Javier Sanchez Broto only played ten times for Celtic but plenty of fans of a certain age remember his name and often think of him as a signing we may have gotten more out of.
The goalkeeper arrived in January 2003 as cover for Rab Douglas and Magnus Hedman. Even though he was cup-tied for that season’s famous run to the UEFA Cup Final, the former Livingston man did manage to get games under his belt, including as a substitute in a derby win over Rangers at Ibrox on ‘Beachball Sunday’.
His contract was a short-term one and those of you with good memories will recall that supporters were keen to see him signed up for a longer stint. It seems both parties thought similarly, but a mix-up resulted in the Spaniard returning to his homeland. It’s something he still regrets.
Javier Sanchez Broto wishes he’d stayed at Celtic
Speaking to The Scottish Mail on Sunday [21/05 print edition, page 105], he revealed: “That was the worst moment in my career. My English was not very good and I didn’t understand very well what was happening. Celtic offered me a three-year contract. The day I arrived to sign, they told me I’d missed the deadline. I needed to sign yesterday!
“I didn’t know. And, honestly, I cried like a little boy for days. I just couldn’t understand. ‘I’d said yes. I don’t know if the problem was my agent, or some bad information from Celtic but I don’t think so. I always said I wanted to sign. Celtic was the biggest experience of my career.
“I played for 15 years, mostly in Spain, but my best association was always with Celtic. In the end, I came back to play in La Liga with Murcia, but in my heart I wished I was at Celtic.”
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Broto retired from the game just two years later after a number of injuries, aged 34. In the years since he’s often talked of his admiration of Celtic, even regularly telling legendary shot-stopper Iker Casillas that Celtic Park is the best football venue in the world.
It’s a shame that things never quite worked out for him at the Bhoys and, who knows, had he not been cup-tied due to his exploits with Livi he may have had even bigger occasions to look back on as part of an iconic squad.
In other news, Ange’s Kobayashi thinking as Celtic boss delivers verdict on Saturday Tomoki Iwata display.