I’m known as a Rangers hero but before my Ibrox career began I played five-a-sides with F1’s best ever driver

9 months ago 63

IT’s hard to imagine living in Monte Carlo and then trading it for life anywhere else.

But that’s exactly what Mark Hateley did, swapping the French Riviera for the banks of the River Clyde when he signed for Rangers in 1990.

Mark Hateley formed a formidable partnership with Ally McCoist at Rangers[/caption]

Recognise that iconic helmet? The man wearing it was a neighbour of Hateley’s[/caption]

The former striker, capped 32 times for England during his career, played for Coventry, Portsmouth and AC Milan before moving to Monaco in 1987.

He’d score goals wherever he went but it was in Glasgow where he became an idol to the fans and the Derby man has gone down in history as one of the best players to ever pull on the shirt for the Light Blues.

Hateley was a focal point of the nine-in-a-row team but before reaching hero status in Glasgow, he spent three years under Arsene Wenger at AS Monaco in Ligue 1.

He was the then-future Arsenal manager’s first signing as Monaco boss and would play alongside supreme talents such as Glenn Hoddle and George Weah before a nasty ankle injury saw him seek a move back to Britain.

But not before he’d rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s most rich and famous.

Some of the faces Hateley bumped into included Roger Moore, Ringo Starr and Frank Sinatra.

But Monaco is of course most renowned for the Formula One scene, and many of the drivers live in Monte Carlo year-round, or at least own property there.

During Hateley’s time, he counted none other than arguably the greatest F1 driver who ever lived as a neighbour.

Appearing on the Under the Cosh podcast, Hateley discussed what it was like living in Monaco before his £1m transfer to Gers.

He revealed that he lived in an apartment one floor above none other than Ayrton Senna.

The McLaren hero would regularly hit him up for a quick kick-about – sometimes even on the weekend of the Monaco Gran Prix.

When asked about any famous neighbours from his time living in the principality, Hateley said: “Oh, I had Ayrton Senna. He lived the floor below me in Monaco.

“All he wanted to do was play football.

“He’d come and ask me and we used to play before the grand prixs. We had a five-a-sides at Saint-Jean.

“All the drivers would play. Well the ones who liked football, they’d play.

“Racing car drivers want to be footballers, and footballers want to be racing car drivers!”

After signing for Rangers, Hateley would take his new team mates back to Monte Carlo for the odd night out.

On one such occasion, he was quizzed by midfield ace Ian Durrant.

The young Scot said in the middle of a drinking session in Casino Square: “Monaco? Govan? You’re off your f****** rocker.”