When Lubomir Moravcik signed for Celtic in 1998, there was criticism from some quarters in the media.
More notably, Hugh Keevins’ criticism of the Celtic transfer is probably one of the funniest pieces of punditry in the game.
Moravcik was a 33-year-old relatively unknown midfielder when Dr Jo Venglos splashed £300,000 on him which drew criticism from Keevins in 1998 when he wrote in The Sunday Mail, “I don’t know what I find more laughable – the fact that Celtic cannot find £500,000 from their biscuit tin to sign a proven talent like John Spencer, or the fact that they then spent £300,000 on one of Dr Jo’s old pals, the unknown Lubomir Moravcik.”
The Celtic hero was asked about these comments and in his answer, Moravcik reveals his one big regret from his time in Paradise.

Lubomir Moravcik has ‘moved on’ from Hugh Keevins Celtic criticism
Moravcik, nicknamed ‘A Gift from God’ was idolised by Celtic supporters. But addressing those comments from Keevins, the former Parkhead midfielder reveals his one big regret.
Moravcik told The Sunday Post, “We are all aware of some of the comments. I have moved on from that.
“I am proud of my contribution to Celtic and I had the time of my life in my four years at the club.
“My one regret is that I left in the summer of 2002 to go to play in Japan. I should have stayed for one more year.
“Celtic got to the UEFA Cup final and I would have loved to have been a part of that.
“Under Martin O’Neill, the team was incredible that season and should have won the final in Seville against Porto.
“Many supporters and some of my teammates back then, have said that if I had been able to play that night we would have won. That is a huge compliment. Of course, we will never know.
“But it still makes me sad that I wasn’t a part of it. But we can’t go back in time.”
Lubomir Moravcik’s glittering Celtic career
Moravcik was, in my time as a Celtic supporter, one of the most talented players to pull on the green and white Hoops.
Signed from Bastia, remarkably the Slovakian midfielder was undecorated but that all changed when he arrived at Celtic.
- Appearances: 93
- Goals: 29
- Scottish League titles: 2
- Scottish Cups: 1
- Scottish League Cups: 2
Moravcik left Celtic to go and play with JEF United Chiba in Japan and many fans will always wonder this.
What if Lubo and John Hartson played in that iconic date in Seville against Porto for Celtic?
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