Kevin Gallacher of the Celtic, but sadly it never happened

Kevin Gallacher seemed destined to play for Celtic, but unfortunately it never happened…

FRANCE – JUNE 10: WM FRANCE 98 Paris St.Denis;(BRAZIL – SCO); TEAM SCOTLAND: s: Christian DAILLY, Colin CALDERWOOD, Jim LEIGHTON, Colin HENDRY, Craig BURLEY, Gordon DURIE; vorne:Darren JACKSON, Kevin GALLACHER, John COLLINS, Tommy BOYD, Paul LAMBERT (Photo by Henri Szwarc/Bongarts/Getty Images)

There’s been a number of players who could and maybe should have played in our famous green and white hoops, but for some reason or another it just didn’t happen. For many it’s a case of what could have been, and one of those names that always springs to mind when talking about players who should have played for Celtic is Kevin Gallacher.

Kevin is the grandson the Celtic legend great Patsy Gallacher, the popular and brilliant inside right that thrilled the Celtic supporters in the early twentieth century. Patsy Gallacher is a true Celtic legend, one of our all-time greats.

25 Oct 1999: Kevin Gallacher of Newcastle is challenged by Stefano Eranio of Derby during the FA Carling Premiership match played at St James Park. Photo Ben Radford /Allsport

Kevin made his name with Dundee United in Scotland, he played in a European final and also scored against Celtic in the 1988 Scottish Cup final. He went on to star for Coventry, Blackburn and Newcastle down south as well as winning 53 caps for Scotland.

Kevin, not surprisingly considering his huge Celtic connection, grew up a Celtic supporter in Clydebank and was destined to sign for the club, but it never materialise and he joined Dundee United instead.

Maybe it was fate, as being involved with Celtic at a young age would have been a pressure best avoided. Pressure that could have disrupted his promising career. He’d have been undoubtedly tagged as ‘Patsy Gallaghers grandson’ An unfair burden for any youngster to bear.

SAINT ETIENNE, FRANCE – JUNE 23: Scottish forward Kevin Gallacher (R) is challenged by Moroccans defender Lahcen Abrami (C) and midfielder Tahar El Khajel (L) 23 June at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-Etienne, during the 1998 Soccer World Cup Group (Photo GERARD MALIE/AFP via Getty Images)

Kevin signed for the Arabs and never looked back. He went on and carved himself a pretty successful career, both at club and international level. There were rumours of him signing for the club when he was leaving Coventry back in 1993, but he opted for Blackburn who were undoubtedly the more attractive offer at that particular time.

It would seem he was never that close to signing for the Hoops, which is a shame really . If ever a player who seemed destined to play for Celtic it was Kevin Gallacher.