Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Keith Jackson

The Rangers family tie charging emotional Union Saint Gilloise clash as chief reveals instant Champions League reaction

Their whole story is an unlikely one. A tale of seemingly impossible triumph against overwhelming adversity.

An overnight come-back after almost 50 years spent in the wilderness. Systematically chopping down giants of the Belgian game in a rustic old relic of a stadium, wrapped in a forest on the outskirts of Brussels as if it’s been preserved for time. No, there is nothing even remotely ordinary about this, phoenix from the ashes, rebirth Union Saint Galloise - the living, breathing throwback to yesteryear now standing between Rangers and the modern day sophistications of the Champions League.

So, why wouldn’t it all be being plotted and pieced together by a man from Limerick with a South African accent who you’ve probably never even heard of? And why wouldn’t he just happen to have a family bloodline tying him straight into the historic, beating heart of the Ibrox club?

Of course he does. You are now jumping through the looking glass, into the topsy turvy world of life at one of European football’s most miraculous second comings.

Union's Siebe Van Der Heyden celebrates after Union Saint-Gilloise beat Royal Antwerp (REX/Shutterstock)

Director of sport, Chris O’Loughlin takes it all in his relaxed Irish stride these days, having been there for the start of Union’s unfathomable rise. He’s an improbable tale all by himself having made here, to this leafy outpost, still in his mid forties, via all manner of stopping points from Africa to Australia with a brief stop off at Charlton.

He says: “I was born in Limerick - my father is from West Belfast – but I was brought up in South Africa. I came back to Belfast when I was like 18 and did the usual thing, got married there and our kids were born there.

“But I also have, on the other side of my family, a Scottish background. So I am more than familiar with the local rivalries in that part of the world. As I say, my father was from west Belfast and my mother’s side of the family are from Elgin.

“There is actually a member of the family that has worn the Rangers jersey before, with some distinction. It was a very, very long time ago - I’m talking about my grandmother’s uncle so we’re going some way back.”

Despite repeated probing, O’Loughlin prefers not to give away any further family secrets. In any case, he has more than enough on his plate in there and now, as Union prepare to take their incredible story on tour beyond their own borders.

Captivating all of Belgium was one thing. They achieved that in their first season back in the top flight, pushing cash rich Brugge all the way for the title before, ultimately, only being pipped to it in the end of season play-offs.

But all of Europe will have its head turned if they can follow that up by taking the scalp of a Rangers side which is only just coming down off the cloud of reaching last season’s Europa League Final. And O’Loughlin has been licking his lips at the prospect since the pair came out of UEFA’s big glass pot together on Monday morning.

He goes on: “There was a lot of excitement around the draw, to see who we would get. There were a lot of good historical clubs that we could have come up against - clubs with domestic and European pedigree. We’re obviously looking forward to the intensity of the games – both here in Belgium and, of course, at Ibrox. I’m pretty well aware of what will be awaiting us there!”

Given Rangers have written quite a back story of their own over the last decade, this tie really does leap off the page. O’Loughlin describes it as one for the romantics. Back in the 90s, when English clubs were allowed to compete again in European competition, we started to see a lot of ties that really caught the imagination - a Manchester United or Arsenal against Juventus or Real Madrid.

“It was something for the football romantic because of the history of those clubs. I suppose this tie feels similar to that. I’m not comparing us to Real Madrid, I’m just saying there’s a nice football story there - something different - and maybe that makes it a wee bit more interesting.”

Union’s fascinating rise from the flames has been meticulously planned from the outset, from the moment it was bought over by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom. Bloom identified the potential for it to be reborn into Belgium’s top flight.

It’s been O’Loughlin’s job to deliver it. What they have created is a modern, forward thinking operation but one steeped in the traditions of its own past.

He nods: “It comes down to two things - culture and environment. We try our best to create an environment of excellence where the guys can grow in a professional context. In terms of culture, we set behavioural standards of how we interact with each other and try to find common goals.

“That’s important if you are taking a bunch of players and trying to turn them into a team and not a group of individuals. We look for a sporting return from the players as well as a cultural return.

“If they move on we’ll be proud to see them playing at a higher level, as long as we get that sporting and cultural return. It’s important as it allows them to grow as well. After all, I can’t think of many living organisms that flourish in bad cultural environments.”

The summer of departure of midfield linchpin Casper Nielsen to Brugge is proof in action. O’Loughlin began planning for it back in January and does not expect Rangers to have been caught cold either by the loss of Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey.

“I know Joe Aribo,” he says fondly. “I worked with him at Charlton for a while and, above all else, he is a fantastic human being. But, as good as these players were, we can’t expect Rangers to be unsettled by the sales.

“We need to be careful because Rangers have a lot of experience in navigating each transfer window. They’ll be used to guys moving on and they’ll be used to getting the right players in. I suppose there’s no point in us hoping for this or that to happen - we’ve just got to prepare our best for the game and deal with what’s in front of us.”

READ NEXT

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.