Scott Brown

SCOTT Brown recently joined the exclusive Celtic 500 Club when he played in the 3-0 in over Motherwell just before Christmas. Currently the club’s longest serving player, the captain embodies Celtic’s fight for success that has epitomised the club ever since the first game in 1888.

When Celtic took to the field on May 28, 1888 for that first ever game, they set in motion a link and a bond between players that carries on right through until the present day Scott Brown among the latest in the current batch of Celtic heroes.

Those first Celtic heroes, the team that beat Rangers 5-2 that day, was Dolan: Pearson, McLaughlin, W Maley, Kelly, Murray, McCallum, T Maley, Madden, Dunbar, Gorevin and that side contained the first of the nearly 900 players who have represented the club up until this season.

Among their number was...

Jimmy Kelly
He also played in the club’s first competitive game when the Celts beat Shettleston 5-1 in the Scottish Cup – that was his first of 178 games in all competitions, and among them were 40 with...

Dan McArthur
The keeper played from 1892 until season 1901/02, making 147 appearances as the last line of the Celtic defence and among the last of them were three with...

Jimmy Quinn
A Celtic legend of the highest order who carved his own chapters in the club’s history in his 369 games with 239 goals in all tournaments, which included 42 matches alongside...

Patsy Gallacher
Another club hero, the Donegal Bhoy would make nearly 500 Celtic appearances between 1911/12 and 1925/26, with no fewer than 34 of them featuring a young...

Jimmy McGrory
Quite simply, the greatest goalscorer of them all with more goals scored than games played, with 502 Celtic goals in 477 games in all competitions, and among those games he lined up in 90 alongside...

Jimmy Delaney
A Celt whose career traversed the Second World War years and who played 327 games between 1934/35 and 1945/46 before he moved on to Manchester United, and among those games were nine with...

Bobby Evans
One of the heroes of the post-war years who played in the Hoops right up until 1960, finishing on a total of 580 games in all tournaments, with 33 of the those team line-ups including a young...

Billy McNeill
The club’s greatest ever captain also tops the appearance charts with 822 games in a career that started in 1958 and ended in 1975, but not before he had played 153 games with...

Danny McGrain
World-class defender who made his debut in 1970 for the first of 681 appearances between then and 1987, and those games featured no fewer than 208 in which he appeared with...

Paul McStay
Another Celtic legend and a one-club man who hit 72 goals in 683 games played between seasons 1981/82 and 1996/97, which included 43 games in the same team as...

Jackie McNamara
Son of a former Celtic of the same name, the defender played in 358 games which delivered 15 goals before moving to Wolves in 2005, and 23 of those Celtic games were played alongside...

Aiden McGeady
Product of the Celtic Youth Academy, the winger scored 37 goals in 251 games in the Hoops before joining Spartak Moscow in 2010, but not before playing 90 times with...

Scott Brown
The current Celtic captain has scored 37 goals in 502 games and there’s still more to come from the midfielder, and lots more to come from Celtic after that beginning on May 28, 1888 when men such as Jimmy Kelly started the Celtic lifeline

 

Scott brown aint going anywhere. * be here for 8 and will be here for 9. He wont be playing like he has been doing in previous years but he'll be here in an about the squad. Do you honestly think hes going to leave us when were making history. Not a * chance! Hes just playing the game talking to that other club, smoke nd mirrors trying to get a better deal from us. He will sign the 2 year deal and after that, * probably get another year when that runs out then he'll hang up the boots.

 

He wont get a better deal from us, why would he? We're not going to pay someone more money to sit on the bench.

I think he will leave at the end of the year for a final bumper payment in the sun & fair play to him, deserves it.

 

I know he wont however hes still playing the game. If he does go at the end of the season thatll get him another million or two for his future, fair play to him. Hes well earned his fee here.

 

FRANK McAvennie has backed Scott Brown to bounce back from his poor performance against Rangers and silence his doubters – just like he did when Celtic last lost to their city rivals in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final back in 2016.

Many former players and pundits have suggested that Brown’s days as Celtic captain are numbered in the wake of the Parkhead club’s 1-0 defeat to Steven Gerrard’s team at Ibrox last month.

