FANS HE’S A CULTURED PLAYER
MARVIN COMPPER speaks six languages – but insists he prefers to do all his talking on the pitch. After signing a two-and-a-halfyear deal with Celtic, the defender reeled off impressive linguistic skills that include speaking German, French, Italian and English with a touch of Dutch and Russian thrown in. Compper, 32, said: “I speak four languages fluently and if I was to spend a week in Holland I would also speak that fluently. “I speak a bit of Russian too so it is five-and-a-half. I am halfFrench, half-German so I speak those languages. “I did English at school and developed it from there watching television shows and then with my team-mates. “When you have a talent for languages then they come easier. “I also learned Italian when I was out there for a season and a half with Fiorentina. “My English is good enough but I will need to train my ear a bit for Scottish. “This will develop quickly and when I am in the locker room English should be the language but I should still be able to help the French speakers. “It makes things easier. My agent is Dutch and I lived in Dusseldorf for five years, which is near the border. “So I have spent a lot of time in Holland. “Listening to Dutch it isn’t that far from German and if you have a bit of talent for languages it is easier. “As for Russian I was looking for a challenge. I started to take private lessons and I did that for about a year. But if you don’t have anyone to talk to it is difficult to progress. “I am at the basic level of reading and writing in Cyrillic. Actually having a conversation though would be tough.” Compper reckons he could be the perfect fit for Brendan Rodgers’ rearguard. Having packed in a wealth of experience with Borussia Monchengladbach, Hoffenheim, Fiorentina and RB Leipzig, Compper insists he has enough big-game experience in his locker to be an asset to Celtic.
He was also capped once by Germany in a friendly against England in 2008 – and helped Leipzig to finish second in their inaugural campaign in the Bundesliga last season, sealing their place in the Champions League.
However, Compper readily admits there is always room for improvement.
The stopper said: “If you get a player who is 32 years old you are looking for experience. This is what the club is getting, experience and quality.
“I speak a lot on the pitch and try to help the players around me. I bring all these things to the table and this is what Celtic saw in me.
“I am a person who wants to learn and improve. First of all you can always improve.
“When you stop improving then you step backwards.
“I am looking to learn from the gaffer and my team-mates. It is another country and style of football but I also know a lot because I have played in Italy and Germany. My time in Italy was very interesting, I learnt a new language, another culture and another football culture.
“Fiorentina missed out on Champions League qualification by two points. I grew a lot as a person and player so I profited a lot when I went to Leipzig from my experience in Italy.
“I played with fantastic players, we had a great team. It was a great experience.
“I have played a lot of big games and the Celtic players can also learn from me. It is going to work both ways.
“I have seen the last four or five Celtic games and I think their style fits and is similar to what I am used to.
“Celtic have great talent and are a good team with a good spirit so I am really looking forward to meeting the players and feeling the teamwork on the pitch.
“To say that I can make a difference to Celtic immediately would imply that I am criticising the players who have done a fine job.
“To create a record like they have done is a tremendous achievement. I have my qualities, they have their qualities and I think we can match up well.
“I have played in a lot of big, important and difficult games.
“If you play Bayern Munich – and Celtic experienced that for themselves in the Champions League – then it doesn’t come much more difficult than that.
“Playing the likes of Dortmund in front of 83,000 – those are real challenges.
“I think I have enough biggame experience and in that area I am well equipped. I am eager to gain more.”
Having helped Leipzig qualify for the Champions League, Compper is adamant the lure of playing on the greatest club stage of all with Celtic was a major factor in his decision to come to Scotland.
And he added: “Playing in the Champions League should always be the goal for a club like Celtic.
“They are playing in the Europa League now this season but they have already said they want to do better in the Champions League next year.
“This team should always reach for higher goals.”
If Compper and his new Celtic team-mates are all on the same page then there shouldn’t be any barriers to continued success – language or otherwise.
I’ve enough big-game experience – and I am eager to gain more
MARVIN COMPPER “Gordon Strachan says being sacked broke his heart. Does he not realise that some of his team selections broke ours?”
since their Invincible run came to an end and are building for the future with German defender Marvin Compper set to sign.
But said: “I hope Chris Davies was joking when he said he doesn’t envisage Celtic being busy in January. We need a couple more defenders who can play against Zenit St Petersburg as Marvin Compper is ineligible.”
said: “The criticism from some quarters over Celtic’s defeat to Hearts is unfair.
“The standards Brendan Rodgers and Celtic are setting have dragged the rest of Scottish football with them. The product has improved and will get better. A similar situation evolved during the Graeme Souness revolution. I got fed up hearing how good he was for our game but he was.”
Forget matters on the park for a minute. How is this for a festive tale to warm the heart?
said: “My friend’s son is a single father and his boy is autistic.
“He picked his son up from school one Monday afternoon and there was a knock at the door soon after. The person was from the Celtic FC Foundation who gave him a Christmas card and inside was a letter and £200. It was out the blue but it was a lovely gesture.”
Record Sport’s Craig Swan backed Tony Pulis as the perfect candidate for the vacant Rangers job and
said: “Tony Pulis ticks all the boxes for Rangers.
“He has enormous experience at the highest level, ex-Premier League manager of the year and he can organise and motivate players.
“He would command respect inside the dressing room. And most important of all he is a free agent.”
Gers take on a Kilmarnock side on the up under Steve Clarke but said: “After reading Jamie MacDonald’s interview, I’m worried the Kilmarnock players are becoming over confident. I would rather they kept a lower profile ahead of the Rangers game.” CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY FROM 11 TILL 12 NOON on: 0141 309 3306 or email us: hotline@dailyrecord.co.uk