OBSESSION FOR TEN? I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT!
Brattbakk recalls title-race strain
IN his role as a commercial airline pilot, harald Brattbakk will spend this coming saturday cruising at altitude ahead of a 20-hour stop in the sunny Canary islands.
But, when it comes to the greatest high and the warmest glow of his professional life, that will always be associated with the balmy spring afternoon years ago when the striker propelled himself into Celtic folklore forever.
in putting Wim Jansen’s side 2-0 up at home to st Johnstone on the final day of the season on May 9, 1998, Brattbakk made sure the title came home to Parkhead after nine consecutive years of Rangers being crowned champions.
however, despite his place in the club’s history being assured, the 48-year-old admits he would feel a twinge of jealousy if Neil Lennon and his current Celtic players can elevate the club’s domestic achievements to a higher plane by adding two more titles to their current eight-in-a-row.
‘Would i feel a bit envious if Celtic win ten? Definitely,’ said a smiling Brattbakk, who also won eight titles during two spells at Rosenborg in his native Norway.
‘To stop ten-in-a-row, you only have to be lucky once. To win ten-in-a-row, you have to be consistent for ten seasons — and that is amazing.
‘so the relief and emotions will be so different from stopping ten to winning ten.
‘i was at Rosenborg for some years then i went away to join Celtic and when i came back, the club won 13-in-a-row.
‘i was part of that run but the title i won with Celtic means more to me because i wasn’t part of all 13 titles.
‘And knowing how much that title meant to everyone else — and to the club itself — it means that it is still top of my list.
‘i remember the atmosphere in the ground changed when i made it 2-0 against st Johnstone.
‘i think the supporters realised then it was going to happen.’
Brattbakk admits he did not know the significance of stopping ten-in-a-row when he joined Celtic for £2million in December 1997.
he had played in big games before, scoring in a famous 2-0 win for Rosenborg over Real Madrid in the Champions League, but nothing prepared him for Glasgow and the frenzied nature of the Old Firm rivalry.
his first taste of the fixture saw goals from Craig Burley and Paul Lambert secure a New Year win at Parkhead to leave Celtic just a point behind their history-chasing rivals in what would prove a pivotal moment in the title race.
‘i wasn’t obsessed with ten-in-a-row when i arrived,’ he said. ‘i was unknowingly taken into this storm. i didn’t know anything about it.
‘But we talked about it with the local lads — like Tommy Boyd, Jackie McNamara and Paul Lambert. it is strange, but we didn’t think of it as winning the title. We thought
about it as stopping ten-in-a-row. And i think to be on the receiving end of ten-in-a-row, that’s tough.
‘That’s showing now — although it is the opposite to my time because now Rangers are trying to stop ten-in-a-row.
‘i’d heard all about the Old Firm games, but it wasn’t until i played that game myself on January 2, 1998, that i understood how big it is.
‘i always say to my friends who are interested in football: “if you want to see one local derby before you die then go to Glasgow”. it’s crazy.
‘Obviously, there have been some not so good stories regarding the fight between the two teams.
‘But, all in all, the fight on the pitch and the fight towards that league title was amazing.
‘i’m so glad i was able to be a part of it.’
Brattbakk also believes the greater stress is on Celtic this season.
‘i think the pressure is on Celtic,’ he said ahead of Celtic visiting Championship strugglers Partick Thistle in the scottish Cup at Firhill on saturday as they aim to take a step closer to an 11th consecutive piece of domestic silverware.
‘The more you win, the harder it is to defend that next title.
‘if Rangers win the league this year or not, it’s not the most important thing. it’s about Celtic being able to continue the run towards the ten.
‘it’s going to be more difficult if they don’t make it this time because i don’t think Rangers are going to go into the same financial difficulties as they did in 2012. That was a Christmas gift from Rangers to Celtic.
‘Rangers went down a lot of leagues and i don’t think that’s ever going to happen again.
‘But let’s meet up again in ten years and discuss what has happened.’
Premier Sports is the home of knockout football in Scotland, broadcasting the William Hill Scottish Cup and the Betfred Cup. Premier Sports will screen live and exclusive coverage of Rangers v Stranraer (Friday January 17) and Partick Thistle v Celtic (Saturday January 18) in the Scottish Cup fourth round. Available on Sky, Virgin TV and via the Premier Player. Visit www. premiersports.com for details.