Ah yes, Clinton Nsiala-Makengo, a moniker that sends shivers down spines - particularly those sufficing in a certain Scottish corner. His story begins in the humble abode of France, back in 2004. Packed into a quite modest span of 6ft 2in (1.88m) and bearing a weight of 13st 9lb (87 kg) - there's precious little you'd expect from him. Save, of course, for his handiness as a central defender â a fact that hasn't escaped the clutches of Rangers, where he currently plies his trade. Don't be deceived, though, behind that number 19 jersey is a tale without much hoopla.
Before his illustrious spell at Rangers, Nsiala-Makengo kicked the ball about the pitches of the Ligue 1 with Nantes. That was in July 2021, a time when we did not know him, nor cared much for him. How could we have guessed this French defender would become another card in the deck dealt to the Rangers by Serie A's AC Milan? It was in July 2024 that Nsiala-Makengo departed the warm shores of Italy for the chill of Scottish winter - such are the magical mysteries of football.
Surely, after darting about half of Europe, one would expect an ego built up enough to necessitate constant match appearances. However, master Nsiala-Makengo's saga at Rangers, in season 2024-2025, features a paltry 11 first-team appearances in league matches. For those counting the current season of 2025 - 2026, well, you're in luck - Nsiala-Makengo has graced the field a grand total of zero times. A record-breaking feat in the art of bench warming, perhaps?
A redeeming factor, though, lies in the Scottish Cup 2024- 2025, in which our French defender dazzled us with his talent for scoring â precisely once in one start. If ever there was a testament to Nsiala-Makengo's glittering career, one goal would surely outline it perfectly. But let's not pester his glory days too much.
In sum, the saga of Nsiala-Makengo, an apparent central defender for the Rangers, reads like a riveting football reality show. Or perhaps I shall be forgiven for my profound cynicism, but football, especially here in Scotland, doesn't quite work in the way we expect, does it?
