Peter Lovenkrands in Rangers rallying cry as he reveals the emotional fan story that sticks with him

Peter Lovenkrands knows it’s coming.

The little, pre-emptive chuckle on the other end of the phone gives it away.

After all, it’s Rangers v Celtic in the Scottish Cup at Hampden this weekend.

So he’s expecting it.

Because there’s a good chance that every single day of his life since May 4, 2002, someone will have mentioned it.

Whether it’s in person, on social media – or journalists calling him – it’s the one moment in his career that will NEVER go away.

And Lovenkrands wouldn’t have it any other way.

Of course, the Dane has reminisced about his 90th-minute cup final winner before. He’ll never get tired of it.

But maybe for the first time, Lovenkrands speaks about what it means to him now.

Because, over time, he has realised that it didn’t just change his life.

It impacted the lives of Rangers supporters around the globe, all with their different circumstances and stories.

That’s why he gets emotional talking about it.

Today’s Old Firm showdown at Hampden might be a semi, not a final.

But the significance of it isn’t lost on Lovenkrands who, up until June 2020, worked as a coach at Rangers.

He’s now a gaffer in his own right at Danish club Fremad Amager.

And from his base in Copenhagen, he casts his mind back 20 years ago to that day at Hampden.

Not to the atmosphere, his opening goal, Barry Ferguson’s wonder free-kick or his last-gasp header to make it 3-2.

But more to what the goal meant to him and how it affected people years later.

He told MailSport : “It’s a moment that Rangers fans and their families cherish. That’s what makes it special for me.

“For me to be part of that means so much. I get emotional thinking about it, even now.

“Because I’ve heard so many stories about it from supporters over the years.