There are likely hundreds of Celtic-supporting footballers in the UK and Ireland.
Not least Kieran Tierney and Luke McCowan, whose lifelong loves for the club are both well-known to the public.
Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers has made his childhood affinity for the Hoops clear – it’s likely one of the main reasons he’s still at the club despite internal struggles at Celtic Park.
Andy Robertson and John McGinn are two of the most high-profile Hoops fans currently in the game, and you wouldn’t rule out either eventually making a move to the Hoops before they retire.
But one Celtic-daft defender is at the opposite end of his career, and has now made a move to German giants shortly after revealing his dream of playing for the club.
Teenage Celtic fan signs for Schalke 04
Schalke 04 are in their third consecutive season in Germany’s second tier, despite being one of the biggest clubs in the country and being a Champions League side as recently as 2019.
As they look to gain promotion back to the top-flight, they have now added Dylan Leonard to their ranks – a boyhood Celtic fan with Scottish parents.
The 18-year-old centre back enjoyed a breakthrough season at Western United in the A-League, establishing himself as a mainstay despite his tender age.
Remarkably, the Melbourne-based side folded ahead of the current season, with the intention of returning as a franchise in the future.
This has allowed him to make the move to the Gelsenkirchen club, where he will have his first crack at European football – he has taken it in before though, in the stands at Celtic Park.
Speaking last year, Leonard told ALeagues: “It’s everything. It’s probably part of the reason I started playing and have worked so hard in my football career so far, is watching games with my family, going over with my cousins, watching Celtic play.
“I know how much that club means to my family and obviously to me. It’s definitely been a big part of why I’ve wanted to play football.
“That’s probably one thing I want to achieve in football is play for Celtic. Win something with Celtic obviously, but that’s definitely the one thing I want to do, the one club I want to play for.”
Given his willingness to join the club one day, it will be fascinating for fans to monitor his progress in Germany.
Dylan Leonard isn’t short on Australian Celtic heroes
Celtic may not have any Australians on their books currently, but a special few have passed through the ranks in recent years.
Tom Rogic is one of the biggest cult heroes of his generation, and recently made his Parkhead return for a legends’ charity match against Manchester United.
Ange Postecoglou is still remembered fondly for his impact at the club, which included a stellar solitary season for Aaron Mooy in 2022-23.
Should Leonard ever be lucky enough to make the move to Celtic Park – which he will have to earn – he isn’t short on countrymen to look to for inspiration.
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