I am reviewing and selecting my team of the decade in celebration of Celtic’s Decade of Dominance and will select my XI that I feel have been the club’s best in the last ten years.
I have already selected Fraser Forster as my number one goalkeeper, Virgil Van Dijk, Charlie Mulgrew, Mikael Lustig and Kieran Tierney. However, the question remains who will play the two holding midfielder roles and the attacking role in front of them.
There are honourable mentions to Joe Ledley, Victor Wanyama, Stefan Johansen and Kris Commons; however, my team of the decade consists of three players that are still at Celtic.
Captain Scott Brown needs no introduction. He has been an omnipresent anchorman in the centre of Celtic’s midfield since 2008. Since then he has won an astonishing amount of trophies and even as a 34-year-old, Brown has been continuing to defy the doubters and push on to new heights. The captain and driving force behind the Treble Treble is one of the easiest selections in this team.
Beside Brown is a man that has matured into an incredible operator for Celtic. Someone that has proven to be versatile and resilient, that man is Callum McGregor. McGregor broke through under Neil Lennon and a loan spell to learn his trade at Notts County later, McGregor made his mark under Ronny Deila. Deila’s departure saw McGregor transformed under Brendan Rodgers and now, we have a complete midfielder in the form of McGregor. An engine like no one else, McGregor played more football than anyone in Europe last year. There’s no one better.
In the attacking role, we have Tom Rogic. This was one of the more difficult decisions but since Ronny Deila’s second season, Rogic proved his worth in abundance. Goals from all over the pitch, an eye for a pass and close control like no-one else at the club proved that Rogic was a class act. A miss in the 2016 Cup semi might’ve set him back but the Aussie went from strength to strength under Brendan Rodgers – culminating in the 2017 Scottish Cup Final. Rogic started from the bench but when called upon, he proved his worth picking the ball up and finishing as Celtic sealed the Invincible Treble. Not only that, Rogic loves a goal against the city rivals – including that brilliant one at Ibrox in the 3-2 game.
Midfield – Brown (C), McGregor and Rogic
