Former Celtic goalkeeper Dorus de Vries has been reflecting on his time at the Bhoys and the limited game time he got under manager Brendan Rodgers.

De Vries arrived at Celtic in 2016 just as Rodgers was taking charge in his first spell. Rodgers signed him after building a relationship with the Dutchman at Swansea City.

The veteran initially looked as though he could stake a claim to be the club’s new number-one choice in goal and the 2016/17 season started that way.

However, Craig Gordon eventually won his spot in the side and went on to become one of Rodgers’ go-to options. De Vries would ultimately make just 15 appearances in total for the club.

He announced his retirement after leaving Celtic in 2019 and doesn’t have many regrets about a successful career. However, he does wish he’d played for the Bhoys when he was more capable.

Dorus de Vries battled injury and age at Celtic

The former shot-stopper said [Daily Record]: “It was a strange time for me at Celtic. Before I arrived I ruptured ankle ligaments in my last game for Nottingham Forest. So I had that problem from the start. I always thought it would have been nice to play for Celtic when I was a little younger.

“Towards the end of my career, the physical side was difficult for me. I was struggling with my back and ankle. So I wasn’t up to the standard I was used to, when I compare it to my days at Swansea or Forest. Brendan wanted a keeper to compete with Craig at Celtic.

“He adapted by learning to play from the back. That helped him develop and he went on to become a fantastic keeper – he still is. Unfortunately for me, injuries made it difficult. I just wish I’d got to play for Celtic in my prime.”

A familiar feeling for many who pass through Celtic

Celtic fans have heard similar comments to De Vries’ before. Many who come through the club in the later part of their career end up having similar regrets. Or those who leave at a young sometimes come to rue every saying goodbye.

Celtic is a special place. Joe Hart summed that up with his brilliant addresses to supporters and interviews with the media in the closing weeks of his career. It’s an experience for players that is hard to sell but impossible to forget if they end up here.

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