I’d love to join Broony’s 500 club
McGregor wants to hit fifth ton like inspirational captain in the next 5 years
CALLUM McGREGOR has revealed he wants to follow in skipper Scott Brown’s footsteps by racking up 500 games for Celtic after penning a new five-year deal.
The Scotland star snubbed interest from Premier League side Bournemouth to extend his Parkhead contract until 2023.
McGregor admitted there was never any doubt he would put pen to paper – not while he is hungry to create more history by helping fire the double Treble winners to complete 10 in a row.
And the 25-year-old, who has scored 34 goals in 201 games for the club, also has a personal achievement in mind as the midfielder widely regarded as Brown’s successor would love to emulate his inspirational captain’s landmark of a fifth century of appearances in a Hoops shirt.
McGregor said: “When you are getting close to it (10 in a row) as we are, then with the right workrate and effort from the team, you know you could be part of something amazing.
“In the last two and a half years we’ve made a lot of history and I’m proud to be have been a part of that.
“In the amount of time I’m here I want to keep winning things and being successful. We keep pushing.
“We made it seven trophies in a row for the club for the first time when we won the League Cup earlier this month so there are wee bits of history to make all the time.
“You have to keep that hunger and mentality to keep doing it.
“You also see Broony getting to 500 games and you don’t do that for a club like this unless you have the right mentality, hunger and talent.
“He has shown all of that and it’s something for me to aspire to. It’s certainly something I am looking at.
“There was a wee bit of speculation flying about but, once the manager spoke to me, there was never a question of me moving away. It’s always been Celtic for me and I’ve been happy here.
“The last two and a half years have been incredible. We have achieved some history at the club and we want to keep going.
“The gaffer gave me the shout and said they wanted to give me a new contract. It’s perfect. I don’t want to play anywhere else.
“Celtic is a massive club, one of the biggest in the world, so to get to play your football here is incredible and something I’m really proud of.
“When the opportunity came up I jumped at the chance to sign again. I’ve been here since I was a kid, from nine years old, so it’s pretty much all I’ve known in terms of football.
“The last few years have been very successful and we want to keep doing that. I’m enjoying my football and I’m playing well. Now the contract is put to bed, it’s about trying to improve again and get even better.”
While a lucrative move to join Eddie Howe’s Cherries in the Premier League might have been too tempting for some to resist, McGregor already feels he’s hit the jackpot playing for Celtic.
He said: “When you look at the stature of this club it’s one of the biggest institutions in world football.
“To be a part of that, to be privileged enough to play in front of those fans at a club of this size.
“You can’t take a decision to leave that lightly – not even for the Premier League.”
Now that McGregor has committed to Celtic he’s determined to help the champions sort out their ropey away form.
The Hoops have won just three out of nine games on the road this season ahead of a mouth-watering double-header against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Boxing Day followed by the second Old Firm derby of the season against Rangers at Ibrox three days later.
McGregor knows that would be the perfect time for the Hoops to get their away record back on track.
He said: “We have two big games away from home and if we come through them then we are in a good position come the New Year for the rest of the season.
“It has been a strength of the group to respond when there have been tough times over the past couple of years.”
The Hoops are facing another tough test with French striker Odsonne Edouard sidelined for tomorrow’s clash with Dundee while he recovers from the abductor injury he suffered in the Motherwell rout in midweek.
But McGregor, who has featured in every one of their last 41 matches, is ready to give everything to the cause before the winter break as he joked he’d gladly go up front if Parkhead manager Brendan Rodgers gave him the nod.
He said: “I’ll put my hat in the ring and see what he (Rodgers) does! I’d just go and run about!
“We are a bit light on strikers but I am sure we will come up with something that is good enough to get us through.
“As a player you want to play as many games as you can and 41 games shows you are a big part of the team. The winter break is to come isn’t it? I’ll enjoy myself in Dubai.”
Once the manager spoke to me there was never any question of moving away CALLUM McGREGOR