My seven-year-old lad calls our captain Mr McGregor. I’ve never really known why and even when I’ve asked, I’ve never quite got an explanation but then you never really do with children do you?
Yet the reverence the title bestows upon Callum McGregor hasn’t been enough as Calmac is no longer my young lad’s favourite player. As with so many things’ favourites are somewhat transient when it come to the affection of kids, and now his hero is yesterday’s cup final star Kyogo Furuhashi, even if the name is too difficult to get his tongue around and he settles for ‘Kogo’.
I however haven’t made much attempt to hide my admiration for Callum McGregor. For me he is one of the most professional and consistent footballers to grace the Hoops in many a year and the fact he doesn’t seem to have his head turned by the fortunes undoubtedly offered by more wealthy clubs makes him all the more legendary in my eyes.
After all, when you are the most consistent and valued player at Celtic what else do you need? Don’t get me wrong I understand the allure of financial recompense for some but there has to be more to life than even more money does there not?
For Callum McGregor that appears to be the case and it hasn’t held him back. He’s won everything with Celtic several times over and still has the hunger to play every week and strive to win it all again. And this time around it’s with the reward of the captaincy and the responsibility of bringing through Ange Postecoglou’s new recruits and moulding them into the stars that his predecessor Scott Brown did with him.
Callum McGregor no doubt has a different approach to the captaincy than Scott Brown, he appears a quieter, more measured man, and the cliché of leading by example rather than by any other means, probably fits for Callum McGregor. But much like his endeavours on any given Saturday (or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday for that matter) Callum McGregor has taken to the captaincy with the same grace he exhibits on the field, and yesterday’s Cup Final proved just that.
McGregor started the game as the deep lying playmaker, before having to shift alongside Tom Rogic and revert mid-stream to the number eight role, following the unfortunate injury to David Turnbull. He took that change of position in his stride and once again produced another consistent 8 out of 10 at the very least performance at Hampden yesterday. He did so whilst encouraging and cajoling his teammates through a most challenging cup final.
But it was after the final whistle where you saw the mark of Callum McGregor as a Celtic Captain. He’d have been forgiven for wanting to get his hands on that trophy and lift it into the darkened Glasgow sky and wait for the bright lights to illuminate his face as the fireworks and photographic flashes began, but instead he waited. He waited and encouraged every member of the coaching staff, and more besides, at Celtic to join him before he lifted that trophy.
If anyone still had any doubts whatsoever, and there were many who did, as to Callum McGregor’s worth as a Celtic captain they were surely all dispelled with that act. Callum McGregor showed there was more to a cup winning moment of glory than he or his teammates making the main story on websites in an instant, or the back pages of the newspapers today. Instead, Callum showed an awareness of the value and sacrifice the many unseen members of the supporting cast have at Celtic and he wanted them to share the moment, his moment, with him.
And Callum McGregor wasn’t finished there, in the moments after the trophy was lifted and as he made his way towards the support McGregor passed the trophy to Ange Postecoglou and encouraged his manager to lift the trophy to the fans and take his moment of acclaim from the supporters.
For my seven-year-old lad I’ll forgive the fluctuating approach to those he classes as his favourites, but when it comes to those chosen to lead Celtic there can now be no-one left in any doubt that Celtic have the right man to captain the club into the challenges that lie ahead. The selfless acts exhibited after the final whistle show just that as much as anything Mr McGregor produces on the field of play.
Niall J
How it started: How it's going:©️🏆 pic.twitter.com/J6OjwCc6L4
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 20, 2021
— Tam sellic son (@TamsellicsonIII) December 19, 2021
I agree. At first I had some reservations about Calmac trying to replace/fill Brooney’s boots but he has shown that he’s a worthy captain. I thought that his actions when receiving the cup etc showed real class. It was like something out of a leadership text book. Maybe as Captain he could have a word with Mikey Johnston. If he’s not able to beat a man and all his shots in goal are miles wide/over maybe he could pass the ball to one of his better team mates. I think Celtic would have had a more comfortable victory if he wasn’t so greedy. Maybe he could learn a few things about being a team player by following Mr MacGregor’s example. I hope Jota is back for the Glasgow derby. We can’t afford to waste opportunities if we’re going to win the league/treble this year.