MICHAEL BEALE has expressed his delight after seeing keeper Emi Martinez play a starring role in Argentina's World Cup triumph.
The Ibrox boss worked alongside Martinez during his spell at Aston Villa and watched on with pride as the 30-year-old became a hero in Qatar.
Martinez produced another stunning showing on Sunday as a last-gasp stop to deny Randal Kolo Muani was followed by two saves in the shoot-out win over France.
The former Arsenal kid spent time with the likes of Oxford United and Rotherham as he made his name in England and now has the greatest prize in the game on his record.
Beale said: "Unbelievable game. I stayed here and watched it with the staff, we watched it in the canteen upstairs. Fantastic game.
"I thought Argentina won every one-v-one duel, you could see that they must train with that intensity, that passion.
"On a personal level, I am absolutely delighted for Emi Martinez. I worked with him for six or seven months at Aston Villa. Great lad. We had a good relationship.
"It is interesting that Neil Banfield worked with him for many years at Arsenal as well. His journey to this stage, remember he wasn’t really a first team number one until later in his life, he has been on league down the lower leagues.
"He believed in himself. I am probably doing the return of the nice words he said about me a few months ago! I genuinely mean it.
"He trains really well. I know how passionate he is about playing for his country and how important this World Cup was. He was the second star of the World Cup, or maybe the third after Mbappe.
"It was an unbelievable save. This was a boy that has been in the lower leagues in England and has had to fight to get to the top. He won the Copa America and now won the World Cup.
"Watching him cry on the pitch, it was the happiest cry I have ever seen."
