Former Celtic winger Shaun Maloney has admitted that he hasn’t watched the Seville Final again as he opened up on the heartbreaking end to the 2003 season finale. Martin O’Neill’s side were beaten after extra-time by Jose Mourinho’s Porto before losing the league to Rangers by goal difference on a controversial final day of the season.
Speaking to Four Four Two magazine, the winger said that O’Neill’s team was a great team to breakthrough, touching upon that incredible run to the final in the 2002/03 season.
“Scottish football was in a great place in the early 2000s. I remember Henrik Larsson and John Hartson both being injured ahead of the UEFA Cup last 16 first leg against Stuttgart, and I got my first big start.”
“We won 3-1 and I scored. We then beat Liverpool en route to the final and eventually lost 3-2 to Jose Mourinho’s Porto – I came on in extra-time.
“I’ve still never watched that final again. We also lost the league title four days later, with Rangers pipping us on goal difference. It was heartbreaking but, looking back, what an incredible season for a youngster to experience.”
Henrik Larsson scored two magnificent headers in a game that was heading for penalties before a red card to Bobo Balde and a fumble by Rab Douglas allowed Derlei to score and win the game for the Portuguese side, who would win the Champions League the following year.
Having made his debut in a 3-0 win at Ibrox in April 2001, Maloney became one of the club’s brightest talents in that era. The player would kick on before moving to the English Premier League where he reunited with O’Neill in January 2007.
Across two spells at Celtic, Maloney made 202 appearances, scoring 50 goals and assisting on four occasions. The Scotland Internationalist departed for Wigan Athletic, where he would win the FA Cup against all odds for The Latics. Now, he’s back managing the League One side.
