Mikael Lustig

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cp-1A63odf7/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

He made us win yesterday.

One of my fav players ever, best RB since the no 1 on the planet Danny Mc.

 

That’s some statement.

McNamara and Hinkel were far better for me. Tommy Boyd must be in with a shout as well.

 

Tommy Boyd was a lb, although ended up more at cb, and for me Jackie came into his best on the left with donnelly, although wee man played in variety of positions.

Hinkel I thought was OK at best, not a huge fan tbh.

 

Still think he's a bit under appreciated by the support. He was a fantastic signing and gave us many years of great service.

 

He definitely is mate, and the way some people spoke about him in his last season was shocking after the service he gave us.

One of my favourites ever and the only one I wish was still here from those times(would add Broony but delighted he’s looking like a half decent manager so early on). Had a wee tear in my eye when he walked out the other day. A legend in my eyes.

 

Former Celtic defender Mikael Lustig has spoken about his enjoyment of trolling Rangers fan during his time in Glasgow.

The former Sweden international won eight league titles while at the Hoops and enjoyed plenty of victories over the Ibrox side.

In particular he highlighted the 2016-17 campaign in which the Parkhead side won an Invincible Treble and also defeated their rivals 5-1 twice.

During the 5-1 win at Ibrox, Lustig scored the fifth and final goal and it is a moment he remebers fondly.

He told the Celtic View Podcast: "I had a lot of mates over and the sun was even shining over Glasgow.

"It was just one of those games with a lot of build-up in the week before. We were going to play against each other again but we felt straight away that we were too good.

"Most of the games against them, we had that feeling - like there was no chance they were going to win. We played really good in that game.

"It was probably one of the best goals I've scored. It was good to see all their fans leaving.

"I loved to play there, now it's different because they've taken away all the away fans. I don't know why because that game is one of the best of the world and they've killed it really.

"To walk out and have the full stand of Celtic fans was crazy."



Lustig also detailed how things were not always rosey at Parkhead and opened up about why he almost moved on after only six months at the club.

"I signed in 2011 in November but I had to wait until the January window to come," he continued.

"The season with Rosenborg had finished in November and I felt like I needed a month off, but if I were to go back then I would go to Glasgow right away to train for a month with the team.

"I took a couple of weeks off and I thought I would go in and they would build me up, but I went straight into training and there were better players and the tempo was higher, so my first half of a year was not good.

"When I came back in the summer, Sevilla asked if they could buy or loan me and I felt my start here wasn’t the best so I thought maybe I should go.'

"I’m happy Neil Lennon and the staff said they wanted me and then I started to kick on in my Celtic career."

 

It's fair to say there have been significant changes at Celtic since Mikael Lustig's last time at Parkhead.




The fan favourite spent seven-and-a-half years as a regular fixture in the Celtic line-up but felt more like a supporter than former player as he watched the win over Hibs at the weekend - his first time back at the stadium he called home in almost four years.

In fact, Lustig had the sense of a "tourist" at Celtic Park as he took in the familiar, yet somewhat unfamiliar surroundings with an almost entirely new squad in place and Ange Postecoglou in the dugout. There was one similarity, however, Celtic were winning.




The former Sweden international lifted no fewer than 16 trophies in his time at Glasgow including playing his part in a historic treble Treble - but few remain who he shared a dressing room with at Parkhead.

“There’s only Callum (McGregor), Jamesie (Forrest), Tony Ralston and (Scott) Bainy left from my time," said Lustig on the dramatic change at the club.

“Callum has been unbelievable (as captain). There’s been a lot of new players coming in from all around the world and to have Callum as a proper Celtic boy has been really important.

“Obviously he played under Broony but he’s not tried to be Broony. He’s just been himself and you can see he’s a calm guy.

"He maybe doesn’t talk as much but the way he plays and trains, is just top, and that is why he’s been so good.”




Lustig mightn't have been familiar with the new players in Postecoglou's squad but he's certain they possess the same attitude and determination as the Celtic squad he played in - as he insisted the current first-team can be compared with Brendan Rodgers' Celtic squad.

