John McGinn has never represented Celtic as a player, but he still has them at heart.
The Aston Villa captain faced Celtic last season in the Champions League, and the duo are competing in the Europa League this term, but they won’t meet each other during the league phase.
Given that Celtic is McGinn’s boyhood club, he is still biased towards Scotland’s most successful side, including anti towards those who have represented Rangers.
When the names of Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish were put on the table, alongside two other Scottish heroes, it’s fair to say that McGinn showcased his bias in more ways than one.
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John McGinn picks Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish as his ‘national hero’
Speaking to Sky Sports, McGinn was told to rank four players in certain categories, as one topic had a Scottish theme to it.
The names of four ‘national heroes’ were put on the table – Dalglish, Souness, Denis Law, and his current Scotland teammate, Andy Robertson.
McGinn lauded Celtic legend Dalglish, including how he was ‘my dad’s favourite player’, and just a ‘phenomenal’ footballer.
Before the talk turned to Souness, the Villa man stated that the midfielder-turned-pundit is going to be last on his list because ‘he did play for Rangers.’
“It’s one of Scotland’s best-ever players,” said McGinn about Dalglish. “King Kenny, number seven. Obviously didn’t get the chance to see him play.
“But I have met him once, and, alongside Dennis Law, he’s the record goal scorer for Scotland. He was my dad’s favourite player, Kenny Dalglish. He says, ‘he was phenomenal.’ So, him and Denis Law, they’re always spoken about in Scotland for how good they were.
“I know Graeme Souness as well; he was a top player for Scotland. I didn’t see much of him. A bit of a hatchet man, but I heard he was phenomenal.
“But he did play for Rangers, so he’s going to be number four. Robbo (Robertson) number three, but I am going to have to go for Kenny Dalglish, the GOAT (as number one).”
Dalglish’s Celtic and Scotland numbers
Not only is Dalglish one of Celtic’s best-ever players, but simply put, one of the greatest to have graced the game.
The formidable forward, who also had a stellar management career, spent eight years at Celtic before going on to write his legend with Liverpool.
Not forgetting his 102 caps for Scotland, and being tied as their record goal scorer – 30 – alongside Law, but McGinn isn’t far behind on 20.
- Dalglish’s games for Celtic: 338
- Goals: 173
- Trophies: 9
- Scotland caps: 102
- Goals: 30
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