Sport Nation 2Former Rangers striker Ross McCormack recently revealed a surprising twist from his youth: as a teenager, he participated in a pitch invasion at Celtic Park when the Hoops denied Rangers the coveted 10-in-a-row league title. What makes this revelation even more intriguing is that just months after celebrating Celtic’s success, McCormack would go on to sign with Rangers, one of the fiercest rivals in Scottish football.
McCormack, who enjoyed a prominent career that included stints at Leeds United, Fulham, and Aston Villa, made his professional debut with Rangers under Alex McLeish. His most memorable moment in a Rangers jersey came when he scored a crucial equalizer against Porto in a Champions League match. However, his football journey began far from Ibrox, as his childhood allegiance was firmly rooted in the green and white of Celtic.
In a candid interview on the Open Goal podcast, McCormack opened up about his early days as a Celtic fan. He shared his memories of attending Celtic games as a young boy, with his final match as a season ticket holder being a momentous occasion: Celtic’s historic victory over St. Johnstone that stopped Rangers from winning their tenth consecutive league title in 1998. McCormack, like many passionate Celtic fans that day, stormed the pitch at Celtic Park in celebration, even scooping up pieces of grass as a souvenir.
“It was unbelievable,” McCormack said. “I was a Celtic fan through and through, and I had a season ticket. That last game, when Henrik Larsson and Harald Brattbakk scored, it was just insane. I was on the pitch after the game, taking some grass and putting it in my pocket. It was one of those moments that felt like history.”
However, McCormack’s journey took an unexpected turn when his dreams of playing for Celtic were dashed. At just eight years old, McCormack attended a trial for Celtic, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his heroes. Unfortunately, the young player was deemed “too small” by the Celtic scouts, who rejected him, essentially closing the door on his ambition to wear the green and white professionally.
Reflecting on the rejection, McCormack recalled, “I went for a trial with Celtic at St. Roch’s. I remember the coaches telling me I was too small, which is basically a way of saying, ‘You’re not good enough.’ That was a tough blow for me because, as a kid, all I wanted was to play for Celtic.”
With his hopes of playing for Celtic dashed, McCormack turned his attention to the next best option: Rangers. In what can only be described as a remarkable shift, the young striker signed with the Light Blues, one of Celtic’s fiercest rivals. It was a move that would shape his football career, allowing him to play in some of the biggest stages in European football.
“I ended up signing for Rangers, which was a massive deal for me,” McCormack admitted. “It was strange at first because I grew up supporting Celtic, but when you’re a young player, you just want to make it as a professional. I had to put my Celtic ties aside and focus on my new journey at Rangers.”
Despite the initial strangeness of the transition, McCormack flourished at Rangers, making a name for himself as a talented striker. His equalizer against Porto in the Champions League was one of the highlights of his time at Ibrox, and it cemented his place as a key player for the club. His time at Rangers was short-lived, however, as he eventually moved on to England, where he enjoyed a successful career in the Championship and the Premier League.
McCormack’s career in England was marked by big-money moves and impressive goal-scoring records. His spell at Leeds United was particularly successful, with the striker scoring 58 goals in 157 appearances. This earned him a high-profile transfer to Fulham, where he continued to showcase his talent, before eventually making a move to Aston Villa.
Throughout his career, McCormack maintained a level of professionalism that allowed him to play for both Celtic’s arch-rival and other prominent clubs without letting his early fan allegiances interfere with his career decisions. However, his time at Rangers remains one of the most unique chapters in his footballing journey—one that began with him invading the pitch as a Celtic supporter and ended with him scoring crucial goals for Rangers in European competitions.
While McCormack’s football career is full of impressive achievements, it’s his story of switching allegiances from Celtic to Rangers that remains one of the most talked-about aspects of his life in Scottish football. His tale is a reminder of the unpredictable paths that many footballers take, shaped by a combination of childhood dreams, career rejections, and professional opportunities.
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, often referred to as the Old Firm, is one of the fiercest in world football, and players who cross that divide, like McCormack, often face scrutiny from both sets of fans. But for McCormack, his decision to join Rangers after being rejected by Celtic was purely a professional one. “At the end of the day, it’s football,” he said. “You go where you’re wanted, and Rangers wanted me.”
McCormack’s story offers a unique perspective on the dynamics of football allegiances and the professional challenges players face when their boyhood dreams don’t go as planned. His journey from being a Celtic fan who celebrated one of the club’s greatest moments to playing for Rangers demonstrates the unpredictable nature of football careers and the resilience required to succeed at the highest levels.
Ultimately, Ross McCormack’s footballing tale is not just about the rivalry between two of Scotland’s biggest clubs. It’s a story about overcoming rejection, seizing opportunities, and carving out a successful career, even when the path takes unexpected turns. Despite his childhood devotion to Celtic, McCormack’s time at Rangers and his subsequent success in England speak volumes about his determination and ability to adapt in the competitive world of professional football.
Sport nation