Giorgos Giakoumakis was a signing that in the first-half of the season frustrated due to ongoing injury issues. Failing to get a run of consistent games because of fitness problems, the big Greek striker didn’t endear himself much more to the Celtic support when he missed a crucial penalty against Livingston at Celtic Park which saw us fail to keep up with our main rivals in the cinch Premiership league table.
However, fast-forward to our day of reckoning and redemption under new boss, Ange Postecoglou, the bustling attacker managed to score the goal at Tannadice – much like Jan Venegoor of Hesselink did all those years ago – that clinched the League title back at the first time of asking. A beautiful redemption song indeed.
With the big man hitting double figures in goals this year – most of which have come in the second half the season (which makes it all the more remarkable), he shared the gong for top scorer with Ross County’s Reagan Charles-Cook. His hat-trick on Trophy Day at Celtic Park ensured he would be privy to the spoils and accolades of being the highest of the goalscorers in the country. 13 in total was the final tally. Amongst those was a crucial hat-trick once again over Dundee as we fought back to ensure we remained on the road to being Champions.
Now the forward has received glowing praise from his international coach Gus Poyet. Poyet, who played for Chelsea and Tottenham respectively, lavished praise on his man; insisting the sky is the limit for the former AEK Athens and VVV-Venlo goal machine.
He said, via Daily Record: “We have Giakoumakis who claimed the Golden Boot in Scotland. That is not a small thing for any striker. We have to see where he can reach in his career. It is very good to have players who play at the highest possible level.”
With Champions League group stage football on the horizon for Giorgos and his Celtic teammates next season, the striker himself has admitted he would like to be fit and firing for a full season to really push himself to be the best. At the end of the season, he was quoted as saying saying: “Do I have unfinished business? Yes. I want to be fit and healthy all of the season next year so I can reach the numbers I am thinking about.
“But it’s not about a specific number. It’s about scoring in every single game. Of course I will be better next season. Right now I feel I’ve maybe shown 70 percent as I didn’t feel fully fit or healthy in the first six months.
“It will be totally different when I get a full pre-season. I hope next season is going to be amazing. “I am confident about next season because of the players around me. You need the players around you to be the top goalscorer – because someone has to give you it!
“I have a lot of confidence in my teammates as you know you will have a lot of chances. It’s about making sure you are clinical.”
One things for sure, with confidence like this, next season promises to be a firecracker!
