‘I’M GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF CELTIC HISTORY,’ ADMITS HARALD BRATTBAKK

HARALD BRATTBAKK has admitted he is “eternally grateful” to take part in Celtic history when Wim Jansen’s men prevented Rangers from completing 10 league titles in a row.

Twenty years ago this week, the Norwegian striker, now 47, scored the killer second goal against St Johnstone to make certain there would be no celebrations at Ibrox.

Henrik Larsson set up the championship party in the east end of Glasgow when he scored a spectacular opening goal in the third minute of a tension-laden encounter against the Perth outfit.

Brattbakk recalled: “I think, because of the significance of the game and the good memories around it for every Celtic supporter, that day isn’t far away in their minds.

“The longer time goes by, it gets more and more fun to think about it. The set-up throughout the whole season with Rangers going for the 10, the storybooks couldn’t have been written any better. In that respect, I’m awfully grateful to have been part of it.

“That day is written into Celtic history, but it’s also one of my greatest days as a footballer because you couldn’t ask for more in terms of excitement and tension. And obviously knowing now how big Celtic is, I feel eternally grateful to have been a part of it.

“It’s 20 years ago, but I can still recall the day quite well. Looking back, I think that the tension and the excitement that all the people were feeling wasn’t as significant for us, as we were focused on the game, playing the match and doing as well as we could, not thinking too much about what could happen and all the ifs and buts.

“Every time I look back at the videos or the pictures from that day, what I feel is the family feeling of Celtic coming across that day.

“You could see the happiness of everyone. There was relief at stopping 10-in-a-row, but it’s the days when you struggle hard and fight for something when you realise how important football is for people.

“While Celtic’s big win over Rangers recently was big and important, they were going to win the league, anyway. What we did went to the last minute effectively and that makes it very special.”

The Celtic team that historic, unforgettable afternoon was: Gould; Annoni, Rieper, Stubbs, Boyd; McNamara, Burley, Lambert (sub: Wieghorst 82), O’Donnell (sub: Brattbakk 60); Donnelly, Larsson (sub: Blinker 89).

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