A Celtic prankster duped me and ended my Rangers career after just 8 months (2025)

It's one of the most bizarre stories from the Banter Era, but a prank phone call was no laughing matter for Fran Sandaza

Francisco Sandaza arrived at Rangers as one of the SPL's most prolific forwards, and looked destined to fire them back up the leagues.

The Spaniard had netted 18 times in 31 games for St Johnstone a season previous, but took the step down to the fourth tier to join Ally McCoist's Light Blues - and big things were expected.

Instead, just eight months and two goals later, Sandaza found himself hitting the back pages for all the wrong reasons - after being duped by a prank phonecall from a Celtic fan.

Wind-up merchant 'Tommy the Taxi Driver' called Sandaza posing to be an agent to tell him that a side from America's MLS were interesting in bringing him.

Clearly the bright lights of LA and New York appealed more than midweek trips to Elgin and Berwick, with an interested Sandaza instantly interested - as he disclosed all the details of his contract, and said that the money was a major factor behind his move to Govan.

What happened with Fran Sandaza at Rangers?

Back in early 2013 Sandaza was struggling to make an impression at Ibrox, with patience wearing thin as the once lethal top flight striker failed to make his mark against a league entirely made up of part-time opponents.

Enter fictional agent Jack McGonagle, otherwise known as notorious Glasgow prank call specialist Tommy the taxi driver, who counts Craig Whyte as another of his unwilling victims.

He got a hold of a number for Sandaza and questioned him about a glamorous and money-spinning switch to the MLS.

During the call, which was plastered all over social media, the duped Sandaza gave explicit details as to what he was earning at Ibrox - £4,500 in his first year, which would rise to £5,500 in his second, £6,500 in his third and £10,000 in the last of his four-year deal, by which time the club expected to be back in the top flight.

But that wasn't all, Sandaza made it very clear he'd be happy to leave Ibrox if the price was right elsewhere, continuing: "The money is good. The club is amazing – it is a very, very big club – and the supporters are amazing.

“Obviously if I get a better league and more money I would go. I have been playing all my life to get a good contract for me and my family, so that is why I signed here. I wanted a contract that solved my life.

“I didn’t sign for the level. I signed for the money and because they are a good club.”

Rather prophetically however, he added: "Do not do it officially through the club. Send me the contract first. I don’t want trouble if Rangers find out about this."

What happened to Fran Sandaza after Rangers?

Sandaza was suspended by Rangers following the hoax call, and pledged to fight it - even threatening both the club and prankster with legal action. However a settlement with the Ibrox side was reached by July, allowing him to return to Spain and continue his career.

Back in his homeland things he looked far more like the player who had been a favourite at St Johnstone; a five goal first season back with Lugo was followed by 16 goals for Girona. A brief spell in Japanese football followed, before he returned to Girona - scoring nine times as they won promotion to La Liga.

He'd go on to spend time in Qatar, China and India - not doubt earning the lucrative contracts he craved whilst a Rangers player, before hanging up his boots at Extremadura in 2022.

Who was Tommy the Taxi Driver?

Tommy the Taxi Driver became a household name for his prank calls and as a regular on football phone-in shows. Although his full name was never known.

Sandaza wasn't his only victim, he posed as businessman Stewart Henderson and got disgraced former Rangers owner Craig Whyte to discuss the future of the club before liquidation.

According to several Celtic fan sites, he also enjoyed a chat with former SFA chief David Taylor. Although there's no recording of that still available.

What has Sandaza said since?

It's clear that the whole situation left a bad taste in Sandaza's mouth, as he opened up about the situation to the Courier in 2023.

The Spaniard said: "It has been a long time and, looking back, I can say it (leaving Rangers) was the best thing that happened for me. I scored a lot of goals back in Spain, won a promotion to La Liga and made very good contacts.

“I think this all happened for a reason. It was not the best goodbye to Scotland but leaving that club was the best thing for me. With my career over I can say it was a bad decision to sign for Rangers. That is for sure.

“When I was in the lower divisions, my mentality was not the best. I knew right away that it was not right. The only bad experience in Scotland was Rangers. It was a bad choice to go to that club; the worst club of my career.”