Former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk has spoken out about the fierce intensity of the Old Firm rivalry, describing it as the most intense football match in the world based on his own shocking experiences in Glasgow.
During his two-year spell at Celtic from 1995, the Dutch forward enjoyed great success, scoring 52 goals in 84 appearances. However, his departure to Nottingham Forest for £4.5 million was surrounded by controversy. In a recent interview in the Netherlands, the now-retired 55-year-old revisited some of the dangers he faced in Glasgow, including an unsettling incident he recalled from his second season.
Former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk has spoken out about the fierce intensity of the Old Firm rivalry, describing it as the most intense football match in the world based on his own shocking experiences in Glasgow.
During his two-year spell at Celtic from 1995, the Dutch forward enjoyed great success, scoring 52 goals in 84 appearances. However, his departure to Nottingham Forest for £4.5 million was surrounded by controversy. In a recent interview in the Netherlands, the now-retired 55-year-old revisited some of the dangers he faced in Glasgow, including an unsettling incident he recalled from his second season.
Van Hooijdonk revealed, “Ajax vs. Feyenoord is a big match, but the Old Firm is even more intense. In my second season in Scotland, I received an envelope with razor blades inside. If that happened today, it would go straight to the police. I was also at a red light in my car when a man suddenly opened my door. He was a Rangers fan, apparently. He cursed at me and spat on me. I was stuck in my seatbelt, so I couldn’t react before he ran off. I’ve played in tough matches like Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray, but Celtic vs. Rangers goes further in every aspect than any other match I’ve played. It’s rooted deeper in the culture and surrounded by so much history.”
Van Hooijdonk also highlighted the political and religious undertones that fuel the rivalry. “The match is about faith—about Ireland, where Celtic’s founders came from, against England. When I was in Scotland, the conflict in Northern Ireland was still ongoing, and you often saw news reports about protest marches. The Catholics would fly the Celtic flag, and the Protestants would wave the Rangers one. It goes beyond football.”
Van Hooijdonk revealed, “Ajax vs. Feyenoord is a big match, but the Old Firm is even more intense. In my second season in Scotland, I received an envelope with razor blades inside. If that happened today, it would go straight to the police. I was also at a red light in my car when a man suddenly opened my door. He was a Rangers fan, apparently. He cursed at me and spat on me. I was stuck in my seatbelt, so I couldn’t react before he ran off. I’ve played in tough matches like Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray, but Celtic vs. Rangers goes further in every aspect than any other match I’ve played. It’s rooted deeper in the culture and surrounded by so much history.”
Van Hooijdonk also highlighted the political and religious undertones that fuel the rivalry. “The match is about faith—about Ireland, where Celtic’s founders came from, against England. When I was in Scotland, the conflict in Northern Ireland was still ongoing, and you often saw news reports about protest marches. The Catholics would fly the Celtic flag, and the Protestants would wave the Rangers one. It goes beyond football.”
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