Former Rangers star Fernando Ricksen has passed away after a long battle with motor neurone disease.
The 43-year-old died in the early hours of Wednesday morning in a hospice just outside Glasgow.
A statement from Rangers read: "Rangers is deeply saddened to announce that former player Fernando Ricksen passed away this morning following his battle with motor neurone disease.
"The thoughts of everyone at Rangers is today with his wife Veronika, his daughter Isabella and all his family and friends."
Ricksen spent six trophy-laden seasons at Ibrox after signing from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2000, going on to win two league titles, two Scottish Cups and three League Cups.
The former Dutch international, who picked up a dozen caps for his country, also won the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award alongside John Hartson in 2005.
Ricksen was often noted for never shirking public appearances, despite the muscle-wasting disease leaving him with difficulty speaking.
His fighting spirit was summed up in in a documentary with Sky Sports, when he described how he reacted when he was given his diagnosis.
Ricksen said: "When they said, I just couldn't believe it.
"I thought they had made a mistake, maybe they took someone else's file. But after one month of all the tests, then you know what you have.
"(But) I can't sit in the corner and say 'why me, what happened?'
"For me, it happened and I'm still happy."
Ricksen fought the disease with bravery and dignity until the end.
He is survived by wife Veronika, and daughter Isabella.
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