Celtic were joined by an old favourite when they flew into Iceland yesterday after inviting former player Johannes Edvaldsson to tonight's Champions League qualifying tie in Reykjavik.
Edvaldsson, nicknamed "Shuggy" by Parkhead fans in the 1970s, is Icelandic and played in Celtic's midfield from 1975 to 1980. He continued to live in Scotland when his playing career finished and now, aged 64, he was delighted to return to his home country as part of Celtic's travelling party. His son was due to accompany him on the trip only to be denied because his passport had expired.
"It's very nice of Celtic to have me here as their guest," said Edvaldsson. "It means a great deal to me. Sadly my 10-year-old son Andrew can't be with me on this trip and he is extremely emotional about that. He was so excited. But then the other day we discovered his passport was out of date and he couldn't come.
"He was in tears and it was heartbreaking for me to see him like that. But there was nothing we could do. Now I'm under pressure to return home with a signed Celtic jersey!"
Edvaldsson was part of the Celtic team which won a league and Scottish Cup double in 1977 and the side which clinched the league title in 1979 by beating Rangers with 10 men. "I always got on well with the fans and to this day they still call me 'Shuggy'. Why Shuggy? I think it was because they couldn't think of anything else that rhymed with Johannes for a song . . ."
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