GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 01: Celtic fans react during a cinch Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, on May 01, 2022, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The former Hoops striker has revealed the severity of the intense rivalry after spending two years in Glasgow.
After disclosing his startling experiences in Glasgow while playing for Celtic, Pierre van Hooijdonk maintains that the Old Firm matchup is the most intense match in all of football.
The former Dutch striker scored 52 goals in 84 games during a contentious two-year stint for Celtic in 1995, before departing under a cloud to join Nottingham Forest for £4.5 million. He was a big success for the Hoops during that time. Additionally, the 55-year-old elaborated on a statement he made seven years prior regarding the risks he encountered in Glasgow during an interview conducted in his native Netherlands.
And my car was at a red light. Abruptly, a man yanked a door open. Apparently a Rangers fan. He spat on me and cursed. Despite wearing a seatbelt, I was powerless to stop him before he fled. It was difficult for me to play against Galatasaray at Fenerbahce, but Celtic vs. Rangers is a little more intense than any other match I’ve seen. The culture is more deeply ingrained. It’s surrounded by so much history.
“Belief is also a factor in that match. concerning Ireland, the country from whence Celtic’s founders originated, in opposition to England. The fighting in Northern Ireland was still going on when I was in Scotland, and the news frequently featured protest marches. The Protestants flew the Rangers’ flag, while the Catholics flew the Celtics’. It’s not just football.
