Rising star Dylan Leonard hails from a distant corner of the globe, yet the trailblazing 17-year-old has confessed that his greatest football aspiration is to one day play for Celtic…
The young centre-back has rapidly climbed the ranks at Western United in Australia, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to debut and score in the A-League.
One of the hottest prospects in Australian football
Widely seen as one of the hottest prospects in Australian football, Leonard made a stunning impact by featuring in 24 matches during his breakout season under John Aloisi’s high-flying side.
Leonard grew up in a Celtic supporting household, with Scottish-born parents, and was in the stands for last season’s thrilling 2-2 Champions League group stage clash against Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park.
Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy, and Scott McDonald
Now, the promising defender is aiming to join the likes of fellow Aussies Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy, and Scott McDonald by donning Celtic’s iconic green and white Hoops.
Speaking to aleagues.com.au, the emerging talent shared his passion for Celtic and revealed: “It’s everything. It’s probably part of the reason I started playing and have worked so hard in my football career so far, is watching games with my family, going over with my cousins, watching Celtic play.”
“I know how much that club means to my family and obviously to me. It’s definitely been a big part of why I’ve wanted to play football.”
Leonard outlined that he shapes his playing style after his Celtic heroes Paul McStay and Kristoffer Ajer. He said: “They were players genuinely based off what my dad had told me.”
I watch a lot of Celtic, certain players like Kristoffer Ajer
“I watch a lot of Celtic, certain players like Kristoffer Ajer when he was at Celtic and the way he used to drive in. That’s something I took out of his game, and I wanted to implement that into my own game, like being a centre-back, that when team step back, can step in and can play forward, can change the game.”
His dad talks about Paul McStay
“He used to talk a lot about Paul McStay as well. He would play forward rather than keeping the ball and playing safe, certain players can change games by their ability to play forward. So that was something, even as a centre-back, I’ve tried to put into my own game.”
Leonard’s journey is just beginning, but the ambitious teenager has his sights set on becoming the next A-League talent to make the leap to the Scottish champions.
‘One thing I want to achieve in football is play for Celtic”
He added: “That’s probably one thing I want to achieve in football is play for Celtic. Win something with Celtic obviously, but that’s definitely the one thing I want to do, the one club I want to play for.”
Conor Spence
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