Brown celebrates a decade at Parkhead

Captain admits love for club and hopes to have the chance to add to the memories

Skipper Scott Brown will celebrate 10 years of Celtic love today hoping there are several more to come.

The midfielder signed from Hibs on May 16 2007 on a five-year contract for a reported fee of £4.4 million, a record transfer between two Scottish clubs.

With a smile Brown admitted he was “a cocky little 21-year old” when he moved to the Glasgow club “and not a lot has changed” as he recalled a decade at Parkhead which is on course to culminate this season with a domestic treble.

“It has been great,” said the Scotland captain. “It shows my love for the club and vice versa.

“I had the chance to go down to England but I decided to stay because of the love of the club, plus, in Champions League football you are playing against the best in the world.

“That is what you want to do at a huge club like this and that’s what we have managed to do.

“There has been a lot of ups and downs but I came to Celtic to win trophies and that’s why I’m still at Celtic and here’s hoping I have a good few more years left so we can win trophies and entertain the fans because that’s what we are here to do.”

Brown was given an enforced break in the last two games due to suspension but he returns against Partick Thistle at Firhill on Thursday night.

That rest will come in handy for Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against England at Hampden Park on June 10.

National team boss Gordon Strachan chose six Celtic men for the 1-0 home win over Slovenia in March with former Dundee United midfielder Stuart Armstrong handed his debut.

Brown believes midfielder Callum McGregor could also stake a cap claim due to his form this season and believes that would only add to the cohesion in the national team.

“When Spain won the World Cup and the European Championships they had seven or eight Barcelona players and a couple of Real Madrid players,” he said.

“It shows you that club mentality can go into international level as well.

“The wee man has been brilliant, he has scored goals and against Aberdeen (on Friday) he sat in front of the back four and was fantastic.

“He is probably due a Scotland cap and wouldn’t it be a great time to get one against England?”

I came to Celtic to win trophies and that’s why I’m still at Celtic. SCOTT BROWN