OUTGOING Celtic captain Scott Brown has been left bemused by a quirk of the calendar ahead of his final game for the Glasgow club against his former club Hibs.
The 35-year-old, who has agreed a move to Pittodrie once his contract expires, will skipper the club one last time at Easter Road, the venue where his professional career began all those years ago.
Brown admits he is feeling somewhat melancholic about his final outing in green-and-white but added that facing off against his old side will make his last game that little bit more special.
“It’s sad,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ve had 14 fantastic years here and I’ve loved every single moment of it. I’ve made so many friends, seen so many players come in, so many players leave the club, won so many trophies and had so many great occasions.
“It’s coming down to the end of it. I’ve got one game left. When I was at Hibs, my last game was against Celtic and now it’s vice-versa.
“It’s good, it’s a special occasion because Hibs meant so much to me as well as Celtic. It’s one of those occasions I’m going to relish and always remember – that’s for sure.
“I’ve had so many great times over my career so far and I’ve got a couple of years left in me. Let’s hope I’ve got a few more happy memories to come.”
Hibs hosted Celtic at Easter Road on that day back in May 2007, with Brown marking his final appearance for the Leith club in spectacular fashion with a diving header.
The combative midfielder grinned as he recollected his last goal for Hibs before revealing that the header led to a frosty reception in the home dressing room at Parkhead a month or two later.
“I did, I scored a header,” he recalled. “I played against Darren O’Dea, Aiden McGeady and somebody else and I remember Darren O’Dea saying to me: ‘We’ll see who the big man is in six weeks’ time when you come into our dressing room.’
“I was thinking, ‘That’s what I want to hear!’ I walked into the dressing room and he was like, ‘Come here big man, give us a big cuddle.’ And to be fair we’re great mates now. We’re both players that want to win and that’s what being at Celtic is all about.
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of winning times. I came here to win trophies and I loved winning. Whether it’s in training or in games I just enjoy winning – it’s part and parcel of who I am and it’s what I want to be.
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“I’ve had that drive throughout my career. When I was at Hibs I got the opportunity to win a cup and I enjoyed that. I wanted more of that and I challenged myself to go to Celtic and win trophies.
“But I never thought that after years I would have 22 trophies, having played for so long and having so many fond memories, meeting great mates and great people about the place as well.”
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