A former Celtic star who made the decision to retire from professional football has revealed why he changed his mind.
Some Celtic stars from the past are beginning to reach the end of their careers, particularly those who were in Glasgow during Neil Lennon’s first spell in charge of the Hoops.
The likes of Kris Commons and co have all hung up their boots for good and it looked as if another would join, only for him to have changed his mind.
Ki Sung-yueng changes his mind on retirement
Ki Sung-yueng was one of the stars of the Lennon era when he joined Celtic in 2009.
Lennon told the Daily Mail in 2011 that the South Korean was a ‘wonderful player’ and predicted him to make the club a fortune before he joined Swansea City for £5.5m in August 2012.
Now 36, the South Korea international has been back at his home club FC Seoul but was deemed surplus to requirements.
That led to Ki posting confirmation of his retirement but just days later in a heartfelt Instagram post, and after protests from FC Seoul supporters, revealed that he would be carrying on his playing career.
He wrote: “I didn’t want to end my playing career in such a powerless way. FC Seoul is my hometown club and my pride.”
Celtic hero Ki Sung-yueng finds new club
After being deemed surplus to requirements by his boyhood club, Ki has now moved on to pastures new by signing for Pohang Steelers.
“When I told the club about my feelings and waited for a team that needed me, Pohang coach Park Tae-ha was the first to contact me and I decided to transfer,” the midfielder said.
“It must have been a difficult decision, but I am very grateful to coach Park Tae-ha for embracing me.”
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
