Wayne Rooney is one of the latest professionals to admit that he is a Celtic fan.
Rooney said that not playing for Celtic was one of his big career regrets and he echoes the thoughts of many other world-renowned stars.
To pay homage to those who didn’t get to wear the green and white, 67 Hail Hail has compiled a XI of all of the Celtic supporting footballers, past and present, who never got to fulfil their dream.
Wayne Rooney wishes he played for Celtic 😮
But who is one player you WISHED played for Celtic? Be realistic
Celtic XI of world class stars who never played for the club
Goalkeeper – Shay Given
Shay Given never made a senior appearance for Celtic despite coming through the academy, but always had dreams of playing for his team.
Growing up in Donegal, Given said that the Hoops are his ‘only club’ and he has been spotted at Parkhead on numerous occasions.
Right-back – Seamus Coleman
An Everton and Republic of Ireland legend, Seamus Coleman is one of many to bleed green and white.
Coleman once remarked how he told Everton teammate Nathan Patterson that he is a huge Celtic fan when the Scotland international signed from Rangers.
Centre-back – Martin Keown
Despite growing up in Oxford, Martin Keown was born into an Irish family and was surrounded by Celtic from an early age.
During a recent interview, he said: “I was a massive Celtic fan… I used to go to the games when I could.”
Centre-back – Micah Richards
Like most former Premier League defenders, Micah Richards has watched Celtic from afar and admitted that he would have loved to have been a part of it.
Richards has admitted that he became obsessed with the Bhoys and dreamed of walking out at Celtic Park.
Left-back – Andy Robertson
One of the few on this list that could still theoretically happen. Andy Robertson is a huge Celtic fan and has been seen at games multiple times.
Robertson has been tipped to sign a pre-contract agreement with Celtic when his contract at Liverpool expires in the summer.
The full-back was at Celtic Park for the Stuttgart game and maybe we will get to see him in the kit before he hangs up his boots.
Right-midfielder – Kevin Gallacher
Kevin Gallacher won the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers and was a prolific scorer in the Premier League, as well as featured for Scotland heavily.
Gallacher also hailed from a family of Celtic fans but only ever played for Dundee United in Scotland before moving down south.
Centre-midfield – John McGinn
This is the one that got away, especially as his grandad Jack McGinn was once the chairman of Celtic.
John McGinn has made no secret of his desire to play for Celtic, but time does seem to be running out on that dream.
McGinn recently signed a new deal at Aston Villa that would keep him there until 2028, which would end when he is 33. A short-term signing can’t be ruled out, but we shall have to see.
Centre-midfield – Kevin Nolan
Imagining Kevin Nolan alongside Scott Brown would have been a real sight to see.
Nolan was a great captain for Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United, with an eye for goal from midfield, but often spent his own spare time coming up to Glasgow to watch Celtic.
Left-midfield – James McClean
James McClean in a Celtic shirt would have been enough to send some corners of the world into meltdown.
McClean once claimed he would “walk to Glasgow” if it meant that he could play for the Hoops but has had to settle from watching from the stands.
Although he has never played for the club, he is a cult hero among Celtic fans and has even had chants sung about him at games.
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Striker – Steven Fletcher
At one point it felt like every transfer window was dedicated to linking Steven Fletcher with a move to Celtic.
He played for a number of Scottish Premiership clubs and forged a decent career in England but that wasn’t enough to fulfil a lifelong dream of playing at Parkhead. He did play with McClean at Sunderland and Wrexham though.
Striker – Wayne Rooney
Alan Shearer who? While Rooney didn’t officially wear the Celtic shirt, at least he has admitted that he would have wanted to do so.
It’s hard not to imagine how many goals he would have scored for the club at any stage of his career, and the eyes it would have brought to Scottish football.
Rooney played alongside Henrik Larsson to get a flavour of the Hoops but has since admitted that he wished he could have played for the Bhoys.
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