Former Celtic defender Efe Ambrose has reflected upon his career, including the disappointment that came from the Champions League match against Juventus in 2013.
The Nigerian international has spent much of his career in Scotland, since joining the Hoops under Neil Lennon around ten years ago.
Most recently, Ambrose joined Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton as he looks to help Dougie Imrie’s side to a surprise promotion from the second tier.
Alongside his recent move, the defender has also spent time at Hibernian, Livingston, St Johnstone and Dunfermline after becoming somewhat of a cult hero at Celtic Park.
However, it all could have been very different for the 34-year-old had a move to English Premier League side Manchester City gone through.
Speaking in a recent interview surrounding his career, Ambrose revealed that he spent four days training amongst the world-class City squad before his old club, Ashdod, ultimately said no to the deal.
He said [Mailsport]: “I had the opportunity to go and train with City for four days. They wanted to sign me.
“I trained with Aguero and Balotelli – and Mancini was looking for cover at centre-half. They wanted to see me in a game before making a final decision, but Ashdod said no.
“They needed me for a crucial match against Hapoel Tel Aviv. I was obliged to go back. It was a big moment in my career. The road was clear for me to go to Manchester City, but I missed the opportunity.”
However, that failed move led to the centre-back joining Celtic and spending around five years with the club after arriving from Israel.
During his time in Glasgow, Ambrose won a host of trophies, including four Scottish Premiership titles, a Scottish Cup and Scottish League cup.
Although there was plenty of success, the defender still had his moments of mistakes in games. None more memorable than the 3-0 loss to Juventus in 2013.
After helping his country lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy just three days earlier, Ambrose returned to club action and went straight into the Celtic starting 11 that faced the Italian giants.
It was a night to forget for the former Celtic man, who made mistakes at the back which were easily pounced upon by top-level opposition.
Ambrose reflected on that disappointing night but stated that he was potentially ‘too committed’ to his manager after returning so quickly from the international tournament.
“Being at Celtic put my name up there in football. It’s a massive club. Everyone in Europe, Africa, the world, they recognise Celtic.
“To play in the Champions League in front of those fans was incredible. Everyone in Nigeria was supporting Celtic. Whenever I went back home, I took strips with me for the people there. I have no regrets about what happened in the Juventus games.
“Maybe my only problem is that I’m TOO committed. I stuck to my word with the manager. I told him that straight after the African Nations, I’d be back to play and help the team.
“I didn’t feel a problem with fitness. The games just didn’t go the way we wanted to because we lost. A few things happened on the pitch, but that’s football. The most important thing to me was that I kept my promise to the manager.
“I felt the team needed me, so I’ll never regret it. I could have gone back to Nigeria to pop champagne and celebrate with my teammates, but I didn’t.
“I kept my word, and that’s why Lennon always stood by me. People thought I shouldn’t have started, and, of course, he could blame me for the goal.
“But the manager trusted me as a professional. In the next two games after Juventus at home, I scored goals for Celtic. That’s football.”
It would be fair to say that night against Juventus was far from Ambrose’s best night at Parkhead.
But it just goes to show how committed he was to helping his teammates by returning so quickly to action when he could have been out celebrating instead, as he mentions.
Like many central defenders at Celtic, Ambrose may not be the best or most all-rounded defender that supporters will ever see.
But he still had his qualities and clearly gave his all when he played in the green and white Hoops.
It is great to see the former Celtic man is still doing his thing in Scottish Football, and we even got a glimpse at his iconic celebration his past weekend.
He may not reach the heights of the Champions League ever again, but he can still say he played at that level and give his all for the club in doing so.
In other news, Ex-Celtic prospect marks incredible week with first pro contract at English giants.
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