As far as Celtic debuts go, new Bhoy Yuki Kobayashi can be pretty pleased with his performance last night under the lights at Celtic Park. A clean sheet, calm in possession, and the width of the post from a debut goal (does he get the assist for that?). All in all a good night’s work for the 22 year old.
But where does his introduction to life at Celtic rank amongst some of the other impressive debuts we’ve witnessed over the years?
This was the topic of debate in our ‘Listener’s Question’ section on this week’s Celtic Exchange Weekly (thanks to Stephen Murray in Uddingston for the question) as we recalled some great starts in green & white.
Worth The Wait?
Stephen got the ball rolling with his own personal favourite – and perhaps that of many of us. On a wet, rainy, magical night at Celtic Park back on the 1st of April 1996 a long haired Portuguese striker by the name of Jorge Cadete formally introduced himself to the home crowd.
It was a debut which had shamefully been deliberately delayed by the powers that be at SFA, and despite the signing being announced in February it would be a further six weeks before his debut was allowed to take place. And they say we’re paranoid.
On the night in question however the former Sporting Lisbon star showed just why Tommy Burns was so keen to bring him to Paradise. With Celtic already four goals to the good against Aberdeen – thanks to doubles from Simon Donnelly and Pierre Van Hooijdonk – Cadete finally entered the fray with less than twenty minutes remaining.
Minutes later he was latching on to the end of a through ball from Peter Grant before dinking the ball beautifully over onrushing keeper Michael Watt and wheeling away in delight. Such was the roar that met the goal that BBC Radio 5 were literally blown off the air as Celtic Park erupted to celebrate their new hero. Not a bad way to start your Celtic career.
A 33 Year Old Stranger From Slovakia
For James at The Celtic Exchange there can only be one answer to this question. Dr Jo Venglos’s time at Celtic Park is perhaps best remembered for the signing of a player who very few of a Celtic persuasion will have even heard of in October of 1998. That would all change very quickly.
Lubo Moravcik is as naturally gifted a player as any you’ll see in football with no less than Zinedine Zidane describing his as “one of the greatest No.10’s in football”. To watch him in the Hoops was a genuine privilege and he remains a true Celtic hero to this day.
But where did it all start? His debut would take place in a 6-1 hammering of Dundee on 7th November 1998. A game not remembered for the goals, but instead for the sublime quality of our new Slovakian midfielder, and for the immediate realisation that we were on to something special!
Fast forward two weeks and the “Gift From God” would really cement his place in Celtic history, scoring a dream double in a 5-1 demolition of Rangers at Celtic Park. The age of Lubo had landed!
The Great Oswaldo Giraldo Junior
Or Juninho as he was better known. The diminutive Brazilian arrived in Glasgow in the twilight years of his career having dazzled in Brazil, Spain and England in his peak. Like many others Mif from our show was blown away by his start to life at Celtic, but unfortunately it was to prove a false dawn.
As Celtic recorded their 7th straight win over Rangers in August 2004 during a period of domination under Martin O’Neill, Juninho took his bow in front of the Parkhead crowd. His direct running and ability on the ball provided a welcome reminder of the player he had been and gave hope that he could replicate that in a hooped jersey.
Sadly that was about as good as it got for the 49 times capped international, and after just 14 starts he was released the following April. What could have been!
Tune in to the latest episode of The Celtic Exchange Weekly as we discuss Dream Debuts, SFA Failings, The Giakoumakis Saga and more.
Available on all major podpast players, at The Celtic Exchange website or via the player below. If like Stephen you want to put your question to The Celtic Exchange team for a future episode then simply leave a voiceclip via the icon on the bottom right of the website at any time.
