Glasgow Rangers' Nacho Novo - Now Even Spaniards Know Who He Is

Ozren Podnar reports...

Two footballers who used to be anonymous in their homelands and have found fame abroad, now shine side by side at Glasgow Rangers.

In fact, Nacho Novo and Dado Prso are the players most responsible for bringing Rangers back in contention for the Scottish title, after Celtic had built a seemingly unassailable lead in the first two months of the season.

By December 10th, Novo had scored 11 and Prso 8 goals, over a half of Rangers' total in the Scottish Premier league.

When then 22-year-old Nacho Novo left third-division Huesca in the summer of 2001, he was arguably the least known Spanish player playing overseas. At the time, except for his parents and Huesca's utillero, hardly anyone noticed his departure to Raith Rovers. Now, he is a celebrity in Great Britain, and the Spanish press reports daily on his adventures in Scotland.

He is so prominent that some Celtic fans have threatened him with death because he chose a "wrong" side.

Last November Novo found the graffiti "Novo R.I.P." on the fence of his home, the words appearing the day after the Old Firm derby which Rangers won by 2-0, with goals by Novo from a penalty and the Croat striker Prso.

On the other hand, Dundee FC had to issue a public appeal to their fans for tolerance toward Novo after he became yet another Dundee player to have joined Rangers.

Novo was manager Alex McLeish's sixth summer signing, along with Prso, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Alex Rae, Dragan Mladenovic and Marvin Andrews. Already a good connoisseur of Scottish soccer, this Galician from Ferrol impressed in 2001/02 by scoring 19 goals in 36 games for Raith Rovers and earning a transfer to Premier League Dundee.

After one year's adaptation, he was easily the best man at Dens Park last season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions. The former Ugly Duckling has developed into a wonderful footballing swan.

After such success, there was no doubt: there were only two possible destinations for Novo: Celtic or Rangers. The Spaniard insisted on Gers; long gone are the times when Catholics were less then welcome at Ibrox. Some had doubts whether Novo would win a regular spot in the competition for places with Shota Arveladze and Prso, but McLeish soon found out he could not do without this sublime penalty area predator.

"I learned a lot from players like Fabrizio Ravanelli and Alberto Carranza at Dundee, but there is a tremendous difference between by former club and Rangers," he told Madrid daily Marca.

"There is a far greater pressure at Ibrox since we are expected to win every game and win trophies. A season without a trophy is considered a disaster. Then, at Rangers everything is more professional and better organized. Finally, I have come from playing before 15,000 supporters to playing in front of a 50,000 sellout crowd, which is impressive."

Ibrox Park inspires the players with a lot of strength.
"You cannot imagine how much. While we are still in the tunnel on our way towards the field we shudder upon hearing the roar from the stands. Our fans do not stop cheering for a second and the players feel this support."

Novo has taken his newly acquired stardom in Glasgow in his stride.
"I feel fine, except for being insulted a couple of times by Celtic fans while walking through the city centre.

With Rangers fans I have a wonderful relationship. A while ago some relatives visited me so I took them to the club shop to buy them shirts with my name, but there I was told they had sold out!"

For the Rangers' faithful, Novo is a possible successor to Ally McCoist, the greatest scorer in the club's history.

"Some have said I resemble Ally, because he was on the short side like myself. He was a natural born killer, very fast and with a tremendous nose for goal. But, I am far from him. He scored 350 goals."

Henrik Larsson is a more realistic comparison.
"Last season I was only behind Larsson in the scoring charts, and now I am behind Hartson. It would be great to finish top and be Larsson's successor, because he is such a magnificent striker. He has proven this even at Barcelona."

His mates have accepted him nicely, specially his Croatian partner up front.
"After one game, before the TV cameras, Prso said in Spanish, 'Nacho, seleccion' (Nacho to the national team).

I just said, God willing. I have both feet firmly on the ground because I know how hard it is to make it to the national team past such monsters like Raul, Torres, Diego Tristan, Morientes or Reyes. Now I'm only thinking about Rangers, and if one day I get my chance in the national team, it will be like touching the skies."

Fact file

Name: Ignacio "Nacho" Novo
Birthdate: March 26th 1979
Birthplace: Ferrol
Height and weight: 175 cm, 70 kg
Position: forward
Club career (by 12/10/2004)
2000/01 Huesca
2001/02 Raith Rovers 33 - 19
2002/03 Dundee 26 - 7
2003/04 Dundee 34 - 20
2004/05 Rangers 17 - 11

Ozren Podnar

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