Tears and cheers... as Rogic and Bitton say farewell to champions
WHEN Celtic wave farewell to their most iconic figures, there’s rarely a dry eye in the house. The Lisbon Lions roared one last time as Bertie Auld was carted shoulder high down London Road after a 6-1 thrashing of Clyde in 1971.
Henrik Larsson’s heart of stone was shattered into tiny pieces as the tears rolled after his last Parkhead appearance against Dundee United in 2004.
On Saturday, Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton left the stage on a high as both clutched the Premiership trophy.
A gifted footballer, Rogic won six league titles, five Scottish Cups and five League Cups, scoring one of the most celbrated Celtic goals of the modern era in the Scottish Cup final of 2017. During nine years in Glasgow, meanwhile, Bitton failed to win the league title only once.
Both experienced internationals, the two players served Celtic well during a period of unparallelled domestic dominance.
In a rousing speech to fans after a 6-0 thrashing of Motherwell brought the season to a close, however, Ange Postecoglou allayed any anxiety over the departure of two key players.
In Matt O’Riley, the Celtic boss has already uncovered a younger, more durable replacement for Rogic. And, in a warning to rivals, Postecoglou promised to return next season bigger and better.
Granted a standing ovation in the 18th minute, Rogic left the stage for the final time after an hour. Mobbed by team-mates as supporters rose to their feet in thanks and acclaim, the Australian finally allowed his emotional guard to drop.
‘That was right up there,’ he admitted afterwards. ‘It was really emotional. To get that kind of goodbye was an amazing memory I will have forever.
‘I heard the crowd applaud in the 18th minute and it was hard to focus on the football, with so much running through my mind.
‘I had my brother and his wife over from Australia. I had my wife and my baby girl there as well.
‘It was just a really special moment and one I will carry with me for a long time. Celtic means everything to me. I feel fortunate to have had these moments.’
Rogic almost left Celtic by the back door last season. As the quest for ten-in-a-row withered and died, his influence and fitness was waning and he came close to going to Qatar.
Under fellow Aussie Postecoglou, he regained his mojo. Nominated for PFA Scotland player of the year, he came close to signing off with a goal, striking the post as Celtic ripped Motherwell to shreds.
Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring when he drove a shot through the legs of defender Victor Nirennold after 20 minutes.
David Turnbull celebrated his first title by adding a fine second against his former club. Before the interval, a superbly-weighted Anthony Ralston ball over the top picked out the run of Kyogo.
The Japanese international controlled it and dispatched brilliantly past Liam Kelly for 3-0, claiming his 20th goal of the season in the process.
Jota added the fourth with a clinical finish before Giorgos Giakoumakis, who replaced Kyogo, scored twice — the first with an acrobatic overhead kick.
The Greek striker’s goals after Christmas proved critical for Celtic in the end, Saturday’s double drawing him level with Kyogo and
Regan CharlesCook as the highest scorers in the Premiership.
In between the cheers came a few tears. Rogic left the fray to a bear hug from his manager.
Bitton earned the same from Callum McGregor as the captain left the pitch and handed his armband to his deputy for his last eight minutes as a Celtic player
‘We got very close to each other and we have the biggest respect for Tom and Nir for what they have done for this club for the last nine years or so,’ said defender Carl Starfelt.
‘It was a moment that touched all of us and the fans — and you could see on the faces of Tom and Nir that they were also very touched about leaving this great club.
‘I’ve only played with them for one year. But it feels like we have become friends.
‘The fans love both these guys and they showed it today with the standing ovation they received.’
For Postecoglou, the key to an outstanding first season as Celtic manager has been astute player recruitment.
With £30million guaranteed for qualification for the group stages of the Champions League, tying down the loan duo of Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers on permanent contracts is a priority.
When it comes to filling the vacancies left by Rogic and Bitton, Celtic supporters have a manager they can trust to spend money well.
‘They are very good football players and, first and foremost, they are very good guys as well,’ added Starfelt.
‘They are always coming in with good energy and, if you have been here nine years, then you are a bit of an example of what you need to show every day in training and showing up for games all the time.
‘So, of course, it will be hard to replace them in many ways, but other guys have to step up and take over their work.’
A season which began with a Champions League exit and three defeats in their first six league games ended in Celtic players and staff embarking on an arduous lap of honour.
Proud to follow in the footsteps of compatriots like Larsson and Johan Mjallby as a Celtic title winner, Swedish international Starfelt has been blown away by his first season in Scotland.
‘It has been absolutely incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better first year of my Celtic career,’ said the defender. ‘Obviously this was our goal all season. We knew it was going to be tough, but now we stand here as the best team in Scotland and champions.
‘It has been an incredible journey and we have enjoyed every moment of it.
‘It was very nice after putting in all this hard work all year to be able to celebrate it in style today with the fans.
‘You can see how much it means to all the Celtic fans out there. It really is the best feeling.’