Celtic have produced a fine list of homegrown academy graduates across the 21st century, and Aiden McGeady will rank among the best to have made the grade at Parkhead.
The former Republic of Ireland international made 252 appearances for the Bhoys across all competitions, registering 37 goals and 90 assists.
Following a glittering career that also saw him star for the likes of Spartak Moscow, Everton and Sunderland, Aiden McGeady called time on his football career earlier this year after 20 years as a senior professional.
Earning notoriety at Parkhead for his quick feet and skilful nature on the ball, few players who have graced the slopes of the Bhoys’ famous stadium can claim to have as much god-given natural talent as the Irishman.
However, McGeady has now revealed that his Celtic legacy may not have existed at all, detailing that he could’ve moved on from the club at a very early age to continue his development.
Aiden McGeady on Celtic exit opportunities in his youth
Speaking to The Herald, McGeady revealed he could’ve ended up at either Arsenal or Manchester United before input from his father cemented his desire to stay at Celtic to continue his development.
He stated: “I think Arsenal was probably closest out of all the teams I went to.
“I went down to Arsenal quite a few times. I’d go down to school holidays and stuff, play a game and come back home. Man Utd and Arsenal were probably the two that I thought they were the ones I wanted to sign for, leaning more towards Arsenal.
“At that age, my dad was like, ‘Look, you’ve got a couple of choices’. I was quite young to make a decision. I still wanted to go to Arsenal but he put it in quite blunt terms. ‘How many players go to Arsenal and make it into the first team?
“You’re going to leave home, you’ll be in digs at 16, you’ll miss your friends, you’ll miss your family. Who knows, within a year, you might back up here anyway? I’m a Celtic fan, obviously, so that swayed it too, but he explained that if I stayed at home, I’d have a good chance of getting into the first team. More of a chance compared to Arsenal or Man Utd anyway.”
Celtic still facing English problem with retaining talent
While the lure of playing for Celtic is great, young stars looking to progress through the ranks often end up attracting interest from south of the border in the present day as English clubs look to stockpile their academies with prodigious talent.
What is the difference now? Brexit has influenced their means of attracting youngsters, so Scotland has become a central port of call for Premier League sides and beyond to seek out future stars.
There won’t be a high-profile youth fixture on Scottish soil that isn’t littered with English scouts; that is just the modern-day reality that Celtic and others need to contend with.
Hopefully, the Celtic Academy can present prize assets with a pathway into the senior fold to ward off inevitable interest from elsewhere.
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