Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has named Ibrox has one of his top places to play, 19 years after Parma faced Rangers in the UEFA Champions League.
Buffon has travelled the world and played in some incredible arenas, but it seems that a defeat against the Gers in 1999 left a particular mark on the World Cup winner.
The Italian goalkeeper was between the sticks twice at Ibrox, once in 1998 when Parma knocked Rangers out of the UEFA Cup and again a year later when a 2-0 first leg victory helped the Gers’ progress to the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Goals past Buffon from Tony Vidmar and Claudio Reyna ensured fans celebrated a famous win.
Answering fans in an Instagram story Q+A earlier this week, the 40-year-old was asked about his favourite footballing venues.
As quoted by The Daily Mail, the PSG man said: “There are a lot of them. Definitely Anfield, in Liverpool, that was one of the few stadiums — along with Rangers in Glasgow and Fenerbahce in Istanbul — where there was such commotion for the first 15-20 minutes that I had trouble concentrating.”
It’s great to hear that Ibrox, and our supporters, made such an impact on a footballing icon.
Hopefully we can make more European memories in the months and years to come under the management of Steven Gerrard.
What are your memories of Rangers’ 1999 win over Parma? Leave a comment below…