Kieran Tierney on Celtic role model as he gets set for Paradise return

The Celtic Star

·2 April 2025

Kieran Tierney on Celtic role model as he gets set for Paradise return

Kieran Tierney has discussed his relationship with Celtic legend Scott Brown. The pair were key first team figures together under Ronny Deila and Brendan Rodgers before the left-back made a £25m move to Arsenal in August 2019…

Kieran Tierney during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

With Tierney returning to the club this summer, the left-back was full of praise for Scott Brown, who he referred to as his “best friend in football” in a recent interview on Arsenal TV.

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“Yeah he was the captain at the time, and from the outside he can be an intimidating player, but as soon I was in the squad he looked after me. He coached me a bit for the under-20s because he was doing his coaching badges at the time, then when I came into the first team he really looked after me.

‘He’s probably my best friend in football’

“Still now I speak to him most days, he’s probably my best friend in football. He was amazing for me when I started – the definition of a captain. If you could describe what a captain should be, it would be Scott Brown,” KT believes.

Scott Brown and Kieran Tierney. Photo The Celtic Wiki

“And you had other experienced players like Charlie Mulgrew and Mikael Lustig who had so much experience, so many international caps, so going into a changing room and learning from guys like that was great.

“I think people like that are rare to come across now. I think generations have changed a bit so they were the last of the old school really. The first time I met Scott would have been when I was a ball boy, but the first time properly would have been in training.

‘He was definitely intimidating though – he still is now man!’

“He seemed to take a liking to me, he liked my attitude and my work ethic I think. He was definitely intimidating though – he still is now man! I wouldn’t say anything to him!” KT joked.

Kieran Tierney at the racing. Photo social media

“But I think you need that kind of fear factor as a young player. You don’t want to be able to walk into a changing room at that age and think it’s all easy. I think that’s changed with this generation now but then there was always a fear factor.”

Peter Lawwell officially confirmed KT’s return to Celtic

Tierney agreed a pre-contract with Celtic earlier this year that will secure a sensational return to the club. The news was officially confirmed by Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell causing great delight among the Celtic support.

Brendan will be delighted at the powerful left-back returning to the Scottish Champions, six years after he departed for North London. The manager confirmed that he expects Greg Taylor to leave the club this summer in search of game time while stressing Taylor’s reluctance to sign a new deal was not financially related.

Scott Brown and Kieran Tierney enjoying a laugh at training, photo Celtic FC

Tierney will be returning to Celtic to become a leader in the first team, alongside skipper Callum McGregor, Kasper Schmeichel, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston while club legend James Forrest clearly leads by example

Tierney revered by young Celts coming through

This, and Kieran’s career with Celtic and Arsenal, will see Tierney revered by young Celts coming through into the first team squad under Brendan. The Scotland International will be extremely eager to make the left-back berth his own once more and fill the hole in the dressing room, which will likely be vacated by Taylor, who is a popular character inside the dressing room.

Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

It may be surreal for Tierney to come into that Celtic dressing room again with the dynamic having shifted since he last appeared for the club. Celtic legends like Scott Brown, Tom Rogic and Mikael Lustig have all retired with other players, such as Nir Bitton and Craig Gordon, have moved on.

Tierney will reunite with other long-serving and decorated Celtic heroes, James Forrest and Callum McGregor, as they look to help the club make successful inroads in European competition as well as continuing domestic dominance.

He’ll also be familiar with Celtic squad having watched just about every Celtic game as a supporter while he was at Arsenal.

Kieran Tierney with the Scottish Premiership Trophy. Photo Geo: The Celtic Star

Brendan Rodgers reckons that his task is to improve his squad every year and with the return of KT he’s certainly getting off to a great start this summer.

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