MACARI THE BIG INTERVIEW
Lou recalls Magical Mystery Tour
WITH the champage about to be popped on the club’s sixth successive league title, the vultures are circling Celtic Park.
Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele are just two of the talents in the sights of football’s big guns
It seems likely megabucks bids will be made for both youngsters during the summer, and their combined value has been speculated as north of £50-million.
Both Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked with the pair.
They are under contract but it’s a safe bet there will be an amicable parting of the ways as the footballers will outgrow the SPFL Premiership and want to test themselves at the highest level down south.
When that day will be, nobody can tell with any degree of certainty.
But Lou Macari has no doubts it will be a different scenario from the one he faced 44 years ago.
When he decided not to sign a new contract with Celtic in 1973, he didn’t have a great deal of say in where his next destination would be.
Jock Stein was in control of that situation.
In the end, Liverpool and Manchester United battled for his signature and he ended up at Old Trafford in a £200,000 transfer.
Macari, now 67, told The Sunday Post: “My dream was to play for Celtic. I followed the team as a boy from my home in Largs, and that was during a barren period for the club.
“Then, all of a sudden, Jock Stein came along and winning became a habit.
“I was at Hampden the day the Scottish Cup was won in 1965 when they beat Dunfermline. The club never looked back from that day on.
“As we all know, the European Cup was lifted in 1967 and, to this day, I still believe that’s the greatest single achievement by any British club.
“They won it with 11 Scotsmen, most of them home- grown and two or three bought in for just a few thousand pounds.
“I was fortunate enough to sign for the club from school, and was given a two- year deal as an apprentice.
“I was the happiest chappy in the world when I put pen to paper and was cleaning Jimmy Johnstone’s and Bobby Murdoch’s boots. It was wonderful.
“My big breakthrough came in the 1971 Scottish Cup Final against Rangers. We drew 1- 1 on the Saturday and then I was given a starting slot by Jock in the midweek replay.
“I wasn’t expecting it. But I made the most of it. I scored and we won 2-1 in front of more than 103,000 fans.
“I loved playing for Celtic and wanted to stay. I had signed a three-year contract and it was for £50-a-week.
“When my contract ended, I went to see Jock – and I was offered £55-a-week. I wasn’t pleased.
“I told the boss I couldn’t accept the new terms as my father had died and I was supporting my mother. I was also getting married.
“I wasn’t being greedy, but I knew boys down south were earning upwards of £180-per-week. I knew Celtic couldn’t match that, but I did expect there to be more than a fiver increase on the table.
“Of course, players didn’t hold the power back then, and it was in the hands of the club. Agents didn’t exist.
“One night Jock phoned me at home and told me to be ready to travel to England the next morning to speak to a club. I daren’t ask Jock the name of the club.
“Sean Fallon picked me up and off we went. We passed Carlisle, Preston, Blackpool and Blackburn, so I knew I wasn’t signing for any of them.
“We then stopped at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Southport for a cup of tea. I was wondering if Southport had a team!
“I asked Sean where we were heading, but he wouldn’t crack a light. We got back in the car and we ended up at Anfield.
“Bill Shankly wanted to sign me. Liverpool played Burnley that night, and word got out that I was there. That’s when Manchester United came in for me.
“I signed and it was a great move. I had a fulfilling career at United.
“The way it was all handled wouldn’t happen now. Days have changed, for the better, I may add.”
There’s no doubt things have altered dramatically at Celtic Park from the dark days of 1994, when the club were in danger of going out of business while Macari was manager.
Fergus McCann changed all that – and sacked Macari within months of assuming control.
That cut the lifelong fan deep, but like all Hoops supporters, Lou is enjoying the club’s current success and looking ahead to the future.
“A couple of the current Celtic players are being linked with the top-six clubs in England and they deserve to be,” he said.
“Tierney is a fine full-back and has a lovely left foot. Dembele scores goals and has all the attributes to go all the way.
I signed a contract for £50-a-week and just loved playing for Celtic
“Clubs are hovering – big clubs. Money will not be an issue for the buying club.
“I’ve no idea where those players will end up, when they will go or the transfer fees involved. But I do know that anything is possible in football.
“As long as both players remain dedicated and focused, they will move when the time is right for them and Celtic. I’m sure it will all be sorted out in a very constructive manner.”
Before any moves can happen, Celtic will focus on winning the Treble and remaining unbeaten for the rest of the season.
There is also a determination to equal the nine-in-a-row ofMacari’s era – and then do 10 titles.
He said: “I was involved for three of those league wins, and it was a great achievement back then because the competition was fierce.
“I never thought the club would win nine as it was unheard of.
“Rangers equalled the achievement 20 years ago, and now Celtic are on the march towards nine. I think they can do it. All the signs are there and they appear to be streets ahead of their competitors.
“People can say what they like about the current Rangers squad, but there is no value in drawing any comparisons to now and back then.
“What is happening just now at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers is a massive thing and it should be celebrated and recognised.
“If they go on now to add another three or four titles, then it will be an unbelievable achievement.
“They have been very consistent this season, and I can only see them getting better in the next 12 months.
“I don’t imagine too many of their opponents will feel they will be able to catch them any time soon.
“But they must not give up, and we will see how Rangers respond under their new manager, Pedro Caixinha, in the next transfer window.
“There are interesting times are ahead.
“They drew 1-1 in the last Old Firm game and we have the Scottish Cup semi-final later this month. Celtic want the Treble but Rangers have it in their hands to stop them.
“I think Celtic will do it, and they deserve respect and credit if they do.”