‘Scott WILL be back as Celtic manager one day’
Forrest predicts a return to Paradise for outgoing Brown
JAMES ForrESt has tipped Scott Brown to make an emotional return to Celtic as a future manager of the club. the Parkhead captain will end his 14-year spell in green and white to join Aberdeen as player-coach after tomorrow’s final league game against Hibs.
Identifying the midfielder as a boss-in-waiting, however, Scotland winger Forrest suspects the outgoing skipper will gain his experience elsewhere before staging an emotional return to Glasgow’s east end.
Asked if he sees Brown as leadership material, the 29-year-old responded: ‘one hundred per cent.
‘He’s doing his coaching badges. But then I still think he’s got another year or two left before that. But the way he is with players and his knowledge of the game, he’ll definitely be a manager.
‘He could even be a Celtic manager one day. It will maybe work out well for him to go away first.
‘But I could definitely see him coming back here one day and I hope that’s the case.’
Brown played his final home game as Celtic captain in Wednesday’s 4-0 thrashing of Scottish Cup finalists St Johnstone.
After 600 appearances, ten league titles and 12 domestic trophies, the 35-year-old has agreed to join new Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass at Pittodrie next season.
Interim Parkhead boss John Kennedy cites the former Scotland captain as a role model for younger players to follow, with Forrest able to draw on personal experience of Brown’s dressing-room aura.
‘When I came into the team, he gave me great help and advice,’ he said. ‘I was a quiet boy when I first started training with the first team — and then I got told I was sharing a room with Broony.
‘I’d say that was throwing me into the deep end. It was great, though, and really helped bring me out of my shell. It made me feel confident in myself and that was important.
‘I was only 18 at the time and we were totally different characters. there was the age gap, too.
‘I didn’t know anyone and then the next thing I know I’m rooming with the captain. He was a nightmare at times because I liked my sleep back then and he didn’t let me get any…
‘But it was the best thing for me. I learned from him and could then see from him in training what was demanded every day.
‘He has so much about him, he doesn’t just look after himself, he always thinks of other people. I think people are only born with that type of character.’
Admitting it will feel strange to play against him in the Premiership next season, Forrest might be one of the few current members of a transitional Celtic team who will.
‘Broony is such a top professional, he’ll go up to Aberdeen and do well,’ he said. ‘It was a big decision for him.
‘His family stay in Edinburgh and he’s obviously been here at Celtic for so long. He didn’t make the call overnight, it took him a good few months to think about it. But once he made his decision, everyone respected it.’
As for Forrest’s own future, he insists he is fit and ready for a call-up to Steve Clarke’s Euro 2020 squad when it is announced on Wednesday.
the winger missed World Cup qualifiers against Austria, Israel and Faroe Islands after injury issues, placing his selection in doubt.
His importance to Celtic has only been emphasised by his absence, however, and with UEFA giving head coaches the all-clear to name larger 26-man squads, he is hopeful of playing a part in Clarke’s plans.
‘I’m feeling good,’ he said. ‘the last couple of months have been good for me to get back into the routine of training. I’ve been building up my fitness in the games and been buzzing to be back. I’ve been loving being out there with the boys playing again.
‘I haven’t talked with Steve Clarke recently because I’ve only really been focusing on Celtic and getting back playing.
‘the last camp came too early for me as I’d only played ten minutes. the other boys had been doing really well, too.
‘He obviously has so many boys to choose from but I just want to stay fit and be part of it.
‘once the boys qualified, everyone was buzzing for the finals. You want to play against the best players and best teams. Scotland haven’t been at a tournament for so long that everyone wants -to be part of it. Let’s hope I can be.’