The off-field role Celtic captain Callum McGregor has played to perfection

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We’re not even a full season into the Callum McGregor Celtic captaincy, but there are already a few things that utterly stand out.

Firstly, he’s had maybe one of the tougher captaincy shifts we’ve seen in recent times. So many new players have come in, while star names – some with big dressing room influence – have departed. Callum McGregor had to unite a squad who didn’t know each other; hardly that unique in modern football, but certainly quite unusual for Celtic.

And he had to do so in another unique context. Last season was trophy-less, discounting the delayed Scottish Cup [BBC]. It was a dismal campaign, one that seemed rudderless and, despite Scott Brown’s best efforts, a season lacking the fight and passion we saw before.

McGregor, though has absolutely fixed that. He’s taken what happened last year as an opportunity for growth. As a warning to the players both new and experienced. Now, this Celtic team are fighting for each other literally and figuratively, and it’s showing in our form.

A lot can be attributed to Ange Postecoglou, but once the players are on the pitch, it’s McGregor in charge. You can tell. The intensity has been upped significantly. Players’ body language is excellent; especially in celebratory moments, or confrontational ones. The Bhoys are backing each other up, and McGregor is more often than not at the forefront.

That’s down to what happens off the pitch. McGregor has taken it on himself to remind each and every member of the squad what it means to play for Celtic. What the fans demand, what the manager demands, what the shirt demands. Whether it’s at Lennoxtown or in the huddle pre-match, he sets the tone perfectly.

The role of the captain can be seen as ceremonial or as a gesture, these days. But at Celtic, that’s far from the case, and Callum McGregor is embodying exactly what’s been needed.

Callum McGregor had extremely hard start to Celtic captaincy, but he’s doing the role proud

Consider this, also; McGregor has had to unite a squad of players from all over the world. Yes, Celtic have had international players for generations, but this squad is a particularly diverse one. In the past, talk of dressing room cliques has filled the gossip columns, based on age or nationality.

There doesn’t seem to be any evidence of that at all. Encouragingly, when the new signings speak about life at the club and their ambitions, they sound more than a bit like Callum McGregor. The captain has created an cohesive environment against strong odds.

The standards across the first-team have improved significantly. Now, again, much of that is down to Ange Postecoglou. And to be fair to him, he was always going to name McGregor, the obvious choice, as the next captain. However, the manager might not have expected the level at which the skipper has bought into his footballing ideology.

It says it all when, instead of sitting at home nursing a significant facial injury, Callum McGregor joined the Celtic squad at Tynecastle the other night. He was there with the players at the end, as they celebrated together, applauded the fans, and took in a huge win against a difficult opponent.

That’s leadership. You just know he’d have played if he had a quarter of a chance to do so.

This is a team fighting for each other, constantly raising their standards, and winning together. So much of that can be attributed to Ange Postecoglou, sure.

But Callum McGregor has been absolutely colossal as Celtic captain.

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