The 33-year-old is out of contract in the summer and, amid interest from Western Melbourne in Australia and Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas City in the United States, has still to sign the extension he has been offered.


However, McAvennie recalled how the midfielder proved his critics wrong after they claimed he was a spent force when Ronny Deila’s men were beaten on penalties by Mark Warburton’s charges in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden three seasons ago.

"He's the captain, he's going to be there,” he said. “He's been written off before, he'd one bad game against Rangers a couple of years ago and he was finished, and he came back. He never misses training or a game so he'll be there. He's a catalyst for the manager.

"Most normal people take days off but Scott Brown won't. It'll be snowing and he'll be training in short sleeves. I'd have a coat on. None of this nonsense with tights on. He's a great influence in the changing room, Brendan will want him about and I don't think he'll go anywhere before the end of the season.”

 

That's * uncanny!

 

Western Melbourne have claimed they are "pretty close" to taking Scott Brown to Australia.

The Celtic captain, 33, won his 17th major honour with the Parkhead when he came off the bench to help Brendan Rodgers make it seven trophy wins out of seven last month when they beat Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup Final.

But the veteran midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and newly-formed club Western Melbourne are desperate to land him as their marquee signing for their first campaign in the A-League.

They have already made Brown an offer of a two-year deal with an option for a third which was turned down by the former Hibs star

However, they have returned and appear to be very confident of landing their man and ending Brown's 12-year stay at Celtic.

Western Melbourne's Maurice Bisetto, one of three backers behind their consortium, said: "We are pretty close with some players including a marquee. We are looking at a pre-season start in June, so things need to get moving.

We think Scott Brown has a lot of positives and could make a significant contribution to a new club...as a leader on and off the field.


There's no doubt we could go for a bigger name, and that might get eyeballs and put bums on seats initially, but we are really focused on results and performance and the style of football we want to play."

 

Would be disappointed to lose him to be honest.

 

Hopefully true.

Absolutely love the * but he’s done. It’s painful watching us with him in the midfield now instead of McGregor.

Go and make some stupid money in the sun then come back in a few year into a coaching position.

 

Not going anywhere, I won't allow it.

 

On the playing side, I wouldn't be disappointed.

But I would have liked to have seen him stay around for the 10, even if that meant a bit part role with a greater contribution behind the scenes.

 

Jesus. All in one summer now we'll be losing numerous loan players, and possibly Brown, Boyata & Lustig, as well as a few peripheral squad members out of contract. And the future of Rodgers even in question.

Now, I'm not naive enough not to believe that the speculation around this has intensified as an attempt in the media to help Rangers in their first genuine title challenge in 8 years. But at the same time, you have to acknowledge there is somewhat of a chance of that happening. This summer could be one * of a rebuilding process for us.

 

I would be happy to see him stay for a few more years as I think his contribution is much more than just what we see on the field....but not on his current salary. If he's getting a hefty offer for what will be the last big contract of his career then he is entitled to take it, if we won't match it.

 

I'll miss him. He's been a fantastic player and role model since he's joined.

He's won everything with us, our captain during total dominance. To be honest it's good that he bows out on a high, having had a good season so far.

Admittedly, he can't do what we're wanting him to do in this new system. It is time for him to move on while he still can.

Good luck if it's true Broony. You've been a * legend.

 

I for one hope he stays, but this talk of Australia isn't going away.

 

Will be gutted if he leaves , love the guy , but if he wants a new challenge fair play to him

 

Can’t blame him for moving on to Oz in the twilight of his career.
Let’s face it he will not be he first name on the team sheet next season .
Is Broony goes in the summer it will be after being a brilliant servant to our club .

 

I think Brown will wait until the end of the season before deciding. If we somehow contrive to * this league I reckon his pride will force him to stay, try and drag us back to the top. If however we win at a canter as we should, then he can and will ride off into the sunset with his head held high.

We're a better team without him and have been for a while, to be honest, as far as style and quality of footy goes. Replacing his balls and leadership is another matter though. He's a one off.