Michael: I was big in Japan
Fans chased him down the street in Japan.
And in Lima, there were fighter planes flying over his hotel and fireworks aimed at his window.
But Gla sgow- born Michael McGlinchey wouldn’t change his career for anything.
The former Celtic kid is back in Scotland after more than a decade abroad in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. He has 55 caps for the Kiwis and wants more as he targets a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to cap his career.
He said: “Moving to Japan to play for Vegalta Sendai was a ‘wow’ moment. The supporters were fanatical.
“When I first arrived, I was being chased down the street by fans.
“I was among top players and felt I’d made it. Playing in those stadiums with those crowds, I knew I had achieved something.
“I would have liked a few more years over there.”
McGlinchey played at the 2010 World Cup and the Olympics two years later.
He wants to play a part in their new 2022 qualifying campaign especially if they can get a favourable play-off draw, unlike their 2018 opponents Peru.
The midf ielder said: “We’ll play our Oceania qua l i f y ing g roup and usually get the fourth or fifth team from North or South America in a play-off – that’s our route.
“That’s a realistic target for me. With the likes of Chris Wood up front and Winston Reid at the back, we’ve got a real chance.
“For the last one, we got Peru in the knock- out game which was unlucky.
“We drew 1-1 at home but they took us to Lima and the atmospher e wa s phenomenal, there were 70,000 people there.
“They were flying fighter planes past our hotel at 3am, setting off fireworks that were hitting our windows – it was mental.
“But if we get a favourable draw, we can get to Qatar.”