Thanks to brad, Ben is ready to bend over backwards to become a success at celtic
Ben Siegrist picked up many things from fellow keeper, Brad Friedel during their time together at Aston Villa.
Yoga was one of them – though Celtic’s recent signing has revealed he did not have much choice in the matter.
“Brad taught me how to do it, and it was definitely not a suggestion!” said the 30- year- old, smiling at the memory of the big American’s powers of persuasion.
“I had just joined Villa, and he told me: ‘ We are doing yoga’. And that was that.
“It was a new thing for me, but one I was willing to try.
“I thought if Brad Friedel (below) does it, then it has definitely got to be good enough for me, and he really got me into it.
“It is good exercise, and maybe more of a goalkeeping thing because we tend to be a little bit bigger than other players.
“Our job needs us to be flexible, but generate forces at the same time. So yoga is very supportive of our training regime.
“I don’t do it as much now, but it is still part of my training routine.”
The Swiss shot- stopper is also interested in the psychological side of sport, something he says he sees as an important part of his job.
“These are things that can help, for sure,” he said.
“I have worked with a mental health coach, who is into sports psychology, and I think it is definitely something I can use more as I progress in my career.
“I also like to read a lot of books on the subject. They can give you a real insight into how other athletes cope with all manner of things.”
Siegrist has had his own challenges to deal with during his career.
In 2015, while still waiting to make his first- team debut for Villa, he broke his leg in training.
Then, when he finally left the Birmingham club – after four spells out on loan – to join Vaduz, he was relegated in his first season.
“It is all part of how I got here, and what made me who I am,” said the Celt, who has signed a four- year deal after his Dundee United contract expired.
“A football journey is never going to be straight. It is always going to have ups and downs, but I would not change it for the world.
“It has led me to here, so I must have done some things right.
“I left my home in Switzerland early to go to England withvilla, where I was lucky enough to work with some top keepers. “As well as Brad Friedel, we had Brad Guzan, who was a great mentor to me, then we had Shay Given. Shay is Shay!
“He was a great guy, who took me under his wing a little bit and showed me the ropes. He taught me how to have fun at training, but when it is time to work, you have to be on it.
“After the leg break and a few loans out, I felt the right decision was to go back to Switzerland and play there for Vaduz, who are a Liechtenstein club, but play in the Swiss league.
“I managed to become the No. 1 ahead of Peter Jehle, who was an old head and Liechtenstein’s national keeper. That was the first important step in my career.
“I had my first bit of international football there, as well as Europa League qualifiers, and then the opportunity to join Dundee United came along.
“At Tannadice, I didn’t play a lot in the beginning, but I will always compete to the max, and make sure I play to my potential.
“I did not give up, and eventually got the first-team jersey.
“I had four successful years, where we had promotion and secured European football last season.
“But now I am at Celtic, who I believe are the best club in Scotland.”