HOLY SNUB
I snubbed an audience with the Pope and got crucified in the media but it just wasn’t for me says Rangers legend
The former striker revealed exactly what he did instead
RANGERS legend Mark Hateley has opened up on the time he snubbed meeting the POPE.
And it didn't go down too well with the press at the time.
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Former striker Hateley is, of course, most remembered by fans here for his trophy-laden spell at Rangers during the 1990s.
Making over 200 appearances between 1990 and 1995, the 32-times capped England frontman went on to become an Ibrox great.
Prolific Hateley struck 112 goals as he won five league titles, two Scottish Cups and three League Cups.
He was an integral part of the great nine-in-a-row team under Walter Smith.
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Having departed in 1995, Hateley made an emotional return to Rangers in 1997 with boss Smith dealing with a colossal injury list and although he was sent-off in his second debut against Celtic, it proved an inspired signing as the veteran helped the Gers to that ninth consecutive championship.
Prior to joining Rangers, Hateley had enjoyed a spell on the European continent.
He moved to Glasgow from Monaco and prior to that he'd turned out for the giants of AC Milan.
Hateley spent three years in Italy between 1984 and 1987, scoring 21 times in 86 games.
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He's been discussing that part of his career during an appearance on the Under the Cosh podcast.
And the ex-Gers man has revealed how his decision to snub a meeting with the Pope caused quite a stir in the country!
TV cameraman shares stomach-churning Rangers clip as he says he's 'strapped in and ready' for more Ibrox high jinks
Hateley was talking about nightlife in Milan and chat gotitalian round to the Christmas party season.
The former striker, now 62, revealed that they did NOT have what you would consider a traditional Christmas Do at the club.
Instead, they had an audience with the Pope, who at that time was John Paul II.
However, Hateley revealed he decided AGAINST going to the audience - and decided to organise a party with his pals back home instead!
And it's fair to say it did not go down well in Italy.
He revealed: "We didn’t have a Christmas Do, we had an audience with the Pope, right?
"And I’ve got a building company at this particular period, I’ve got a lot of guys working for me, my ex-father in law bless him, he ran it, I funded it and we grew it.
"I’ve got the Christmas dinner with the boys and we’ve got this thing with the Pope.
"So I’m going ‘what's the most important thing here?’
"I went oh f**k it, I’m taking the boys out! So I never went.
"I was not interested. I’m not religious."
"Nah, not for me. So I went back to Nottingham, took the boys out and then got crucified in the newspaper in Italy for tuning down the Pope."
While Hateley enjoyed a fairly successful time in Italy personally, it wasn't a successful period for the Milan giants.
AC failed to win ANY silverware during the three-year spell Hateley was at the club.
He did, however, score a winner against Inter in 1984, a goal that secured AC's first Milan derby win in a staggering SIX years.
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Hateley won the French title with Monaco, before making his £1million move to Rangers in 1990.
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