You could argue, as the generations pass by, those loud characters are no longer present because modern football is changing.
Neil Lennon was certainly a fiery figure as a player and a manager, as he got to witness many dominant Celtic periods.
Towards the end of Lennon’s playing career at Celtic Park, he was managed by the legendary figure Gordon Strachan.
Strachan produced many great moments from the touchline, as well as signing players who have gone down in the club’s folklore.
One man who was brought into the club during that period certainly won’t be forgotten about.
Neil Lennon explains what it was like playing with Celtic hero Thomas Gravesen
Thomas Gravesen signed for Celtic from Real Madrid in 2006, and the hard-hitting midfielder arrived in Glasgow with a big reputation and a strong CV.
The only downside to Gravesen’s stay at the club is that it only lasted a few years, but Lennon told Open Goal, during the time he spent with the Denmark star, he was ‘bonkers’ and had the ‘attention span of a goldfish’.
But when the former Everton player turned it on, Lennon explained how he could ‘really play’.
Si Ferry: “I need to ask you about Tommy Gravesen. When you first hear he is signing, do you think, ‘wow, what a signing for the club?’.
Lennon: “Yeah. Then you start training with him and you think, ‘what is wrong with you?’. We signed your twin brother or something. He was bonkers, wasn’t he?!
“I liked him, though, in my own way. I didn’t mind, Tommy. When he could turn it on, he could really play. He scored a hat-trick at St Mirren one day. He was brilliant.
“But he lacked concentration. He almost had the attention span of a goldfish, and the next thing you know, he will be running around.
“I remember playing in Copenhagen, and he was playing right side of the midfield, in front of Mark Wilson, and every time they attacked, there was no sign of Tommy. Willow had a two-v-one every time. Gordon (Strachan) was going ballistic.”
https://youtu.be/ucZEia_dTPw?si=vcSRozKygXWUKkqA
Gravesen’s career at Celtic in numbers
It’s a shame that you don’t have many characters like Gravesen in the game today, but in truth, social media would have a field day with them.
Say what you want about what the 66-cap Denmark star did or didn’t do off the field, one thing is for sure: the opposition knew about him on the pitch, and his short stint at Celtic made him a cult hero.
Gravesen left Celtic in 2008 and joined Everton for a short period of time, before hanging up his boots and calling time on his career.
And the fact that he is still being talked about today proves that he has done something right.
