NOT THE SHY OR
Celtic skipper Brown bags a hat-trick of awards and says he has no plans to call it a day just yet...
BAD news for any Scottish Premiership midfielders looking for a slightly less frenzied life in the foreseeable future. Scott Brown isn’t going anywhere. For quite some time, if he gets his way. Which, as opponents this season can testify, he usually does.
Battered, bashed, bawled at from the touchlines and the technical areas, the Celtic captain can cap a remarkable campaign — not as glittering as last year’s Invincible run, but boasting an old-school grit not without merit — by leading his team to a seventh straight title in unique circumstances on Sunday.
With a hat-trick of new honours from his employers just added to the CV, two Player of the Year gongs offsetting the slightly valedictory Special Recognition Award handed to him on Monday night, the 32-year-old is understandably feeling just the tiniest bit superhuman.
So, yeah, why not play on until he is 36 or 37? And then maybe, but only maybe, have a think about moving on?
‘I feel that I can go on for another three seasons, easily,’ said Brown, speaking at last night’s launch of the new Celtic kit.
‘I’m enjoying myself. I’m coming up to 33 in the summer. Some people keep writing that I’m 33 already — but I’m not there yet!
‘I think if I get to 36 or even 37, I’ll see where it goes from there.’
A player whose reputation is built on physicality, it would be surprising if Brown could stay fit enough to keep mixing it with the young ‘uns for another four or five seasons.
Then again, this is a guy who has delighted in challenging accepted wisdom and proving people wrong.
The fact that he can still annoy so many, from rival fans to opposition managers, says something in itself.
Explaining that he has always believed in his own ability, right from those early days as a scrawny kid trying to earn a first professional contract, Brown recalled: ‘When I was coming through at Hibs, we used to go away to the Milk Cup and play against teams like Man City.
‘We used to see all the top players they had at the time. They were so much bigger and stronger than everyone else.
‘As soon as I started growing, everything started to catch up. I took my chance and, luckily enough, I went to the right team in Hibs. You need that little bit of luck, as well.
‘I never doubt myself. That’s one good thing that I’ve got. I believe in my own ability.
‘I turn up, I work hard and that’s what I’ve done for the last 15, 16 years of my career.’
If hard work has always been a given, it is fair to say that Brown has been working smarter since Brendan Rodgers arrived and openly challenged his captain to improve.
Ask about the key to that improvement, the experienced campaigner laughed and said: ‘Alcohol — lack of it!
‘No, seriously, it’s just about eating better, understanding what to do and when, working harder in training.
‘Training has been different class since the manager came in and we’ve all really worked on looking after our bodies.
‘It’s everything. It’s training, diet, how you look after yourself off the park, as well.
‘None of us are getting younger, so it’s about seeing how long you can keep going at this level and doing the best you possibly can.
‘I’ve had some good seasons. I really enjoyed the first couple of seasons when Gordon (Strachan) came in. I’ve maybe had a dip in form here and there.
‘It’s just about being consistent, making sure you are available week in, week out and showing everyone what you can do. It’s a good mentality to have.
‘I’m a strong-willed person. I believe in my own ability. When it comes to me and somebody else, I believe I’m better than them. That’s great to have.
‘The manager’s been brilliant. He kind of changed my position, as well. I am just kind of sitting in front of the back four and dictating play now. It’s great, to be honest.
‘It’s all about learning different formations and different shapes and systems and how to get on the ball in different areas. We have a great team spirit, as well — and that’s what gets us through everything.’
Named Player of the Year by Celtic fans and sponsors, as well as his fellow players, Brown is surely guaranteed to pick up more individual honours in a season that could end in a remarkable Double Treble.
‘It was a great night last night,’ he said of the awards function. ‘It was great for the club, a great event. Luckily enough, I managed to pick up three awards. It was a nice touch.
‘It’s just about consistency and getting back to making sure you are injury-free by working hard in training and showing what you can do on the park.
‘Everyone doubted me a couple of seasons back, but I’ve bounced back and shown them what I can do — yet again.
‘It’s obviously great for me to pick up the trophies, but James Forrest has been my Player of the Year. He has been absolutely outstanding. He has shown the qualities he has got, scoring 16 goals.
‘He has never got into double figures before in his career. That shows you the level he has gone up to this season.’
If Forrest has provided firepower, the most indelible images of Celtic’s season undoubtedly involve Brown breenging in where more angelic footballers fear to tread.
Whether bouncing up with a swagger after being kicked — repeatedly — or emerging smiling,