Alistair Johnston is, without doubt, one of the players Celtic fans hold dear to their hearts.
From the day Alistair Johnston signed for Celtic, the Canadian international just seemed to ‘get’ what the club was all about.
He revelled in Celtic’s history, created a bond with the fans and his energy and passion when playing in the green and white Hoops is bettered only by Hoops captain, Callum McGregor.
Johnston is one of 13 Celtic players on international duty and prior to last night’s fixture with Suriname, Canada boss, Jesse Marsch, shared what Brendan Rodgers told him what Celtic really think of the attacking right-back.
Brendan Rodgers tells Jesse Marsch why Celtic ‘think so highly’ of Alistair Johnston
The American coach has been the Canadian boss for the last six months now and it is clear from the way he talks about Johnston that not only does Marsch have incredible respect for the Celtic defender but he also really loves working with him.
Marsch told TSN, “Look at first, Brendan Rodgers I would describe him as a friend, right? We kind of know each other pretty well.
“So when I took this job, and I started speaking, I went and saw Alistair. I went to their last match when they celebrated them winning the league. I think in Glasgow that day, there was probably like 5 million gallons of beer drank that day!
“But, Brendan, when I had interacted with him, he had said, ‘Look, Alistair’s a really important guy in our team and has proven to understand exactly who we are and we think so highly of his potential and leadership’.
“And I was excited to hear that because I like watching Alastair. I watched him in the MLS and with the national team.
“I didn’t know him personally, but watching him as a player, I always liked him. He had energy.”
Watch Jesse Marsch share why Celtic hero Alistair Johnston is a ‘special player and person’
“Getting to know him has been incredible,” continues Marsch, “He has so many great qualities. He’s obviously a talker, but he’s a thinker too.
“He’s not just somebody who talks for the sake of talking. He’s open. That’s what is great about him. He can talk about a lot of different things, about what we’re trying to do with the team, and he already has a thought process and opinion on those things and how they can help, or what it means for him.
“On the pitch, he’s incredibly intelligent and we can use that intelligence to use him in a flexible way where sometimes maybe he’s like a right back, sometimes he plays in a three in the build-up, sometimes he comes inside, sometimes he goes high and now especially when you see how Celtic uses him right now, he’s an attacking player for the team.
“He’s scoring goals and getting in the box and doing some really good things for them. And now he’s also captain a lot of days. So when McGregor comes off the pitch, they typically give the armband to Alistair.
“So I think all those things again, will benefit him with us, and his overall confidence and his development as a player and he’s really a special, special player and person.”
Brendan Rodgers and Celtic rate Johnston so highly that they are now trying to get the 26-year-old to extend his contract at Paradise.
With three years left still to run on his current contract, it is obvious Rodgers sees Johnston as a vital part of his Celtic squad and it seems the Canadian is set to be rewarded with a bumper new deal to reflect that importance.
The Celtic defender now has 50 caps for Canada after starring in their 1-0 win over Suriname this morning.
Johnston has excelled with Celtic in the Champions League and domestically this season and is now starting to add goals to his game as he relishes his attacking role at the club.
With Johnston being tipped for a move to England recently, it’s going to take silly money to tempt Celtic to part with a player who, clearly, has a big future at club and country level.
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