Callum McGregor has gone from Celtic ball boy to captain in a career that has earned him 23 major honours, so far.
He led the team out for Sunday’s 3-1 win at Motherwell to make his 500th appearance for the Scottish champions and will be honoured at their home game against Dundee on Wednesday.
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Apart from a season-long loan at Notts County when he was 20, the Hoops are all he has ever known and his presence has coincided with an incredible run of success.
He’s in his second spell under Brendan Rodgers having previously played under Ronny Deila, Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou.
In 2018/19 while Celtic were unstoppable on their way to a third consecutive title, McGregor was undroppable playing more minutes of competitive football than any other player in world football.
The 31-year-old has been reflecting on his incredible journey that has taken him to 23 honours, level with legendary captain Billy McNeil. A record he is set to surpass before the end of this season.
His Celtic debut
He told Sky Sports: “Your initial thought is just to try and help the team, try and play well and hopefully we win. Obviously, it transpired that way.
“I managed to get the winning goal and a little bit of a statement on your debut which is always important I think when you come into big clubs and you come into the team.
“It’s important that you do something to try and stand out or be remembered, so it was obviously a really positive start in that sense.”
Why Rodgers is his ‘biggest influence’
“Right from the first meeting that we had, everything he said was pretty much perfect and along the lines of the way that I see football and the way that I want to play football as well.
“I thought right away I’ve got a decent chance here, I think we’re on the same page and then it was just up to me to keep developing and keep improving and keep trying to gain his trust.
“Obviously fast forward to now and I’ve had an amazing relationship throughout my career and he’s certainly been the one that’s had the biggest influence on me.
“I’m really grateful to him for the faith first and foremost that he’s showed in me, but the learning journey that we’ve been on together as player and manager has been incredible and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
‘Invincible treble career highlight’
Celtic became the first team to win a domestic treble without losing a game, a feat that was sealed by an injury-time strike from Tom Rogic as Celtic beat Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final.
McGregor recalled: “Everything led up to that whole moment. Throughout the season your team had been playing some unbelievable football and now the talk is invincible treble. If you win this you do something that’s never been done before.
“I think you’d be hard pushed to find a more special individual moment than that.”
Becoming Celtic captain
“Such an honour, something that I take so seriously.
“My responsibility is to make sure the club’s successful along with all the other players of course but, ultimately, on the pitch the buck will stop with me and I’m happy with that.
“I’m fine with that because when things are going well then you get the credit but if things don’t go so well then you have to front up and face it.
“It’s big pressure, it’s big expectation but I feel like that’s what brings the best out of me as well.”
Reaching 500 Celtic games
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“It’s a dream come true. It’s probably the only way I can put it. As a young boy all I wanted to do was play football. I stepped through the doors at Celtic at nine, and to still be here and get 500 games is such an incredible achievement.
“When you see some of the names that have played for this club you feel immensely proud and very, very lucky to have had such a good career here.
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“At this club, you’re always under pressure, it’s so demanding. To make that many appearances then, hopefully I’m doing something right and I just want to continue working hard every single day trying to help my team-mates and help this football club.
“You just try and put one foot in front of the other each day. Every time you train, try and be at your maximum. Go home, recover well and then when the games come around, then obviously there’s big expectation for us to win. That’s the only thing in your mind pretty much, Monday to Friday is can we win at the weekend?”
