Within the fast aftermath of Celtic’s Champions League goalless draw at Dinamo Zagreb in December, captain Callum McGregor was requested what number of titles he had received, only for the report.
He hesitated for a cut up second, which spoke volumes, earlier than answering: “22, I feel.”
“You aren’t getting to the place you have to by chasing the numbers or chasing that sort of standing,” he added.
“I am humble sufficient to know I am very fortunate to play at this membership and to have the profession I’ve had. I’ve achieved that by exhausting work and attempting to be the perfect I can day-after-day.
“Nothing modifications for me.”
Nothing a lot does change. Profitable titles has gone hand in hand with McGregor’s time at Celtic.
For the report, these feedback got here days earlier than the Scottish League Cup last, wherein Celtic edged previous Rangers on penalties.
It is now 23 medals for the Celtic captain, as he ready to make his five hundredth look for the membership towards Motherwell.
Stage on accolades with the nice Billy McNeil, he’ll doubtless surpass that quickly sufficient.
Contributing from the beginning
With a contract till 2028, McGregor’s affect – and trophy haul – reveals no signal of relenting as he closes in on the highest of the all-time Celtic medal winners’ checklist.
Solely James Forrest and Bobby Lennox stay above him on 25, with Lennox and McNeil, in fact, winners of the largest of all in 1967.
McGregor’s season-long mortgage spell, aged 20, at Notts County is properly documented. That have performed an enormous half in forming the participant he would change into.
The midfielder was instrumental in guiding them to survival in English soccer’s third tier, ending prime scorer, enjoying alongside one other loanee, England worldwide Jack Grealish.
Inside months, he returned to Glasgow and scored a late winner on his Celtic debut in a Champions League qualifying away win over KR Reykjavik.
Development to the latter phases of the Champions League had eluded him all through his Celtic profession, till current weeks. He is ticked that one off too.
Now, if out there, he’ll lead Celtic right into a two-legged play-off towards German giants Bayern Munich in mid-February, chasing a last-16 place.
Key man for succession of managers
With 499 appearances, 71 objectives and a trophy haul that features 5 trebles, McGregor has been a Celtic managers’ dream.
His presence has coincided with an unimaginable run of success, the one main blip being Rangers stopping a landmark 10 League titles in a row in 2021.
He is in his second spell underneath Brendan Rodgers having beforehand performed underneath Ronny Deila, Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou. A key man for all.
His significance was maybe highlighted 2018/19 season as Celtic clinched the a 3rd consecutive treble.
By the tip of that marketing campaign McGregor had performed extra minutes of aggressive soccer than every other participant in world soccer. Undroppable.
Current phrases of his present boss Rodgers sum up McGregor’s function, significantly since inheriting the captaincy from Scott Brown.
“He is the beating coronary heart of the workforce”. He stays so.