Former Rangers defender and Tunisian international Bilel Moshni has joined League Two Grimsby Town in the fourth tier of English football.
The 6ft3 defender has nine caps for the Tunisian top team and spent two seasons at Ibrox between 2013 and 2015.
Best known for his erratic and aggressive behaviour on the pitch, the defender made 61 appearances in total for Rangers scoring an impressive 13 goals and getting sent off three times.
Moshni, now 33, has been described as “my Virgil van Dijk” by eccentric Grimsby Town boss Ian Holloway who is very excited about the signing.
“He is my leader, he’s my Virgil van Dijk”, said Holloway [Grimsby Town].
“He can play anywhere, to be honest with you. In France, they have a sort of hall of fame, where they let anybody without a contract train and play with others and they play against clubs.
“He kept playing, he played nearly 30 games in that environment and he’s a wonderful man, I’ve known him for a very very long time, he’s a little bit firey I must admit…but I’ve forgiven him and I want him here to help us with our young lads.
“I’m absolutely delighted he’s decided to join me, he had other choices but because we were so close last year, he’s decided he wanted to come back to me.”
Given Virgil van Dijk moved from Southampton to Liverpool for £75m it is particularly high-praise indeed.
Since leaving Ibrox in 2015, Bilel Moshni has played for Angers, Paris FC, Etoile du Sahel, Dundee United and Panachaiki before joining Grimsby Town.
His final match for the club involved an almighty clash with Motherwell’s Lee Erwin in 2015 as the Gers crashed out of the Scottish Premiership playoffs.
