Ignacio Javier Gómez Novo Biography | Ignacio Javier Gómez Novo News

Early career
Novo joined Raith Rovers from SD Huesca in July 2001 and scored 18 goals in 33 appearances in his first season. His goalscoring record attracted the attention of then Scottish Premier League club Dundee who signed him for £100,000 in July 2002.

He remained with Dundee for two seasons, and his form attracted the interest of several clubs. Both Rangers and Celtic, as well as Leicester City, were reported to be interested in signing Novo;however, Celtic decided against a move after agreeing a fee - citing Novo's lack of commitment to signing for the club - and Leicester City's offer also failed to materialise.

Rangers

2004-05
Novo quickly signed for Rangers in July 2004 for a reported fee of £450,000. He wore shirt number 10 that had been vacated by Michael Mols. In his first season with the club he scored 25 goals, including the goal against Hibernian that won Rangers the league title.He made his debut for Rangers in a SPL match away to Aberdeen on 7 August 2004.  His first goal came in his second appearance, netting in Rangers 2-1 loss to Russian side CSKA Moscow on August 10.

Following his first goal Novo failed to score in his next eight appearances and pressure mounted on the little Spaniard as he was dropped from the starting eleven. The sides stuttering early season form did not help him either but things began to improve when he came on as a 66th minute subsititute in a league match against his former employers Dundee. Novo netted two goals in as many minutes which helped Rangers to a 2-0 victory ,after that he was a regular in the Rangers side.

2005-06
At the start of the season Novo broke his fifth metatarsal,which ruled him out for several months. Upon his return from injury he failed to score in the twenty matches he played the rest of that season, being deployed more as a winger than a striker due to the form of Kris Boyd. His three goals had come against Celtic, Falkirk and Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta.

2006-07
With the departure of Alex McLeish and the arrival of Frenchman Paul Le Guen, Novo found that his first team opportunities would be limited. He looked set to leave Rangers but a proposed transfer to English Championship club Coventry City fell through on transfer deadline day and so the window closed with him still at Ibrox. At first he found his appearances sporadic, featuring in the first game of the season then waiting seven weeks for his second but after a mixture of poor results, injuries and good performancs in the reserves he returned to the first team. His first goal of that season, and in over a year, was in a 3-2 UEFA Cup win over A.S. Livorno Calcio on October 19, 2006.

In the following match Novo came off the subs bench to score a late winner against St Mirren in a 3-2 win for Rangers. He then started the next game at the expense of Dado Pršo, Motherwell held Rangers to a 1-1 draw with Novo named Man of the Match. His rejuvenated form continued with goals against Hearts,Maccabi Haifa and AJ Auxerre.Novo continued to be a regular when Le Guen was replaced with Walter Smith.

2007-08
The signings of Jean-Claude Darcheville, Daniel Cousin and Steven Naismith in the summer of 2007 led to increased competition for attacking positions in the Rangers side, and most of Novo's appearances in the early months of the season were as a substitute. On October 20, 2007 he started the first Old Firm derby match of the season and scored twice in a 3–0 victory for Rangers over Celtic.

On the December 2, 2007 it was reported that Rangers were willing to offer Novo a one year extension to his current contract, which was to expire in July 2008. However, Novo said that he would leave the club if he wasn't offered a longer contract. He was later offered a two-year contract extension, which keeps him at the club until 2010, and signed the deal on 21 December 2007.

On 1 May 2008, he scored the winning penalty in the semi final shoot-out against ACF Fiorentina which put Rangers through to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final. During the 2007-08 season Novo was sent off twice, both in league games before cup finals, meaning he missed both the 2008 League Cup final and the 2008 Scottish Cup final through suspension
 

Early career
Novo joined Raith Rovers from SD Huesca in July 2001 and scored 18 goals in 33 appearances in his first season. His goalscoring record attracted the attention of then Scottish Premier League club Dundee who signed him for £100,000 in July 2002.

He remained with Dundee for two seasons, and his form attracted the interest of several clubs. Both Rangers and Celtic, as well as Leicester City, were reported to be interested in signing Novo;however, Celtic decided against a move after agreeing a fee - citing Novo's lack of commitment to signing for the club - and Leicester City's offer also failed to materialise.

Rangers

2004-05
Novo quickly signed for Rangers in July 2004 for a reported fee of £450,000. He wore shirt number 10 that had been vacated by Michael Mols. In his first season with the club he scored 25 goals, including the goal against Hibernian that won Rangers the league title.He made his debut for Rangers in a SPL match away to Aberdeen on 7 August 2004.  His first goal came in his second appearance, netting in Rangers 2-1 loss to Russian side CSKA Moscow on August 10.

Following his first goal Novo failed to score in his next eight appearances and pressure mounted on the little Spaniard as he was dropped from the starting eleven. The sides stuttering early season form did not help him either but things began to improve when he came on as a 66th minute subsititute in a league match against his former employers Dundee. Novo netted two goals in as many minutes which helped Rangers to a 2-0 victory ,after that he was a regular in the Rangers side.

2005-06
At the start of the season Novo broke his fifth metatarsal,which ruled him out for several months. Upon his return from injury he failed to score in the twenty matches he played the rest of that season, being deployed more as a winger than a striker due to the form of Kris Boyd. His three goals had come against Celtic, Falkirk and Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta.

2006-07
With the departure of Alex McLeish and the arrival of Frenchman Paul Le Guen, Novo found that his first team opportunities would be limited. He looked set to leave Rangers but a proposed transfer to English Championship club Coventry City fell through on transfer deadline day and so the window closed with him still at Ibrox. At first he found his appearances sporadic, featuring in the first game of the season then waiting seven weeks for his second but after a mixture of poor results, injuries and good performancs in the reserves he returned to the first team. His first goal of that season, and in over a year, was in a 3-2 UEFA Cup win over A.S. Livorno Calcio on October 19, 2006.

In the following match Novo came off the subs bench to score a late winner against St Mirren in a 3-2 win for Rangers. He then started the next game at the expense of Dado Pršo, Motherwell held Rangers to a 1-1 draw with Novo named Man of the Match. His rejuvenated form continued with goals against Hearts,Maccabi Haifa and AJ Auxerre.Novo continued to be a regular when Le Guen was replaced with Walter Smith.

2007-08
The signings of Jean-Claude Darcheville, Daniel Cousin and Steven Naismith in the summer of 2007 led to increased competition for attacking positions in the Rangers side, and most of Novo's appearances in the early months of the season were as a substitute. On October 20, 2007 he started the first Old Firm derby match of the season and scored twice in a 3–0 victory for Rangers over Celtic.

On the December 2, 2007 it was reported that Rangers were willing to offer Novo a one year extension to his current contract, which was to expire in July 2008. However, Novo said that he would leave the club if he wasn't offered a longer contract. He was later offered a two-year contract extension, which keeps him at the club until 2010, and signed the deal on 21 December 2007.

On 1 May 2008, he scored the winning penalty in the semi final shoot-out against ACF Fiorentina which put Rangers through to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final. During the 2007-08 season Novo was sent off twice, both in league games before cup finals, meaning he missed both the 2008 League Cup final and the 2008 Scottish Cup final through suspension