Oscar Rubio EXCLUSIVE Interview

Certainly, Oscar takes nothing for granted – having spent six months out of the game when he was involved in a contractual dispute between two clubs.

And that means he’s fully focused in every game, big or small. Oscar grew up in the town of Alcala De Henares, about 30 kilometres from Madrid, along with his brother and sister. It was a very happy childhood and he still keeps in contact with friends he made when he was just three or four years-of-age. “There are about eight of us who keep in regular contact,” he added.

Oscar can’t remember not kicking a football about. “I think I started when I was about two,” he laughed. But it wasn’t just football in which he excelled. Oscar was also promising at handball, basketball and baseball and could probably have made the grade in at least one of them. “I preferred football, though,” he added.

At the age of just eleven, he came to the attention of Spain’s senior clubs. R.S.D Alcala were the biggest club in his local area and expressed an interest in young Oscar. However, the chance to play in the Real Madrid Academy proved too great an opportunity to turn down and he decided to go there. “I went for a trial with 100s of boys and ended up signing for Real Madrid.”

At 17, Oscar eventually played for R.S.D. Alcala, where he stayed for two years before moving to Majorca B. His form earned him a move back to Real Madrid, where he played mainly for the B side, although he also made a number of appearances for the first team, including one in the semi final of the Spanish Cup.

Looking to progress his career and play more first team football, Oscar signed a contract for Deportivo la Coruña. Or at least he thought he had . . .The dispute between the two clubs led to him being out the game for a full six months. “It was a very hard time for me,” he added, “I was training on my own.”

At this stage, Oscar thought he might have some respite when Celtic asked him across to Scotland for a week. And despite the fact he knew nothing about the club, he jumped at the chance to escape from the misery of training alone. But it turned out not to be the best time for Oscar to display his talent. “I had been out the game for four or five months and wasn’t match fit.

“I came back to Spain and at the end of the day I had to train with Real Madrid until the transfer window was open when I signed for Spanish first division side Toledo.” Oscar remained there for six months, playing alongside David Fernandez. “I had played against David before when he was with Deportivo,” added Oscar, “but this was the first time I played in the same team as him.”

Unfortunately the side were relegated to the second division and Oscar moved to Farense before ending up at Livingston, where he’s firmly etched in the history books as the scorer of the club’s first European goal.

“That was a fantastic season for us,” added Oscar, “I am very happy here and I feel really welcome. It is a small club, but everyone is very kind. For a foreign player it’s sometimes difficult to play in a country where you don’t speak the language.

“My wife loves Scotland as well and is now studying at university in Edinburgh, where we live.”

Oscar is currently studying for his ‘B’ coaching licence and would like to stay in football after his playing career is over. “My wife might want to run some business, though,” he joked.

However, Livi fans can relax in the knowledge that Oscar has no intention of hanging up his boots for many years yet. And they can be further secure in the knowledge that he’s also looking forward to remaining at Livingston for as long as possible. “I feel part of the family here,” he added.