GRAEME SOUNESS has acclaimed former Celtic boss Liam Brady as one of the best 10 midfielders he faced.
The legendary Republic of Ireland playmaker spent almost two and a half years in charge at Parkhead after taking over from Billy McNeill in the summer of 1991.
Brady was 35 at the time and had brought down the curtain on his illustrious playing career at West Ham after emerging as a talent at Arsenal in 1973.
After seven years at Highbury, the stylish performer moved to Juventus before further spells in the Serie A with Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Ascoli.
Following his three years at the Hammers, he quit before being enticed back into the game as boss of the Hoops. However, during a turbulent time at the club, on and off the field, he failed to win a trophy and left in October 1993.
Brady missed locking horns with Souness as a manager in Glasgow after the former Scotland international had quit Ibrox three months earlier to return to take charge at Liverpool.
However, the ex-Govan gaffer had squared up to the Dubliner during games for the Anfield club and Sampdoria when Brady was at Arsenal and the San Siro outfit.
BAWL BHOY…LIam Brady is in with a shout during his stint as Celtic manager.
Souness admitted he had been highly impressed by his skilled opponent and, writing in his Daily Mail column, said: “I replaced Liam at Sampdoria and not just in the team.
“I also moved into the house he vacated as he moved on to Inter Milan.
“He was a silky player who could drop his shoulder and send defenders out to buy an ice cream or sit them on their backside when lunging in.
“He had many qualities, incredible skills and a wand of a left foot. One of those you’d pay to watch.
“Though the likes of Denis Law and John Charles had gone previously, Liam was a modern-day pioneer as a British player who succeeded in Italy.”
Former Leeds United and Scotland captain Billy Bremner is also included in Souness’ list along with Johnny Giles, Alan Ball, Glenn Hoddle, Bryan Robson, Zico, Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Paul Breitner and, of course, Brady.
