'Lost' footage of Fabrizio Ravanelli's Scottish football hat-trick finally uncovered

Previously lost footage of Fabrizio Ravanelli’s famous hat-trick during his short-term spell with Dundee has finally been uncovered.

Fabrizio Ravanelli celebrating the hat-trick in his customary style. Picture: SNS

The video shows the legendary 1990s striker finding the back of the net three times in a seven-minute stretch in a 5-2 League Cup victory against Clyde. He would play six games for the Dens Park side, five in the SPL, but these were the only goals he scored.

Website The Dee Archive posted the footage on social media on Thursday evening with it quickly being viewed and shared by Dundee supporters. Site creator Danny Smith admits he could have uploaded the video sooner as he had it in his possession without realising.

He told The Scotsman: “I was giving a USB stick full of Dundee memorabilia from one of the sponsors for my website which I totally forgot about until recently and as I was skimming through it, I noticed there was a folder with some Dundee goals. Luckily, it had the goals from the Clyde game and more importantly, Ravanelli's hat-trick.

“Funnily enough, after all the talk of Ravanelli's hat-trick, I would say Lee Wilkie scored the best goal of that match!”

Ravanelli was a football hero throughout the 90s, scoring frequently for Juventus at the height of Italian football’s popularity in Britain, including the opener in the 1996 Champions League final where Juve defeated Ajax on penalties.

Following similarly fruitful spells with Middlesbrough and Marseille, the hitman arrived on Tayside in September 2003 following his release from Derby County. He was quickly let go along with a few other high-earners when Dundee entered administration.

Smith added: "Dundee fans have long talked about his seven-minute hat-trick because it was the only goals he scored during his short spell with us. I think we have looked back at it fondly because here we have, a footballing legend who has scored in and won a Champion League final, running around, putting Clyde to the sword.

“The fact that hardly anyone has seen footage of this game makes it that little bit more special even though it was 17 years ago.

“It was just another mad, unbelievable moment during that part of our history.”

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