Slovakian international Vladimir Weiss may have only spent a year at Rangers, but if there were ever a guide on how to become an instant fan favorite at Ibrox, the winger would undoubtedly deserve his own chapter.
The former Rangers loanee could face a hostile crowd if he starts for Slovan Bratislava in their bid to upset Celtic in Wednesday’s Champions League opener. Thirteen years after leaving Rangers, Weiss is highly motivated to end Celtic’s perfect start to the season.
“I’m excited to return to Glasgow,” Weiss told the Daily Record last week. “I’ve had a bit of stick from Celtic fans before, but that’s just part of my personality. I love Rangers—no ill will towards Celtic or their supporters. It was just a moment in my career that I enjoyed, and I’m eager to go back. In other cities, fans might forget players who once played for their rivals, but Glasgow is different.”
In the summer of 2010, both Old Firm clubs were vying for Weiss, then a Manchester City player. He quickly won over Rangers fans by stating, “Celtic approached me first, but when Rangers came in and I reviewed all my options, I chose Rangers. Playing for such a big club is a pleasure.”
Weiss further cemented his place in Rangers’ hearts when he came off the bench to assist Kenny Miller’s second goal in a 3-1 victory over Hibs. His bond with the fans grew even stronger when, despite being injured, he donned a club scarf and stood with the Rangers supporters during the final Old Firm clash of the season, solidifying his cult hero status.
Reflecting on his time at Rangers in a 2022 interview, Weiss said, “It was a fantastic year for me. Rangers are still one of my favorite clubs, and I continue to follow them. I didn’t anticipate how much the club and fans would mean to me. A few years ago, when I wanted to leave a club in Qatar, I was close to rejoining Rangers. I even tweeted about a possible return, which the fans loved, but unfortunately, it didn’t materialize.”
As Weiss, now 34, prepares to face Celtic, he can take confidence in the fact that his father, Vladimír Weiss Sr., who manages Slovan Bratislava, has already beaten Celtic in Europe. In 2005, as manager of Artmedia, Weiss Sr. led his team to a 5-4 aggregate victory over Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers. The younger Weiss is optimistic about repeating the success.
“If Slovan faced any of the 36 teams in this huge Champions League, they’d be favorites against us,” Weiss noted. “But we’ve got some great talent and experience, and my dad is a passionate coach who always pushes his teams to their limits. Celtic fans will remember him from when he knocked them out of the Champions League almost 20 years ago with Artmedia.”
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