ANDREAS HINKEL was an intriguing buy when he arrived at Celtic in a £2million move from Sevilla in January 2008.
Gordon Strachan brought in the experienced 21 times-capped German international after being impressed by the right-back’s performances for the Spanish club where he won the UEFA Cup.
However, Hinkel was often asked to play back-up to regular No.2 Daniel Alves and didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to move to Parkhead arose and he made a quickfire debut in a 3–0 Scottish Cup win over Stirling Albion.
He scored his only goal for the Hoops in a 3-0 home league victory over Hearts a month later in a season in which Strachan’s side powered to a dramatic last-day triumph in the league title race.
ON THE MOVE…Andreas Hinkel surges into attack.
The following season saw Hinkel lift a League Cup medal after goals from Aiden McGeady and Darren O’Dea overcame Rangers 2-0 in the Hampden Final.
The attack-minded defender lost his place to South Koream new Bhoy Cha Du-Ri at the start of the 2010–11 campaign. He then suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and was ruled out for nine months.
At the beginning of July 2011, Hinkel left the club at the end of his contract.
In October, he returned to his homeland and signed for SC Freiburg.
On September 10 the following year, Hinkel, at the age of 30, announced his immediate retirement.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss the adventures of another former Celt in CQN’s EXCLUSIVE series.
