KIERAN TEIRNEY. “He signed when he was seven, to him it was heaven” that’s how the song goes at least.
KT will make his 100th appearance for Celtic today as he, alongside his Invincible teammates attempt to extend their incredible unbeaten domestic run to 64 games without defeat.
The young left back has supported Celtic since he can remember and, as the song says, at the young age of just seven he was signed by the club.
He progressed well through the youth ranks and on a pre-season trip to Finland he made his first team debut in 2014 where he played against Tottenham.
Tierney went back to playing in the development squad and scored his first goal for the club against Hearts.
By now the left back had started to catch the eye of first team manager Ronny Deila and took his bow briefly against Dundee at Dens Park late on in the 2014-15 season.
The following season really started to open doors for Tierney as he made over 30 appearances for the first team, in the process he also displaced long time fans favourite Emilio Izzaguire.
Tierney capped off a dream season by not only securing the League title but also laid claim to the Young Players and Writers Player of the year awards. Not too shabby for an 18 year old boy from Wishaw who was born in the Isle of Man.
Understanably Celtic were keen to keep their young prodigy and in June last year they secured the youngsters services until 2021.
The following season Brendan Rodgers replaced Ronny Deila at the helm. A move which saw the club not only secure a treble, but also for the first time ever, go through a domestic season unbeaten.
This season we have seen Tierney pull on the Captain’s armband in the absence of Scott Brown and also score what could be voted the goal of the season in the League Cup against Kilmarnock.
Needless to say when Celtic tied the youngster down on an improved six year deal which runs out in 2023 the fans thought Christmas had come early.
Every player dreams of pulling on their international jersey and representing their country. Tierney again worked patiently through the youth levels with Scotland before making his first team debut in March 2016 in a 1-0 win against Denmark.
He has since went on to represent his country 9 times and recently was made Captain in the friendly against Netherlands at Pittodrie.
The Celtic fans do love a cult figure and in Kieran Tierney they certainly have one for the next six years. At least.
The boy bleeds green and white, he goes to bed dreaming about the club he loves.
From receiving Shunsuke Nakamuras boots as a young kid to being a ball boy on that famous night when Celtic beat the mighty Barcelona.
Tierney really has achieved so much already.
Every kid wants to play for their boyhood heroes however this is one kid who is definitely ‘Living the dream’.
Living The Dream was written by Gary Smith for CQN Magazine. @Gstar21986
NEW CQN PODCAST, KEVIN MILES IN SESSION, SENSATIONAL!
A Celtic State of Mind presents its 24th instalment of insightful discussion into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
In the first ‘A Celtic State of Mind: In Session’ show, Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by former Yashin frontman, Kevin Miles.
Kevin is supporting the Celtic Foundation’s Christmas Campaign by releasing a charity single, ‘Celtic, My Heart and My Soul’, and he joined The CQN Podcast at The Tolbooth Studio in Stirling to play an exclusive acoustic rendition of his magnificent ballad.
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As well as playing a further three tracks, Kevin also speaks of his passion for Celtic Football Club, and explains why he wanted to support the Foundation this year.
The CQN Podcast has gone from strength-to-strength over the last few months, and there are many more guests lined up in the months ahead from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature and politics.
Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes, @anorthernprose and @CQNMagazine and subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or through your podcast player.
