Gary will aim high at Thistle
Gary Caldwell won titles with Celtic and scored a famous winner against a star-studded France side.
But the new Par tick Thistle boss insists his g reates t achievement was leading Wigan to the League One title.
Caldwell claims nothing can compare with the special feeling of being a successful manager.
So he’s desperate to lead the Jags back to the top flight af ter succeeding Alan Archibald at Firhill.
The 36 year-old said: “My biggest achievement in football was with Wigan.
“It’s because you feel a responsibility to the club who hired you – you’re then looking after everyone.
“I’m at Partick to try and achieve something similar and I’m looking forward to that challenge.
“I t ’s g r e a t t ha t I experienced what I did as a player with Hibs, Celtic and Scotland – scoring the winner against France. But in those days, even though you’re part of a team, you’re really just focusing on your own job.
“As a manager you have that added responsibility.
“A successful playing career doesn’t give you a better chance of succeeding as a manager.
“But it does give me experience that I can relate to my players.
“I know how it feels to be at the bottom of the table or winning the league or how bad it is to be injured.
“I know how players feel because I’ve been through those things myself.”
Caldwell hung up his boots in February 2015 with a hip injury that cut his career short by years.
So he understands why Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths opted out of Scotland’s double header with Israel and Portugal to get fit.
Caldwel l said: “Some managers asked me to play while injured but sometimes it was my choice.
“I understand Leigh and players who pull out with little things they have to deal with or get fitter and I’ve no complaints with that.
“I should have done it too because it cut my career short by six or seven years.”