Kieran Tierney destined to by next Celtic captain – Erik Sviatchenko

Hoops academy product Tierney completed a stunning return to Celtic Park this month. After six years with Arsenal, the £25 million defender rejoined his boyhood club on a free transfer.

Sviatchenko was part of the Celtic squad during the early days of Tierney’s rise to prominence under Ronny Deila back in 2015. The two have stayed in contact over the years, and a recent text conversation reaffirmed Sviatchenko’s belief that Tierney has truly returned to his rightful home.

Speaking to Daily Record, the former Celtic centre-back said: “I was actually surprised that it has been six years since he left Celtic. He has done well, but he’s just been staggered with injury. I don’t know how many games he’s played for Arsenal. But if you look at the numbers, it should have been like 350 games.”

“I think the step for Kieran right now is incredible. I texted with him, and he said, ‘I’m ready to go home’. He’s done well in the Premier League and now he’s ready to come home and be that next generation of Celtic legends. He has the potential. He already is a legend in growth. And the fans adore him.”

“You always knew what you would get from him, 100 per cent”

“You always knew what you would get from him, 100 per cent, but still a lot of great qualities on the ball. Technical-wise, he can play as a left-back, he can play as a centre-back, he can play in the three-back line. He’s a utility player in that sense. And then one day when Callum McGregor decides it’s time to retire, there is a captain on that line for Kieran Tierney. That’s kind of the script, I would say.”

Tierney has always played with passion and intensity which the Celtic supporters love, and Sviatchenko recognised his exceptional ability from the very beginning of his Hoops career.

“It’s a pressured job. But he was very mature from an early age”

Sviatchenko said: “You know, it’s always a balance. People always have this perception of these players who grow up in a club. I think it’s more like a professional way of being a football player and just with a lot of heart.”

“It’s not like you would have this young boy running around like, ‘I’m so happy for everything.’ It’s still a job that he’s performing. It’s a pressured job. But he was very mature from an early age.”

“Brendan Rodgers gave him a lot of responsibility too, very, very early on”

“He would sit with more experienced guys. He would feed off that energy. He was good with the young guys. He was good with Scott Brown and all these guys. So he was taken under those wings and I think it helped him grow a lot also as a player. Brendan Rodgers gave him a lot of responsibility too, very, very early on.”

Conor Spence

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