Jorg Albertz: A profile

Adopted Scot Albertz Will Always Be A Hero In Gers Fans' Eyes

JORG ALBERTZ came to Scotland five years ago as a withdrawn German who spoke pidgin English. But when Hamburg sign him back this summer they will find a real True Blue drenched in confidence – with a GLASWEGIAN accent. That is a mark of the love-affair which the powerhouse midfielder enjoyed during his time at Rangers and explains the reason why a man regarded as a hardened giant was reduced to tears in his final farewell during the recent home game against Hibs.

The feeling, of course, was mutual. As Albertz completed his lap of honour, adoring fans escaped tight security just to get near their hero. Banners were also unfurled throughout the stadium with ‘Albertz Must Stay’ written on them. And outside the front doors thousands of supporters just stopped short of staging a mass protest at the fact he’s being allowed to leave Ibrox. One of the reasons the Light Blue faithful took the big German to their hearts was his ability to turn it on in the big games and in one particular big game: The Old Firm. Albertz was nicknamed ‘The Hammer’ when he was at Hamburg and the Rangers fans would quickly realise just why. In a home game against Celtic during his first season he fired in a ferocious free-kick from the edge of the box which flew past Stewart Kerr. But to be fair to the Parkhead ‘keeper he did almost get a hand to it – on the way back out! That goal set Rangers on their way to a stunning 3-1 victory in the ’97 traditional Ne’erday derby fixture and went a long way in securing the historic nine-in-a-row championship achievement by Walter Smith’s side. Albertz might have been a foreigner but, like people such as Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne, he was regarded as one of the boys in the dressing-room by dyed-in-the-wool fans and seasoned campaigners such as Ian Ferguson, Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant.

Following Dick Advocaat’s Ibrox revolution, he was one of the few survivors of the ‘old guard’ – with only Barry Ferguson, Craig Moore and Tony Vidmar currently remaining – and that could be why the fans feel closer to him. In total 82 goals were netted by Albertz during his time at Rangers – many from the penalty spot and with that trusted left foot of his – and few of them were meaningless strikes. In fact, they were often quite the opposite.

The European scene, where the Light Blues have failed so often in the past, was another stage he always liked to rise to. And in that department Albertz has struck against Parma and PSV Eindhoven, not to mention the goals which made his fellow countrymen stand up and take notice in games with Bayern Munich and Kaiserslautern. But it wasn’t all a bed of roses for ‘The Hammer’ during his stay in Scotland. In the last league game of Walter Smith’s final season in charge he was sent of which meant he suffered the heartache of missing the Scottish Cup Final.

And rumours persisted throughout the Advocaat era that he never saw eye-to-eye to with the Dutchman. He didn’t do enough work defensively was one criticism of the German. Albertz also had to emerge from the bench to score his last-gasp winner against PSV in Holland yet that still wasn’t enough to see him stripped for the return game at Ibrox a short time later. Derek McInnes was included as a surprise replacement but it proved an astute tactical decision with Rangers running out 4-1 winners. It’s true that no one man is bigger than the club and it is the same even in the case of Jorg Albertz.

Jorg Albertz announced today Thursday 24/05/2001 that he had signed for Bundesliga club SV Hamburg for a club-record £3million fee. The former Germany international has signed a three-year contract with his former club five years after leaving for Glasgow in a £4million deal. Hamburg sporting director Holger Hieronymus said: "I am happy that we have come to the end of lengthy and tough negotiations and I am sure that Jorg can help the team."

Winner of three Scottish League titles in his time at Ibrox, Albertz, who is known for his phenomenal left foot, decided to call it a day in Scotland. The Bundesliga club have yet to say whether Albertz will reassume the club captaincy he held before leaving in 1996.