Saturday marks a meeting between the clubs that bookended Fran Sandaza’s Scottish adventure.
Dundee United, the team that afforded him the platform to play senior football in Britain as a raw Valencia academy graduate — an opportunity he swiftly grasped, displaying the natural instincts of a born goalscorer.
Against Rangers, the biggest mis-step of a circuitous, eventful career.
Sandaza joined the Gers on the back of a prolific 2011/12 campaign with St Johnstone, finding the net 18 times in 34 outings. The move to League Two was lucrative but unfulfilling, then compounded by injury problems.
The big Spaniard could be forgiven for holding on to some lingering resentment.
Sandaza was released in the aftermath of a hoax phone-call by a Celtic fan who professed to be an agent who could tee up a switch to MLS — prompting the player to suggest he would be open to a move.
Instead, he is circumspect, particularly given he went on to play in Japan, India, China, Qatar and, most impressively, win a historic promotion to La Liga with Girona.
“It has been a long time and, looking back, I can say it (leaving Rangers) was the best thing that happened for me,” Sandaza told Courier Sport. “I scored a lot of goals back in Spain, won a promotion to La Liga and made very good contacts.
“I think this all happened for a reason.
“It was not the best goodbye to Scotland but leaving that club was the best thing for me. With my career over I can say it was a bad decision to sign for Rangers. That is for sure.
“When I was in the lower divisions, my mentality was not the best. I knew right away that it was not right.
“The only bad experience in Scotland was Rangers. It was a bad choice to go to that club; the worst club of my career.”
At home in Dundee
However, his ill-fated year in Govan doesn’t mar his memories of Scotland.
Sandaza — with limited senior experience and no command of the language — scored 10 goals in his first campaign with Dundee United.
His football did the talking.
But for persistent and maddening fitness issues — which he describes as “incredibly frustrating” and “the only reason I did not score many more goals for the United fans” — he could have been something special.
“My first year at United was one of the best in my career,” he recalled. “Everything was new, I learned the language and was made to feel like a real footballer; playing senior matches in front of big crowds.
“It was a very big step for me and, of course, there was some fear. I was young and coming to a new country. I had no wife or kids and no one knew about me.
“But Craig Levein and the coaches were very nice to me and I can think back to many friends I made in Dundee who helped me feel welcome. It was a very important decision (to join United), and a big experience in my life.”
A special moment
Sandaza had a particular penchant for rippling the net against the Old Firm.
The bigger the game, the bigger the performance.
He notched three goals in six appearances against Celtic and bagged a brace as United drew 3-3 at Ibrox in November 2008.
And it was another double — against the Hoops in March 2009 — that provided one of his most poignant memories, courtesy of a surprise visit from his father Francisco Sr and brother Alvaro.
🇪🇸 A 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 from Fran Sandaza against tomorrow's opponents
🎟 https://t.co/CcVayCeeMG | #UnitedInPursuit pic.twitter.com/nMUrqQo5i6
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) August 27, 2022
“My father and brother were at Tannadice for that match — but I did not know anything about that,” he smiled. “They flew over to Scotland as a surprise and I didn’t know they were here!
“I was playing the match and thought they were watching on television back in Spain; that I would maybe speak to them about it later on the phone.
“Then I saw them after the match in the stadium and that made me so happy — a really special moment for me and my family.”
Driven
Sandaza spent the 2010/11 season with Brighton and, while first-team opportunities were limited, there was no shame in being behind ex-Premier League regulars Glenn Murray and Ashley Barnes in the pecking order, in hindsight.
And when Sandaza returned north of the border to join the Perth Saints, he candidly admits that St Johnstone benefited from his renewed focus and desire to kick-start his career.
“That season could be my best football,” he added. “I was very focused and driven to be the best.
“If I am focused and have the right mentality, then I was a very good player. If I was not focused, then I am just normal — and sometimes a bad player!
“I wanted to resolve my life and reach a high level. Before St Johnstone, I didn’t have good opportunities and didn’t have a good contract. So, I said to myself, “I need to be my best and progress”. I wanted a better life.
“I was not a mercenary. But everyone wants their career to develop. I had that drive at St Johnstone.”
His sole season at McDiarmid Park was sufficient to catch the eye of Rangers, where he scored just two goals.
Sandaza smiled: “It is maybe obvious, but I am with Dundee United on Saturday! I hope they win the game. I remember scoring two goals at Ibrox against Rangers — that was nice — so I wish that a United player can do the same.”
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