Charlie Mulgrew enjoyed a very successful six seasons at Celtic.
A product of the academy, Mulgrew was sent on loan to Dundee United in January 2006 before making his Celtic exit permanent with a move to Wolves the following summer.
Spells at Southend United on loan led to a permanent move to Aberdeen in 2008 before Neil Lennon signed the former Scotland defender in 2010 to bring him back to Paradise.
At Celtic, Mulgrew won five league titles and two Scottish Cups and was part of the iconic Celtic team that beat Lionel Messi’s Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League in 2012.
And whilst he loved his time at Celtic, Mulgrew made a confession about how playing for a club like Celtic can be ‘crazy’.
Mulgrew and the ‘crazy’ feeling of playing for Celtic
Now a coach at Hamilton Academicals, Mulgrew admits he is glad his playing days are over but recalls what it was like to play under the ‘pressure’ of Celtic’s name.
Mulgrew said [Daily Mail], “That’s the thing, you still want to be there.
“This is the crazy thing about it. You live your life and that is your passion. You want to be at the top end of it, playing for Celtic and these teams that want to win.
“It comes at a cost, but it’s the greatest thing ever when you win. So, when you win, amazing. But there is a lot of fear and pressure that goes into that.
“You live your life with everybody judging you, and if you lose, it is a nightmare until the next game, then you can win and relax again.
“Did I used to panic before games? Of course. If you aren’t nervous before a game, there is something wrong with you. It’s human nature.
“You go out in front of 60,000 fans who are demanding that you win and that are scrutinising every single thing you do. But it’s why you are a Celtic player, and why when you win you get that buzz, and when you don’t, you get that other side of it.
“For example, getting beat off Rangers to lose the league on the last day is a complete low, and it is horrendous. You’ve had all the nerves and the fear in the build-up and that has happened.
“To then win the double in the season there when Adam Idah scored in the last minute in the cup final, those are the highs that you live for, and there are a lot of them at Celtic.”
Mulgrew was a very popular character in the Celtic dressing room and loved by the Hoops’ support. Now that his playing days are over, his family legacy at the club continues.
Signing his first professional deal at the club this summer, Mulgrew’s son, Josh, now hopes to embark on a career similar to his dad’s and it would be great if the young lad followed in his footsteps to become an established member of the Celtic first-team.
Related Topics