It is fair to say that the Celtic support, more than most, has been stung by declarations of love for the club from players and managers who had little connection to Celtic before joining. While we all love to hear that our heroes ‘get it’ and understand what it means to be a Celt, the truth of the matter is that we’ve now become tired of it all.
What we really want, plain and simple, is for players and managers to come in and give their all for the club while they are here; to be professionals, in other words, and not bang a drum about their life-long love for Celtic before jumping ship without a second thought
But this is not a new phenomenon, I remember hearing Paolo Di Canio reminiscing about when he joined Celtic in a 2008 Sky Sports’ Christmas special of ‘Where Are They Now?’
Subbuteo man has a little problem
Di Canio said: “When I was young, I would play Subbuteo with my friend. There was a squad with horizontal green and white lines. I was captivated by the colours of the shirt. I decided if one day I became a footballer I would like to play in Scotland.”
“After 10 years playing in Italy, an offer came from Glasgow and I decided straight away to go to Celtic because my dreams would come true. The first time I wore the Celtic shirt was emotional for me. I was like a child who has just received a big present.”
A big hit with the fans thanks to his flamboyant and committed style of play, Di Canio scored 15 goals in 37 appearances in his debut season at Celtic Park. Unfortunately, the good times did not last, and Di Canio forced his way out of the club after just one season, citing “a little problem” for his swift departure.
The fiery Italian was said to be unhappy with his wages and demanded a hefty increase to remain at the club, something Fergus McCann was not prepared to budge on. Di Canio was also on record as stating his unhappiness with the club as they parted ways with Tommy Burns.
As the Aberdeen Press and Journal reported in May 1997, Di Canio said: “I think Fergus (McCann) made a mistake. Tommy Burns has been a good manager for the past three years. I am not sure about coming back after the summer as I have a little problem.”
This was swiftly followed by further media reports that the man who always picked Celtic as his Subbuteo team had vowed to quit the club in the coming weeks.
Right-winger in more ways than one
Di Canio said: “I have spoken to Mr Jansen about my problem and he seems a good person. Out of respect for him, I will complete my pre-season training by playing in Ireland. But I will do no more after that.”
“That makes me sad because I love the fans, but if I am out of the park with problems on my mind it is good for no one. The people at Celtic must remember I have a problem that has to be addressed.”
An undoubted talent but one whose time at Celtic was motivated by greed and money rather than a true love for the club, Di Canio was infamously ‘traded’ to Sheffield Wednesday for Regi Blinker.
Worse was to follow when Di Canio’s fascist beliefs were later worn like a badge of honour.. It’s safe to say that he’ll never be welcomed back to Celtic Park.
Judas Johnston
Of course, Di Canio was not the only player to take us for a ride and play the ‘I’ve always loved Celtic’ card. Some from a lot closer to home than the Italian have pulled the same trick, but none more devasting than the man now known simply as ‘Judas’.
Between 1984 and 1987 Maurice Johnston was one of Celtic’s brightest talents, scoring over 50 goals for the club in three seasons before joining French side Nantes.
After two years in Nantes, it was time for Johnston to return to Scotland with Celtic all set to be the destination. Manager Billy McNeill was extremely keen to bring the former striker back and the feeling was mutual.
So much so that on 12 May 1989, Johnston was unveiled again as a Celtic player, with the club agreeing to a £1.2m fee with the French side. He even travelled with Celtic on the team bus at the end of the 1988/89 season to games against St Mirren – at Love Street; the venue of one of Celtic and Johnston’s most iconic goals during the 1985/86 season title-clincher – and Rangers in the Scottish Cup final of 1989.
Empty words
In an interview with STV News, as he stood beside McNeill, Johnston said:
“I’m really delighted, there were other offers, but there is only one team I want to play for and that’s Celtic.”
When asked about his previous spell at the club and the controversy that he often found himself involved in, the striker replied: “There’s only one thing I want to concentrate on and that’s playing for Celtic Football Club.”
However, Scottish football was to face its biggest shock to date on 10 July 1989 as Rangers stunned the football world by announcing the signing of Maurice Johnston for £1.5m just two weeks after his unveiling at Celtic.
As reported in the Aberdeen Press and Journal the following day, Rangers’ boss Graeme Souness said: “I am delighted Maurice is coming to this club. In present-day football, he is one of the most talented strikers in the game and he will be a tremendous asset to this club.”
On his move to Celtic’s fierce rivals, Johnston said: “I am thrilled to be coming to Ibrox. I am coming to a really big club, possibly the biggest in Europe, and I am just delighted to be joining Rangers.”
Johnston’s transfer to the blue half of Glasgow was a seismic moment in the history of Scottish football. Not only had he crossed the divide and gone back on his word to re-sign for Celtic, but Johnston also became the first openly Catholic player to sign for Rangers.
Having sold Frank McAvennie to West Ham the previous March, Johnston was supposed to spearhead the Celtic attack going into the 1989/90 season. Instead, he helped Rangers to the title while Celtic floundered to a third place finish with the misfiring Dariusz Dziekanowski and John Hewitt signed to bolster the front line.
However, despite being left high and dry by heroes of the past, Celtic has remained, the fans have remained, and we always will. There will be new heroes to idolise in the coming seasons, some will stay longer than others. Yet all we ask is that they give their all for the green and white hoops while they are here and don’t play us for fools.
Give us that respect and you will be cherished as one of our own without needing to beat your chest or profess to have followed the club from birth.
And in the snakepit of mercenaries to have pulled on the hoops, there is a special place reserved for Di Canio and ‘la petite merde’.
BOBBY GORDON
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