Player Profile: Ivan Rahal

Bald Eagle 
Position: Def CL


Q. What scared you most as a child?
A. White curtains in my bedroom which after a heavy evening meal would end up looking like a ghost in the middle of the night and I would end up running to my mum for comfort

Q. Who did you support as a child and who were you favourite players?
A. Dominique Rocheteau, the so-called “green angel” winger on the famous St Etienne team back in the 80’s: I would often imagine I was him with his big hair and fast turn of pace, ha ha

Q. What's the funniest thing that has happened to you during a match?
A. Finding that the opposing North London Sunday League team were not too happy about losing to my then team and grabbing logs and chasing some of our players after the game intent on killing them. Not so funny at the time if I may add…

Q. What's the worst thing anyone has ever done or said to you?
A. When I was a child my mum used to say that I was the most beautiful boy in the world. Then I went on holidays to Italy when I was 18 and as I was sitting around a table at a café with my new Italian friends, this girl turned to me and said: “Ma, Ivano you arrr uglee!”. For a while couldn’t decide whether my mum needed a pair of glasses or whether that girl was simply playing hard to get.

Q. What makes you laugh and why?
A. Ali G, Mr Bean and the Lokomotiv legend Nigel Rose (Loko old timers will know why).

Q. What talent do you wish you had?
A. Paying my bills on time and avoiding fines.

Q. What is your best physical feature?
A. My hairy legs – great for the animal lurking inside some women - but a pain in the arse when recovering from my many knee operations when the hair grows back and I start itching!

Q. What do you most dislike about your physical appearance?
A. My bald shiny head and the lights reflecting off it - especially when trying to act cool in a night club.

Q. How do you think other people see you?
A. Bald-headed, easy-going, kind-hearted giant.

Q. And how do you see yourself?
A. Somebody who can’t get out of bed in the morning – except for football or ski-ing!

Q. What do you consider your biggest attribute as a player?
A. My head (use of the hard surface on it, not what’s inside it) plus my positional sense.

Q. What is your favourite way of relaxing?
A. On a football pitch, alternatively eating bagels....!

Q. Who do you knock around with from Loko and why?
A. Nobody in particular but on tournament trips me and the old timers Brian and Ismael like to reminisce about our younger days…