Celtic have produced a plethora of homegrown youth products over the years, and Kieran Tierney continues to be a shining example from the recent past.
The 26-year-old was an icon among the Parkhead faithful and lived the dream of every boyhood fan, making 170 appearances for the Bhoys, scoring eight times and laying on 37 assists [Transfermarkt].
Of course, he left to join Arsenal for a whopping fee of £25 million in 2019, though frequent injury problems have altered his career trajectory to some extent.
Last summer, there were frequent rumours that he may complete a dramatic return to Parkhead after falling down the pecking order in North London. However, nothing came to fruition in the end, despite months of speculation that he would reunite with Brendan Rodgers.
The Scotland international now finds himself at Real Sociedad on loan and now has the opportunity to explore a new footballing culture away from the United Kingdom.
La Real are in contention for continental qualification and have also shocked many around Europe by progressing to the Champions League last 16 at the expense of Benfica and RB Salzburg this term.
Kieran Tierney drops Celtic quip discussing life after Parkhead
Tierney has managed to start just ten matches in La Liga this term due to further injury complications, though he has held his own in the Spanish top flight, recording an average match rating of 7.03/10 [Sofascore].
Discussing life after Parkhead, the full-back revealed that he found moving to the Basque Country an easier task than pitching up in London when he joined Arsenal and indicated he faced a difficult adaptation process to living away from home.
In an honest fashion, Tierney thanked the staff at his parent club for their support in helping him through the tough times, stating [Daily Mail]: “Coming here was easier than going to London, and that’s not having a dig at Arsenal because they helped me massively.
“Without the people at the club, it would have been ten times harder to adapt, but I was four years younger and moving from Scotland; it didn’t matter where I went; that was going to be the hardest part.
He later added on his time at Real Sociedad, mentioning Celtic in the process: “These boys here are like me playing for Celtic. Growing up, the club is all you know and all you want.
“When I was there in the first team, there were maybe four or five from the academy, but here it’s more like 13 — it’s on the next level. You can tell they have been playing with each other for years. It’s second nature — they don’t need to think about what decision they take.”
It has been a long time since Tierney left Glasgow’s east end; nonetheless, his passion for the Hoops will be a lifelong affair, just as it is for everyone who is a died-in-the-wool Celtic fan.
There is always hope that one day we may see him return, though he will be fully focused on events in San Sebastian in the immediate term.
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