Starfelt salutes Rogic and Bitton: Celtic servants and good friends
Defender touched to see pair depart after nine years at the club and hopes to leave his own legacy
AS a relatively new face at Celtic Park, Carl Starfelt has had to adjust to the demands of being a first-team regular inside Glasgow’s goldfish bowl. After an unconvincing start to life in Scotland, the Swedish centrehalf has grown in stature and on Saturday, the 26-year-old lapped up the salutations of the adoring home support in the stands as he held the Premiership trophy aloft.
The 6-0 thrashing of Motherwell was a title party, sure, but it also doubled up as a final farewell to two great servants of the Parkhead club: Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton.
The former will be fondly recalled for his enchanting play and big goals in big moments; the latter will always be respected for his willingness to slot in as and when required, wherever the team might need him.
The pair leave behind distinct legacies but both have served as fine examples of what can be achieved at Celtic for those who commit to the club. It is unusual for foreign players to devote such sizeable spells of their careers to a single team, and the feat was suitably recognised at the weekend as fans paid tribute to their heroes one last time.
The standing ovations and teary goodbyes to Rogic and Bitton demonstrated just what their contributions over the years have meant to fans and for Starfelt, it served as a reminder of what is on offer for players who adorn the famous green-and-white shirt, as well as an example to follow.
“We got very close to each other and we have the biggest respect for Tom and Nir for what they have done for this club for the last nine years or so,” Starfelt said.
“It was a moment that touched all of us and the fans and you could see on the faces of Tom and Nir that they were also very touched about leaving this great club.
“Me, I’ve only played with them for one year. But it feels like we have become friends.
“Yeah [it’s an insight into what can happen]. I think the fans love both these guys and they showed it today with the standing ovations they received.
“Fans have taken many other players to their hearts and maybe you don’t need to be here nine years for that to happen. But yes, of course it’s nice to see.
“They are very good football players and, first and foremost, they are very good guys as well. They are always coming in with good energy and if you have been here nine years then you are a bit of an example of what you need to show in every day training and showing up for games all the time.
“So of course it will be hard to replace them in many ways, but other guys have to step up and replace them and take their work.”
Saturday’s victory at Parkhead was a fitting conclusion to a campaign that will not be forgotten by Celtic supporters in a hurry. The thrilling football on offer and the variety of build-up play in the final third was typical of Postecoglou’s side, who sign off for the season on the back of a 32-match unbeaten league run.
With the Premier Sports Cup also resting in the trophy cabinet at Celtic Park, Starfelt reflects on the season with a sense of pride. Moving to a new country, getting to know your team-mates and getting to grips with a new manager’s tactical philosophy can be tricky hurdles to overcome but Starfelt has done just that.
“It has been absolutely incredible,” Starfelt said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better first year of my Celtic career.
“Obviously this was our goal all season. We knew it was going to be tough, but now we stand here as the
You could see on the faces of Tom and Nir that they were also very touched about leaving this great club
best team in Scotland and champions.
“It has been an incredible journey and we have enjoyed every moment of it.
“Also it was very nice after putting in all this hard work all year to be able to celebrate it in style [on Saturday] with the fans. You can see how much it means to all the Celtic fans out there. It really is the best feeling.”
The campaign has ended in triumph for Celtic but it was not always apparent that it would. Starfelt’s debut, in particular, is not a match he will recall fondly. The Swede had barely been in the country for 24 hours after finalising a move from Rubin Kazan when he was pitched in for his debut at one of the Premiership’s most unforgiving away venues.
Hearts’ 2-1 win over Celtic at Tynecastle on the opening day of the season was emblematic of the teething problems in the early stages of Postecoglou’s reign and Starfelt did not exactly cover himself in glory that day.
Saturday’s title party will have felt a million miles away at that point and nay-sayers were quick to write off Celtic’s chances of winning the league. Starfelt admits he was not looking ahead to that point at the time but says the criticism levied at the team played its part in spurring them on for the remainder of the season.
“I don’t think I thought this far ahead to be honest,” he said. “Of course I knew that when you come to Celtic you have the demands on you and the goal will always be to become the champions. Obviously we had a bit of a rough start but we always kept believing in ourselves and in the team.
“I think that makes it even better. Everyone doubted us, a lot of people didn’t think it would be possible for us to stand here as champions but here we are today and it just makes it even better.”