FORMER Rangers hero Dado Prso says Scottish football was so brutal it was almost like playing rugby.

The big Croatian joined the Ibrox club from Monaco in the summer of 2004 and would quickly become a fans favourite.

He'd play a major role as the club won the title on a dramatic final day, dubbed Helicopter Sunday in 2005 as well as acquiring a League Cup winners medal and helping Alex McLeish's men reach the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time.

However, he's admitted the physicality of the game was like nothing he'd ever experienced before.

He said: “I often say, in Scotland, on the pitch, it's neither football nor rugby, but a mixture of the two.

“In 20 years of football in France, I never had a single stitch, I had not been stitched up once.

“On the other hand, in three years at Rangers, I counted twenty-nine stitches on my skull.”

Prso’s comments are featured in ex-Rangers midfielder Jeremy Clement’s recently-released book detailing his playing career.

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The Croatian became close friends with Clement after helping him settle in Glasgow following his move from Lyon in 2006.

He said: “When Jérémy arrived in Scotland, it was more than two years that I had played for Rangers.

“We only met for a few months, but our relationship was immediately true and strong.

“I liked the player and the man.

“We had great times together. Sylvia [Clement’s wife] gave French lessons to our daughter Nicoline, and Jérémy took the time to play football with our little Lorenzo, who was five years old.

“They exchanged a few passes in the corridor, which made Jeremy laugh a lot. He said it reminded him of his childhood.

“He was a great footballer, but a very bad poker player, like me. He didn't know how to bluff.”

Prso added that, as a midfielder, Clement was something special.

He said: “When I think back to our matches, I realise that Jérémy was ahead of his time.

“He was already playing the game that is demanded today in the midfield. He was breaking the lines.

“I had 25 years of football behind me, but never has a player been able to find me so well on the pitch.

“He found me quickly, faster than any other. As soon as he had the possibility, he sent the ball. He is the one who gave me the most balls. It was great to play with him.

“I would have really liked to play longer together.”

You can purchase a copy of Jeremy Clement's french language book HERE.