Peter Lovenkrands knows it’s coming.
The little, pre-emptive chuckle on the other end of the phone gives it away.
After all, it’s Rangers v Celtic in the Scottish Cup at Hampden this weekend.
So he’s expecting it.
Because there’s a good chance that every single day of his life since May 4, 2002, someone will have mentioned it.
Whether it’s in person, on social media – or journalists calling him – it’s the one moment in his career that will NEVER go away.
And Lovenkrands wouldn’t have it any other way.
Of course, the Dane has reminisced about his 90th-minute cup final winner before. He’ll never get tired of it.
But maybe for the first time, Lovenkrands speaks about what it means to him now.
Because, over time, he has realised that it didn’t just change his life.
It impacted the lives of Rangers supporters around the globe, all with their different circumstances and stories.
That’s why he gets emotional talking about it.
Today’s Old Firm showdown at Hampden might be a semi, not a final.
But the significance of it isn’t lost on Lovenkrands who, up until June 2020, worked as a coach at Rangers.
He’s now a gaffer in his own right at Danish club Fremad Amager.
And from his base in Copenhagen, he casts his mind back 20 years ago to that day at Hampden.
Not to the atmosphere, his opening goal, Barry Ferguson’s wonder free-kick or his last-gasp header to make it 3-2.
But more to what the goal meant to him and how it affected people years later.
He told MailSport : “It’s a moment that Rangers fans and their families cherish. That’s what makes it special for me.
“For me to be part of that means so much. I get emotional thinking about it, even now.
“Because I’ve heard so many stories about it from supporters over the years.
“I’ve heard people talk about what it meant to them and family members.
“There was one guy who told me he was supposed to be going to Hampden with his dad.
“But his dad ended up in hospital and couldn’t go to the game.
“He went on his own and immediately after, he went to the hospital to tell his father all about my goal and winning the Scottish Cup.
“And not long after that, his dad then passed away.
“That’s just one story and there are loads more from Rangers fans all over the world.
“Sons and daughters, who eventually lost their parents, have told me about how their mum or dad would talk about that day in their lives before passing away.
“These things, as a footballer, you just have to treasure and be proud of. To be part of that history is incredible.
“It’s something that I’ll always be grateful for. I’m a part of this great club and managed to provide people with a special memory.
“I’ll never take that for granted. It’s as special to me as it is to everyone else.
“It was a life-changing moment for me. That was the point everything changed for me at Rangers.
“I was still a young boy, I’d just turned 22. I didn’t actually understand how big the goal was for the club.
“I knew it was an amazing moment to win the cup in the last minute.
“But it’s only as the years have gone by and the memory grows that I’ve realised I’ll probably be part of club history forever.
“It’s still the thing everyone wants me to talk about. My Champions League goals get a mention. But that’s the goal Rangers supporters will always associate with me in their minds.
“It’s what they will always remember me for.”
Lovenkrands’ place in Ibrox folklore is secured forever.
But he admits it’s time for the current crop to gain iconic status at the club.
Winning domestic trophies used to be the norm for Rangers but not now.
They haven’t lifted the Scottish Cup since 2009.
And ahead of today’s derby he has urged someone in Gio van Bronckhorst ’s ranks to make himself a hero.
Lovenkrands said: “I want this group of players to go and create their own moment against Celtic.
“I want somebody to go and make a statement at Hampden, like score a hat-trick, just to get that cup back to Ibrox.
"I’d prefer if it wasn’t a last minute winner – let me just have that, please? No, I’m kidding.
“I’d like one of these Rangers players to really step up, be the hero on the day and contribute to bringing that trophy back.
“I don’t want the moment to go past these boys.
“Cup ties give players these opportunities because they’re one-off games. Someone they can change the lives of so many people.
“Another great example is Bert Konterman. The same season I scored in the Scottish Cup Final, we played Celtic in the League Cup semi-final.
“Bert scored an unbelievable goal to win it and that strike will live with him forever.
“Hopefully someone can step up this time and grab one of those moments for themselves.
"A cup would be huge now for the club. We won the league last year but a cup has been missing – it’s something Rangers have not had for a very long time.
“In that respect, the semi is a huge game.
“It’s crazy that Rangers haven’t won a Scottish Cup in 13 years, crazy it’s that long ago. That’s why there’s extra pressure on Sunday because they’re so close now.
“If they can get past Celtic hopefully they’ll go on to clinch it.”
