Nir Bitton left Celtic after nine years of service at Celtic Park at the end of the last campaign. Never one to shy away from the hard graft and general ugly side of the game in a Celtic shirt, Bitton will be remembered fondly by most at the club and fanbase. The rumours surfaced that a return to his homeland of Israel was on the cards and that interest in the big man was rife.
It has now been confirmed that he has indeed returned to the Holy Land and will set up stall with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the country’s Premier League. Tel Aviv are historically one of the biggest clubs in Israel, boasting the most title wins of all the participants on 23 as it stands currently. Nir wiIl no doubt have plans to make that 24 this season if he has anything to say about it.
Nir Bitton of Celtic looks on during the warm up prior to the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between St. Mirren FC and Celtic FC at on December 22, 2021 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
30-year-old Bitton has signed a two-year deal with the added option of a third if he and the club enjoy a fruitful relationship over the next two seasons. Having an embarrassment of experience at both club and international level, Bitton has been capped 39 times by his country and played 274 games for Celtic, winning 18 trophies in that time and playing Champions League football along the way.
His new journey will see him back were it all started after he left Ashdod in 2013 for pastures new in Glasgow and Parkhead. He grew into the jersey and really shone out during Norwegian Ronny Deila’s time in the dugout in the East End. Brendan Rodgers trusted Bitton and even tried to convert him into a centre-back which heralded mixed results domestically and in Europe for the Hoops.
A mutual parting of the ways would suffice at the end of the 2021-22 cinch Premiership, and Ange Postecoglou praised him and fellow departing teammate, Tom Rogic. Now Niro is back home and can enjoy the pleasure of surrounding his family in their own culture and heritage moving forward. No doubt a big influence on his deciding to move to Maccabi in the first place.
Celtic wished the player all the best when the news was confirmed via Twitter today:
Paul Gillespie
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