NO SCOTTISH midfielder has featured so often in Europe but his side just fell short. Barry Ferguson may be far from a relic, but he is the last man standing from times when Rangers spent lavish sums on foreign players.
In the meantime, he has recovered from career-threatening injury, a particularly public falling-out with a manager who was adamant that Ferguson should be jettisoned from the club he loves and long spells when European glory seemed like an unattainable dream. If anyone was entitled to savour this Uefa Cup final, it was the Rangers captain, seeking, but ultimately failing, to join an elite list of Scots who have lifted a European trophy.
As Rangers have adopted a robust and, at times, blatantly defensive approach to recent ties against technically superior continental opposition, Ferguson's creative talents have often been marginalised.
However, the 43-times capped, always vocal, player's influence in a light blue strip remains as striking as ever.
Ferguson came close to opening the scoring at the onset of each half, his 54th-minute angled shot which struck a post almost a fitting moment for a player who, genuinely, has never had aspirations of finishing his career at any other club. It is 10 years and 82 matches since Ferguson made his European debut from the subs' bench just 30 miles from last night's venue.
Shelbourne were Rangers' opponents on that summer evening in 1998, a Uefa Cup tie switched from Dublin to Tranmere Rovers' Prenton Park because of fears over potential crowd trouble if the encounter was staged in Ireland.
Rangers, remarkably 3-0 down at one point in what was also, poignantly, Dick Advocaat's first game as the Ibrox manager, rallied to win 5-3.
Ferguson was last night pitted against Anatoliy Tymoschuk, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished midfield players in Europe.
Discipline had to be the key word for the Scots. The most advanced of a five-man midfield, the 30-year-old was also the chosen outlet for his team-mates when Rangers broke, or even cleared, from defence.
Ferguson's attacking instincts almost paid dividends within seven minutes, the captain only narrowly failing to connect with Jean-Claude Darcheville's cut-back, 12 yards from goal after a well-timed run from deep.
It proved a rare early foray, with Tymoschuk's typically neat promptings ensuring Zenit passed and drove forward in a more coherent manner. Rangers struggled to hold possession for worryingly long periods.
The woodwork was to deny Ferguson his moment of glory; he berated referee Peter Frojdfeldt for denying a penalty in the incident's aftermath. Given all that has gone before, and with history suggesting nights like this may not arrive for him again, the midfielder's ire was heartfelt.
