Player Profile : Michael Ball (2001 to 2005)
Rangers agreed a deal worth a staggering £6.5M to secure the services of Everton left back Michael Ball in the summer of 2001, the 21-year-old becoming the Club’s second most expensive ever signing (after Tore Andre Flo). Although undoubtedly a player of some potential, it seemed an incredible outlay given that, in Arthur Numan, Gers already had one of Europe’s top players for that very same position.
The move from Goodison to Ibrox was somewhat protracted, the player at one stage being given a 10-day deadline to prove his fitness as he aimed to recover from a niggling knee injury. Although the deal was clearly concluded, alarm bells were ringing from the outset and after a matter of weeks Ball would be missing for some 20 months of action.
In truth, he never managed to recapture the promising form he had demonstrated as a youngster on Merseyside. Initially part of Liverpool’s youth system along with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, it would be in the blue of Everton where Michael would begin his professional career.
Ball’s long awaited Gers debut came in a League Cup tie with Airdrieonians at Ibrox in October 2001. Rangers would win the match 3-0 with another debutant, Shota Arveladze, helping himself to an impressive double. Youngster Jimmy Gibson would make his Ibrox bow on the same evening, appearing as a substitute in a much changed line-up.
Michael would soon find himself on the bench for the European tie with Dinamo Moscow and, on being introduced to the action, he would manage his first goal in a 3-1 win. Seven victories and a credible home draw (with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Cup) in Ball’s first eight appearances would represent a more than satisfactory start to his Gers career but controversy was just around the corner.
Substituted in the 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park on his old firm debut, Ball had a furious exchange with manager Dick Advocaat on the touchline as his afternoon came to an end. At one stage, the pair looked as though they would come to blows. In the aftermath there was speculation that Ball’s Rangers career could be over only months after signing. That did not materialise, perhaps because Advocaat was already contemplating his own future. It did seem unlikely that such a tough disciplinarian would have accepted such a public show of dissent towards him in the long term. Ball would feature in two more games under Advocaat before succumbing to long term injury. Advocaat vacated the hot seat soon after and by the time Ball was fit for selection ‘new’ manager Alex McLeish had already won a domestic Treble!
Having missed the success of season 2002/03 in its entirety, Ball was back in the side regularly during season 2003/04 with Numan having decided to retire rather than re-sign on vastly reduced terms. Michael helped the side progress to the Group stages of the Champions League and featured in all 6 matches in what was a disappointing campaign. Domestically, it was a season to forget as Rangers finished empty handed.
It had been a hugely frustrating move for Michael and the structure of the deal agreed with Everton back in 2001 would also cause the player difficulties during his time at Ibrox. With Rangers due to pay the ‘toffees’ the next £500,000 on completion of 60 appearances for the Club, manager Alex McLeish was forced to freeze the player from the action as that milestone approached.
As 2004 drew to a close, it appeared as though Ball’s time at Rangers had come to an end with negotiations between the various parties resulting in stalemate. However, a compromise was unexpectedly reached whereby the player would effectively pay £4,000 each time he represented the Club! It would allow Michael to turn out on a further 18 occasions, including his most memorable. The League Cup was secured in style, Ball featuring in the 7-1 semi-final thrashing of Dundee Utd at Hampden with Motherwell fairing slightly better in the Final (Rangers winning 5-1). Then came ‘Helicopter Sunday’ as the title headed to Easter Road in the most dramatic circumstances imaginable. Michael was in the line up as Nacho Novo’s goal defeated Hibernian on the last day of the season.
Having helped Rangers overcome Anorthosis Famagusta in the Champions League qualifiers (as well as comprehensively defeating Celtic in the first old firm encounter of the season), Ball would leave Rangers at the start of season 2005/06 to head for the continent, joining PSV Eindhoven for just £495,000. The signing had been a costly one for Rangers and there can be little doubt that such recklessness in the transfer market during those Advocaat years was the catalyst for future financial woes. Between Flo and Ball alone, owner Murray had sanctioned an outlay of almost £20m for two players who would have mediocre spells in Glasgow.
Injuries continued to blight Michael’s career in Holland and he would return to England, turning out for Manchester City and Leicester City.
Michael was capped once by England at full international level.
by Rick Plews
