In 2008 Islam Feruz and Andy Robertson shared a dressing room. They were part of the Celtic youth academy, with aspirations of making the first team. 10 years on, however, and the two players could not have had different careers.
Whilst Robertson is a regular at Liverpool, and the captain of the Scottish national team, Feruz’s career is in pieces after his move to Chelsea, which came after leaving Celtic in 2011.
Feruz has struggled since leaving Celtic, with multiple failed loan spells. There was a time, however, when Feruz was held in higher regard to the Scotland captain.
The Liverpool star was able to reminisce with fondness on his days as Feruz’s teammate on Open Goal with Si Ferry.
“He was the golden boy, obviously, Celtic done everything for him and rightly so. I think he’s still at Chelsea actually. He’s been down there a long time,” Said Robertson.
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“I remember when he left and obviously Celtic were gutted to lose him but I think he couldn’t quite turn it down. It’s maybe not quite worked out the way he wanted it but I’m sure we’ll see him along the way.”
Robertson and Feruz’s different journeys
Whilst Robertson’s career is in a far better position now than Feruz’s, this was not the case almost a decade ago. Robertson was released by Celtic at youth level, whilst Feruz secured a long term deal at Chelsea.
The Chelsea-bound forward seemed to have the world at his feet. Robertson on the other hand wasn’t so lucky, only managing to sign for Queens Park after Celtic let him go. It looked like his professional career was over, with a job on the Hampden ground staff generating the left-back’s income.
It was all change from this point on. In 2013 Robertson made his move back into professional football with Dundee United and the next year, left United for Hull City, where he would play Premier League football.
Feruz was struggling to make an impact at Chelsea, and found himself on loan to obscure clubs like OFI Crete. The forward still hasn’t scored at a professional level, despite various other loan spells at Blackpool, Excel Mouscron, Hibs, and Swindon Town.
It’s Robertson who now has the lucrative Premier League deal. Feruz’s Chelsea deal expires in June 2019 and it’s unlikely many clubs will want to sign the forward. Robertson is perhaps the one that got away, but Celtic will be thankful Feruz didn’t sign that contract.