Ex-Rangers keeper Stefan Klos has detailed the booze-filled week that led up to their hard-fought 1-0 Scottish Cup Final win over Celtic in 1999.
The German keeper - who made 298 appearances for Rangers after signing from Borussia Dortmund in 1998 - admits he was caught on the hop by the pre-match strategy.
He retired at the age of 36 after a serious knee injury and now lives in Switzerland having cut all ties with football.
And Klos, who rarely speaks about his career, has opened up on a time to remember during an illuminating interview in his homeland..
Dick Advocaat's side clinched the treble with a 1-0 Hampden win against Dr Jo Venglos' Celtic.
He said: "When it was announced I was leaving Dortmund, I was booed in the stadium, but they did not want to keep me and never offered me a new contract.
"I had offers from Real Zaragoza and Valencia and at first I was determined that the Spanish sun would be the best for me. But everything was right for me at Rangers.
"Their long term legendary keeper, Andy Goram was leaving and every conversation I had with them was very convincing. And Jorg Albertz told me to sign.
"I still remember how I sat there on my first lunch with the team and thinking what had I done? The only thing I could hear was the F word.
"But everything was very warm - the ladies in the kitchen canteen had been working there for 50 years.
"Alcohol was very common at the club. We had Frenchmen on the team drinking a glass of red wine over dinner. But the manager always made sure that no bottle came on the table because he knew that it would soon be emptied. If there was any alcohol, the Scots would drink it.
"When we won the title on a Saturday in 1999, there was a sensational party. The manager told us to go and enjoy ourselves until Wednesday, but our captain and another defender only returned on Friday! They had temporarily gone missing and had to explain it at their homes.
"We then somehow won the Cup Final by hanging on and strangling the game. That would have been unimaginable in Germany!
"I am a Catholic, but nobody ever asked me about that at Rangers. However, if a player felt the need to cross themselves before kick off, it was better to do so on the toilet because if he did it in the stadium, he was booed."
And, in an interview with German magazine, 11freunde, Klos admitted he had no regrets about his career and was happy when it was over.
He said: "I was 34 and had an operation where the recovery period was five months. I had spent every Saturday and Wednesday on the pitch for 15 years. It was enough for me.
"Many players aim for a job as a coach, TV pundit or agent after their career. I just moved to Lake Lucerne next to the Alps and let God look after me. We often had our summer training camp with Borussia Dortmund in the area. When my career ended, my wife and I thought it was a good place to relax.
"I still like to watch football. If I am on my bike and I see a game I'll stop and watch how the keeper is doing. But I was never tempted to get involved in football.
"Throughout my career, I was looking forward to retiring to get free weekends.
"In Scotland, they used to ask me if I enjoyed the game, but I was always very tense during the games. Ottmar Hitzfeld once said I had no nerves, but that was nonsense. Honestly, I never enjoyed any game. When I got back to the dressing room I was always relieved
"I'm glad I had the career I did, but it's over."
