Celtic supporters have been blessed to have watched some of the best players wear the famous green and white colours.
One of them includes former striker Chris Sutton, who is now a regular on everyone’s TV screens, talking all things Celtic and their success in recent years.
But on Sutton’s Warm-Up podcast, where he was sitting alongside Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith, they were discussing the best non-Celtic and Rangers players to have played in the SPFL (Scotsman only).
Interestingly enough, James McFadden’s name popped up, following his success at Motherwell, and he was given his flowers by his fellow Sky Sports colleagues.
Be realistic… Who is the best player never to have played for Celtic?
Chris Sutton wanted James McFadden to play for Celtic
Sutton played for Celtic during a dominant period, including winning the Treble under Martin O’Neill and reaching the UEFA Cup final.
Around that time, McFadden was coming through, making a name for himself, scoring wonder goals, representing Scotland, and also playing in the English Premier League.
Given that McFadden is a boyhood Celtic fan, he was linked with a move to Parkhead during his career, but nothing materialised.
Either way, Sutton explained that when he was at the club, he knew of the rumours, and he was hoping McFadden would play for the champions of Scotland because he was ‘unbelievable’ at what he did.
Kris Boyd: “What a player Faddy was.”
Chris Sutton: “I thought he was a brilliant player. He never had great pace, but he was always sharper and quicker up top. Unbelievable awareness.
“He was a player who could make opposition players look stupid. Again, again and again.”
Boyd: “At any level as well.”
Sutton: “I remember being at Celtic thinking that Celtic might sign him.”
Boyd: “He was linked, wasn’t he?”
Sutton: “I would have liked to have played with James. But at times, he did want the ball for himself. Tremendous talent, James. You talk about a real maverick player who could do things other players could only dream of.”
McFadden’s career in numbers
McFadden is a brilliant pundit, and one of the best in Scotland, but he was an even better player.
Makes no bones about it, he is probably, from a realistic standpoint, one of the best players never to have played for Celtic.
But that doesn’t mean the versatile attacking midfielder didn’t go on to have a great career. Here are some of his selected clubs.
- Games for Everton: 147
- Goals: 18
- Assists: 6
- Games for Motherwell: 118
- Goals: 39
- Assists: 14
- Games for St Johnstone: 20
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 5
- Caps for Scotland: 49
- Goals: 15
- Assists: 4
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