RANGERS and Scotland legend Ronnie Mackinnon was having none of it when one of the Brazil players took exception to a Scottish move back in 1966.

Even if that player was the legendary Pele…

Ronnie MacKinnon, season 1968/69. Pic: Herald and Times

Ronnie MacKinnon, season 1968/69. Pic: Herald and Times

In an interview with The Herald many years later, Ronnie, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, said: “I remember the year before that ’67 match [against England] we played Brazil – with Pele – in Glasgow. I was teasing Baxter the day before saying, ‘it’s Pele tomorrow, Jim, the big test’. Jim said to me, ‘ach, Pele, who’s he? You watch me tomorrow, big man’.

“And it’s true: the next day Baxter went out and ruled the show. When I look back now I played with such great players.”

(The game, which was a friendly, ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to a Stevie Chalmers goal.)

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Suave and debonair, Ronnie was a celebrated centre-back for Rangers, and lived the high life off the pitch.

After his career with Rangers ended, he moved to South Africa to play for Durban United and ended up staying 32 years.

These days, he lives quietly in the Outer Hebrides.