saturday so I went out.

``The club where I wenthad a VIP section. I was not bothering anybody. I just had a comfortable drink in some seat and made sure nothing could happen to my head.

``At 2 am, I stepped outside. There were a couple of groups arguing on the street. One group of people, probably Rangers fans, were cheering me.

``The others, probably Celticboys, were whistling at me. Well, that happens all the time. Some coppers turned up and politely guided me to a taxi. No problems whatsoever.

``What do I read in the papers the next day ? Ricksen provokes fights in city and more bull****.

``Well, I could have gone against everything that was written about me. But what's the point ? I wouldbe busy with that all the time. It's up to people what they want to believe.

``If I want to go out, I go out. I am not changing my life for other people and I really don't think I do daft things when I go out.

``What surprises me most is that the media thinks I am interesting enough to write about. Look atme, I'm not one of the world's greatest strikers and I hardly ever score a goal.

``And although I don't think I am that ugly, I definitely don't belong in a category of male models.''

Some of Ricksen's Dutch international colleagues have dubbed him ``the new Paul Gascoigne'' because of his reputation.

But the player insists he is now a stronger person.

He revealed that after a troubled first six months with Rangers, he heard the club was trying to sell him back to Holland.

He said: ``I thought, `Never'. I had joined a massive club and nobody in Holland would see me crawling backhome. I would rather f*** up in Scotland.''

Ricksen said of his upbringing:``My parents got divorced when I was eight years old. I have never seen my dad since, so I have done everything on my own.

``At a later stage I broke with my mum too. I don't go out looking for them now. I don't think I will pick up the phone and say, `Hi, dad, how are you now'.''

Ricksen also revealed: ``I am back with Graciela. She thought I was too focused on my football. That gave tensions as well as the stories about me in the papers.

``I could understand her. But we have decided to have a fresh start.

``We don't care what people think or say about us.''

Ricksen, who has a ``Graciela'' tattoo on his arm, added: ``It would be hard to find another girl with a name like that, as well.''

[NewYorkCelticBhoy]

No offense, but GOD do I hate Ricksen.

He is so much more of a tw*t than Lennon. There's just no comparison.

"I don't give a monkey's. I am Fernando Ricksen and I do what I want.''

He's the George W. Bush of Scottish Football...

[Ross420]

"I don't give a monkey's. I am Fernando Ricksen and I do what I want"