It’s hard to believe there was even a debate at the beginning of the season as to the suitability of Callum McGregor to captain Celtic. We were losing an iconic leader of men in Scott Brown and filling his boots was going to be no easy task for Calmac, but he has more than stepped up this season.
The horrific cheekbone double fracture received in the Scottish Cup tie with Alloa, and the subsequent return for the Glasgow Derby, will always be pointed to as a fine example of McGregor’s leadership qualities, and so it should be.
Yet for Ange Postecoglou, as reported by Football Scotland, there is as much to Callum McGregor’s leadership in his value to the team as there ever was in donning that protective mask and putting himself in further harm’s way.
“There is no doubt Callum has been a real leader for this team,” Ange said. “He has shown unbelievable courage to play with that face mask for the last few weeks and then you add all the leadership qualities he has shown for us.
“It’s not just about being a leader, you also have to play your part in the team. You saw him last midweek against St Mirren when he scored a really important goal for us.
“Callum’s football has been outstanding and that is where it starts. If you are not contributing on the field, all the other stuff doesn’t really come into the same context. But he’s led from the front and he’s played fantastic football for us. He contributes in every game for us.”
Callum McGregor has barely put a foot wrong this season and when you consider he was not only picking up the new role of captain, he also had to contend with an incredible turnaround in playing staff as his new manager rebuilt his team from the ashes of a disastrous season just prior.
Postecoglou signed those players and he coached them of course, but McGregor’s role in winning those players’ respect and being the man to take the manager’s message on to the field, particularly in a season where Celtic have not had their challenges to seek, shouldn’t be underestimated. And Postecoglou believes it is in challenging times that players learn the most and that goes for his captain too.
“He will probably tell you himself that you learn the most about yourself through the most challenging periods. People forget this is his first year as a leader, as captain of this football club. People know the responsibility that goes with that. It’s not an easy role.
“This is his first crack at steering a team through this part of the year and I am sure he will learn a lot about himself and the way he leads. But I can’t speak highly enough about Callum. He’s been outstanding.”
Ange Postecoglou rarely seems one to hand out lavish praise in public, but for McGregor he’s clearly made an exception.
The horrific injury and the bravery to play on through the pain barrier is a fine example of the captain’s leadership, but just as important was popping up with that second goal against St Mirren, on a night of jangling nerves – bringing back memories of predecessor Scott Brown’s late, late winner against Hamilton Accies in December 2019 as moments where title can be won.
And although McGregor missed from the penalty spot against Livingston, he stood up and took the pressure on his shoulders and off those of his teammates, and considering another trip to Livingston was fraught with danger for the Hoops, that took a lot of bottle.
Ange Postecoglou certainly rates Callum McGregor as his captain, and there would be few dissenting voices left amongst the support now, indeed it’s hard to remember now what those counter arguments even were.
Niall J
