Celtic skipper Stephen McManus will always remember the great European nights under Gordon Strachan.
The former Coventry and Southampton boss quit the Parkhead club on Monday afternoon, 24 hours after Rangers had wrenched the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title back to Ibrox for the first time in four years.
He told the Celtic View: "The European success has been fantastic. Personally, I played three years of Champions League football under the manager and he's put a lot of us on the map during that time, and given us the chance to play at the highest level."
He added: "We've all got a lot to thank him for and I've thoroughly enjoyed playing under him.
"I speak for all the boys when I wish him well for the future."
The Scotland defender thanked Strachan for taking him out of the Parkhead reserves and turning him in to a first-team regular.
He said: "The gaffer has been a massive influence on my career and I have a lot to thank him for.
"He gave me an extended run in the first team when he arrived in 2005 and he appointed me captain a couple of years later.
"The players are all sad to see the manager go because we've had a lot of success under him over the last four years. It's been an incredible time in our careers.
"He's worked with a lot of players and has done so much for the club, but he obviously thinks it's time to move on and we all respect that."
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Singin Ginger is getting boring
If Strachan goes to Sunderland I think he will do wonders. He didn't have any real budget with us, much to the boards shame. He will work wonders with 40 million.
the plank of wood for capn sorry vinegar fae hesslink
Guys, guys, guys!!.. Howzabout BARRY FERGUSON as captain? Shyte player, but he is always good for bringing a cairry-oot tae parties!! LOL!!
Boruc for captain..
Awrite Ginger....Axel grease on the singin juice me thinks.....would like to see Brown or Caldwell as el capitano
ALEX F (point 2) - so long as this guy DESMOND DERMOT is on the board, celtic will always have problems, but if DERMOT DESMOND steps in, then our finances will be all but taken care of! BTW: I thought you were brilliant in BEVERLEY HILLS COP!.. Oh!!.. That was AXEL F!! Sorreeeeee!!
George - don't suppose you'd consider Aiden as suitable captain material then? LOL!!
Lol
Excellent role model ;-)
Got to be Scott Brown....
Hmmmmmmm. No sure ginger mate.
Ye want yer captain to be playing every week and I just don't see PH doing that.
Pity he's onto a possible move back to Hearts - Paul Hartley would be ideal captain material!
i hope the next boss picks a decent captain !!
Stupid link directing to wrong subject,good job....
I hope Bazza stays too as he is utter mince.
The Board are the problem DESMOND DERMOT and his corner shop mentality
Celtic and Rangers are BIG clubs but they are being suffocated in a small pond (using the adage that a fish can only grow to the size of the pond)
Both Teams need desperately to be allowed to play in the English leagues ok Start in the championship this appeases some small minded chairman of teams that should not be in the Prem I think with the funding around in the English League they would very very quickly flourish
I think It was quite small minded of some Celtic fans to be so nasty towards wee Gordon due to a playing association with Aberdeen over 20 yrs ago.
look at Newcastle United and as fans be very careful what you wish for.!!
I am sad to say even though Celtic are a big club apart from the games in Europe they only play 6 really competitive games a year when they play Rangers although the 2 Edinburgh teams are trying!!
No top class manager would want all that pressure as 1 slip in those 6 games and you surender the Title it seems
I am 1 fan, who hopes you go with him.
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