Lionel Charbonnier reveals moment he ‘fell in love’ with Rangers on 60th birthday
Former Rangers goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier has revealed how his very first night in Glasgow sparked a love affair with the club that has endured more than two decades.
Charbonnier turns 60 today, with the Frenchman reflecting on his time at Ibrox and the special relationship he developed with Rangers supporters during his spell in Scotland.
The goalkeeper joined Rangers from Auxerre for £1.2 million in 1998, arriving as part of Dick Advocaat's first-team squad having just won the FIFA World Cup with France four days earlier.
His first season ended with Rangers completing the domestic Treble, although Charbonnier's campaign was cut short by a cruciate ligament injury. His absence opened the door for new signing Stefan Klos, who subsequently became Advocaat's preferred goalkeeper.
Charbonnier eventually left Rangers when his contract expired in 2001 joining Lausanne, but his affection for the club and its supporters has remained.
Charbonnier celebrates Ibrox spell
Reflecting on his arrival in Glasgow, Charbonnier explained how he was immediately welcomed by people associated with the club.
"As soon as I arrived in Glasgow, I stayed in a hotel, a sort of castle! That very evening, there was a wonderful reception,” he posted on X.
"As I was on my own, some people came over to invite me to join them. We danced the Strip the Willow. From that moment on, I fell in love with the Rangers."
The Frenchman went on to explain that his connection with the club only grew once he experienced playing in front of the Rangers support at Ibrox.
"After that evening, I was lucky enough to feel your love on the pitch,” he revealed.
"So it was only natural that I gave my heart and my health to my Bears.
"Still loving you so much! Every day thinking of you."
Injury left road open for Klos
Charbonnier's Rangers career was ultimately disrupted by injury, limiting him to 29 appearances during his time at Ibrox.
His arrival had nevertheless coincided with a hugely successful period for the club, with Rangers winning the Scottish Premier Division, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup during the 1998/99 campaign.
The subsequent emergence of Klos meant Charbonnier's opportunities became increasingly limited, and the German went on to establish himself as one of the most prominent goalkeepers in Rangers' modern history.
However, for the Auxerre legend his time at Ibrox remains defined by far more than his appearances.
Now, 25 years after leaving the club, his birthday message demonstrated the lasting impression Rangers made on him from the moment he arrived in Glasgow.
The former France international's words also underline the bond he continues to feel with the Rangers support, with Charbonnier making clear that his affection for the club has never disappeared.
At 60, the Frenchman remains a popular figure among Rangers supporters, who recall the Ibrox tannoy playing French legionnaire music in his first match when he made saves, and his memories of that first night in Glasgow offer an insight into why his connection with the club has lasted so long.
