With Davide Ancelotti, son of the legendary Carlo, reportedly set to grow to be the subsequent supervisor of Rangers, he joins an extended listing of footballing members of the family who’ve ventured north to Scotland.
Over time, well-known and lesser-known siblings and sons of soccer royalty have arrived with huge names and ranging ranges of success.
Right here’s a glance again at some notable examples and the way they fared in Scottish soccer:
Claude Anelka (Raith Rovers)
Brother of former Arsenal, Chelsea, and Actual Madrid star Nicolas Anelka, Claude arrived in 2004 after investing £300,000 in First Division facet Raith Rovers and giving himself the ability to nominate himself because the supervisor.
He badly misjudged the extent, signing French amateurs properly wanting the required normal. His facet performed poor soccer, alienated key gamers, and secured only one draw from eight video games earlier than resigning in early October, however not earlier than naming himself Director of Soccer. He resigned fully later that month.
Membership legend Gordon Dalziel took over for the remainder of the season, however Raith have been in the end simply relegated.
Paul Dalglish (Livingston, Hibernian, Kilmarnock)
The Glasgow-born son of Scottish legend Kenny Dalglish, Paul began at his dad’s membership Newcastle United earlier than bouncing across the decrease leagues in England.
At 27, he returned to Scotland to affix Livingston after a yr out. He had a strong spell beneath Paul Lambert, scoring 4 targets in 20 appearances, together with one in opposition to his dad’s outdated membership Celtic.
He then moved to Hibernian, however once more struggled, netting simply as soon as in 13 video games. He retired in 2008 after a goalless stint at Kilmarnock.
Rodney Sneijder (Dundee United)
Brother of Dutch worldwide Wesley Sneijder, Rodney joined Dundee United in 2015 with respectable expectations after a trial.
He performed solely 18 minutes in opposition to Aberdeen earlier than citing well being points and leaving by the tip of August. He by no means made one other first-team look in skilled soccer however later performed within the Dutch newbie leagues.
Timothy Weah (Celtic)
The son of George Weah, Liberia’s earlier president and a former Ballon d’Or winner, Timothy joined Celtic on mortgage from PSG in January 2019.
Dubbed a “wonderkid,” he scored 4 occasions in 17 video games as Celtic secured a home treble. Whereas he collected each league and cup medals, he didn’t absolutely stay as much as the hype.
Since then, he’s gained Ligue 1 with Lille, the Coppa Italia with Juventus, and earned over 40 caps for the USMNT, however hasn’t matched his father’s legacy.
Mathias Pogba (Partick Thistle)
The elder brother of Paul Pogba, Mathias, signed for Partick Thistle in 2015 from Crawley City. He helped the membership keep up in his first season, although he scored simply twice in 30 appearances, growing a fame for wastefulness in entrance of aim.
He netted as soon as early within the 2016/17 season however was launched by mutual consent. Oddly, he joined Sparta Rotterdam and even scored in opposition to Feyenoord, however steadily light into the decrease leagues.
Off the pitch, issues spiralled; In 2022, he was charged and detained over a €13 million blackmail try focusing on Paul.
Launched beneath judicial evaluation later that yr, he was sentenced in December 2024 to 3 years in jail (two suspended), to be served through digital surveillance, together with a €20,000 superb.
A lot for cohesion.
Nigel Hasselbaink (Hamilton, St Mirren, St Johnstone)
Nephew of Premier League star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Nigel joined Hamilton in 2010 after a formidable trial.
He had a modest season as Accies have been relegated, however made a mark at St Mirren, scoring eight targets and changing into a cult hero. He then loved two strong years at St Johnstone, once more serving to keep away from the drop.
He returned to Hamilton in 2015 however scored solely as soon as in 10 video games. Afterwards, he succeeded within the Eredivisie and Israeli soccer and scored eight targets in 9 caps for Suriname earlier than retiring.
Brian Laudrup (Rangers)
A controversial one, well-known however not as well-known as his brother Michael, Brian Laudrup joined Rangers in the summertime of 1994 after poor spells with each Fiorentina and AC Milan. He rapidly turned a fan favorite, dubbed ‘God’ by the Ibrox devoted.
He scored 44 targets in 150 video games for Rangers, which gained three league championships and two cup medals, earlier than departing for Chelsea in 1998 after Rangers didn’t win their tenth successive championship.
On his first dialog with then Rangers boss, the late Walter Smith, Laudrup stated: “I spoke to Walter and stated, ‘earlier than you learn something within the papers I’ve simply had a suggestion from Barcelona, and I’ve turned it down’. He didn’t say something for a minute after which he stated, ‘So that you’d choose to play Falkirk on a Tuesday evening?’ I stated, ‘Yeah, I adore it’ and he laughed and shook my hand. ‘OK, let’s get on with it,’ he stated.”
A real legend in Blue.
Will Davide Ancelotti Thrive or Fade?
An actual blended bag of success tales and flops, from cult heroes to whole disasters.
Will Davide Ancelotti carve out his legacy at Rangers, following in his father’s legendary footsteps and changing into an icon akin to Laudrup? Or will he go the way in which of Claude Anelka, who’s remembered extra for chaos than teaching?
