Rangers' Europa League rivals Rapid Vienna hire priest to deliver '˜divine inspiration'
Steven Gerrard’s side need a win to take the Light Blues through to the knockout stages - but Rapid are hopeful that Father Christoph Pelczar can help inspire the Austrians to victory.
The football-mad Fr Pelczar, who recently published a book about his love of God and football - titled Glaube, Liebe, Rapid (Belief, Love, Rapid) - also arranged for the squad to have a private audience with the Pope.
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Hide AdThe clergyman, who insists supporting Rapid Vienna can “absolutely be a religion” added: “There are similar rituals of hymns, songs and advents.
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“Religion has to offer solutions. There is a search for something greater, and it is not blasphemy for me to say so.”
Rapid midfielder Dejan Ljubicic, who was caught on camera hurling beer bottles at a mosque 12 months ago, has claimed that Fr Pelczar has been a huge help in getting his life back on track.
“He gave me the strength to rise up again,” the Vienna-born player said. “I was on the floor after making a huge mistake [but] he gave me the power to prove myself, and show that I am a good person.”
Rangers face Rapid in the Austrian capital on Thursday.