RANGERS latest recruit Emmanuel Fernandez sat down with us to answer some questions in our Getting to Know feature.
The 23-year-old has swapped English League One for the Scottish Premiership as Russell Martin further strengthens his squad ahead of the return of the competitive football season.
Here’s what the defender had to say on his early football days, life in non-league, initiation song and his musical talent from his youth.
What was your first memory of playing football?
Playing in the hall at my primary school
Where did your love for football start?
When I joined my first Sunday league team when I was about seven years old, it was called Norseman
What was it about football that you loved?
It just started off as playing with my friends in the park basically, the enjoyment of scoring a goal or doing skill
Who were your influences growing up in football?
My brothers, they played football too and we all played together
Did you always play as a defender?
No, I used to play as a striker, then I moved to midfielder and then when I was a little bit older I moved to a defender
Do you enjoy being a defender now?
I love it, because you can do the defending side of the game and you can build the attacks for the team
You spent time playing in non-league football, what did you learn from those experiences?
The physicality of the game, because a lot of the time the ball is not really on the floor, they go long a lot so that is what I learned from the game
Is there a meaning behind wearing number 37?
My brother passed away at the age of 37 and to honour him I wear the number of 37 on my back
That must make you really proud and be special for you to wear that number?
Yes it is, because it is a way of showing my love. You can't really express it in many ways when someone has passed but it is a way of showing my love and remembrance of him
What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?
Winning a trophy at Wembley, it was a trophy we have in England, League One and Two called the EFL Trophy
Who is the toughest player you have come up against?
Hakim Ziyech
Were you into any other sports growing up?
Basketball, I played it at school with my friends and we played in the school basketball team as well and we won a Championship in it
What kind of music do you like listening too?
Afro-beats, Ampiano, R&B and hip-hop
Do you have a song you listen to before a game?
Someone called Asake and the song is called Remember
If you have to do an initiation song, what song will you sing?
Joel Corry - Sorry
How do you feel about doing one of those?
I have done it before so now I feel like it is not the worst thing ever, initially when I done it I was sweating and everything but now I can probably just get on with it
We saw somewhere that you used to play the piano, tell us about that?
I used to play the piano when I was younger, but I don't know if I could play it at the moment now because I need to understand the keys again
What do you do in your spare time?
I play PlayStation, read a book and just chill out mainly, watch a couple of movies
Do you have any pre-match superstitions?
I’ve never had any, I don't really want to put pressure on myself before a game so I don't really have a set routine, I just go with the flow
What is your go to cheat meal?
Chinese
What is your favourite social media platform?
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Funny, honest and likeable
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