ANDREI KANCHELSKIS was one of the biggest names that Dick Advocaat brought to Ibrox as he splashed the cash when money was no object for Rangers.

But the winger wouldn’t make the same impact in Glasgow as some of his multi-million pound compatriots as he entertained and frustrated during his four years with the Gers.

In part two of a serialisation of his autobiography, ‘Russian Winters’, Kanchelskis relives his Old Firm experiences, remembers his better times in Light Blue and recalls his Ibrox exit.

Read more: Andrei Kanchelskis: My final derby games for City and Rangers were memorable for all the wrong reasons

THERE were times when I really enjoyed myself at Rangers; when I could play and smile.

In February 1999 we beat Dunfermline 3–0 at Ibrox and Rod Wallace sent in a high deep cross that I struck on the volley into the top corner of the net.

At the time it was compared to something Marco van Basten might have done ten years before.

A year later, Rangers were playing Ayr in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park. It was a no-contest. Rangers won 7–0 and Billy Dodds, who came on as a half-time substitute, scored a hat-trick.

When the ball came to me in the middle of Ayr’s half, I jumped on it with both feet, balanced myself on top of it and put my hand to my eyes as if I were looking for someone to pass to.

The commentator at the semi-final had warned viewers not to try this at home but one youngster had attempted to do it, fallen off and broken his arm.

When we made the final of the Scottish FA Cup in 2000, Advocaat’s superiority complex was at its zenith. We had won the league easily and were playing Aberdeen, who had finished bottom of the Premier League, a full 57 points behind us.

Read more: Andrei Kanchelskis relives the Old Firm atmosphere and Rangers' title party at Parkhead

As the final approached, a movement grew up among the Rangers fans for everyone to wear orange at Hampden Park as a tribute to Advocaat’s role in transforming the club.

It was enthusiastically taken up by the club’s marketing department, who helped produce thousands of orange shirts for the final, and Advocaat actually wanted the team to wear them in the final.

As an outsider, I only associated orange with the Dutch football team but in Glasgow politics orange is the colour of the Protestant majority and many wondered if there were deeper, darker meanings behind it.

All I know is that none of us wanted to go out at Hampden wearing orange shirts. We played in the traditional blue of Glasgow Rangers and won 4–0.

It was the same scoreline as Manchester United’s victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final six years before and it was even more one-sided.

The game was probably beyond Aberdeen anyway but in the first couple of minutes I sent over a low cross for Rod Wallace; he collided with the Aberdeen keeper, Jim Leighton, who was taken off with a broken jaw.

Aberdeen did not have a reserve keeper on the bench so one of their strikers, Robbie Winters, had to go in goal. His job was like trying to stop a steamroller.

We went up the steps at Hampden to collect Glasgow Rangers’ one hundredth trophy. It was the last the club would win under Dick Advocaat.

Andrei Kanchelskis’ autobiography ‘Russian Winter’ is published by deCoubertin Books and costs £20. Click here to purchase.