"It’s hard to say," he said when asked where the current first-team ranks with former Celtic squads. "They are doing so well. You can absolutely compare them with the Brendan Rodgers team with the way they play.




When Ange came in, no one knew anything about him. He brought a lot of players in you hadn’t heard of and you were a little unsure about what would happen with Celtic. But since the first day they have been playing so well.

“The strength with our team is the same with this one – it doesn’t matter what players are in the starting XI. They are going to perform really well.

“You are always comfortable when you watch them. You are never nervous they are going to slip up because you know they will push on."

Lustig nailed down the right-back role at Celtic for near-enough his entire time at the club, and he is thrilled to have watched January recruit Alistair Johnston follow suit - even if it's in a tweaked role.

“He’s made the perfect start," said Lustig of Johnston. "His first game was the derby as well. That’s football. He took his chance straight away and ever since then he’s been really reliable.

“He played on the big stage with Canada at the World Cup and he’s been fantastic since day one. I’m really happy for him.

“I played the inverted full back role a little bit. With Brendan, we had KT who pushed on and I stayed back a bit.

“I always liked to get forward and I would have loved to have played under Ange at the moment. It would suit me quite well I think.




While the changes in personnel were evident to see for Lustig first-hand on his return to Celtic Park, one thing that never changed was the support inside the stadium as he saluted the passionate and demanding support for the club.

“It was nice to be back. They were struggling a bit in the first half and I thought I might have been needed," he joked of the 3-1 win over Hibs. “But they turned it around, so that was good. It was amazing. It was almost four years since I was last at Celtic Park. It was great to see a full house and three points.

“There are lot of special things about Celtic fans. There are so many of them, all over the world. They are never satisfied and that’s why we are always a good team, we keep on pushing.

“They are amazing. They are everywhere.

“I remember my first game in pre-season in Austria against some lower league teams and there were about 10 of them making noise and singing songs.




When I come back to Celtic Park now I’m like a supporter or a tourist. I think, ‘wow, this place is amazing’. You can forget that when you play so many games here, it all feels a bit unreal.

“It was the same when I quit playing for the national team and went to watch them play. It was cool.

“When you are in it, you don’t think so much about it, but when you step back and look it’s very cool.”

Lustig was on the pitch at half-time during the match and received a raucous ovation from supporters who he is hoping will also pack out the OVO Hydro for 'A Night with Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig' on May 18.




He added: “I’m looking forward to linking up with Broony once more and to be with the supporters again.

“I think we have a lot of stories together, so it will be good fun.

“Did I think he’d become a manager? Absolutely.

“He would always have really good chats with the managers, he always listened to them. He’s was obviously the captain for a long time and he was always clear about the fact he’d one day become a manager.

“He’s doing really well. They had a good cup run and they are doing well in League One, I’m really happy for him."

 

I’d honestly give anything to have him back at us in some capacity. Quite scary how much man love I have for him.

Sing his song daily in my head and it means so much more now that he’s not here


“Looking back on where we first met, I cannot escape and I cannot forgot”

 

https://celtsarehere.com/celtic-hero-mikael-lustig-lands-new-coaching-gig/

After hanging up his boots, the Swede immediately pursued his DBA Elite UEFA B/A certification for former elite players

On Wednesday it was announced he has now officially taken on a role in Sweden, taking a hands on position in VSK’s academy. [VSK] VSK are a Swedish top flight side who were promoted back in 2023.


It’s believed Lustig was lending them their expertise before a more formal approach was made. The former fullback will now help oversee the academy and different teams as the club looks to evolve

The Celtic icon will have so much information and experience to pass onto the young players coming through the ranks. The jersey VSK wear will also be very familiar to Lustig, with the Swedish side turning out in green and white too!

Mikael was a fantastic servant for Celtic and played in some incredibly talented teams over the years in Glasgow. From winning the Invincible treble to stealing a police hat, there was never a dull moment. We wish him well in his new role.