EDSON BRAAFHEID featured in the 2010 World Cup Final – just six weeks after getting the boot from Celtic.
The 27-year-old Dutch left-back was brought in by Tony Mowbray on a short-term loan from Bayern Munich on February 1.
Braafheid made only 12 appearances before the Hoops rejected the option of making his move permanent and returned him to the Bundesliga club at the completion of his contract on May 31.
The dodgy defender lasted longer at the club than the unfortunate Mowbray who was sacked in the aftermath of the inexplicable 4-0 flop to St Mirren in Paisley on March 24.
Braafheid was involved in the debacle for 75 minutes before being replaced by striker Morten Rasmussen with the home side already two goals ahead. The manager paid the ultimate price the following morning and the Dutchman faded from the first-team picture when Neil Lennon took over as caretaker boss.
BEST FOOT FORWARD…Edson Braafheid clears from Darren Mackie in Celtic’s dramatic 4-4 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie on February 13 2010.
The player got off to a winning start as a Celt in a 4-2 Scottish Cup success over Dunfermline at East End Park on February 7 and, alas for the back-four operator, that was as good as it got.
Remarkably, Braafheid did enough to be included in the Holand squad for the World Cup Finals in South Africa that summer and even replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst in extra-time of the showpiece encounter.
A minute after his arrival, Andres Iniesta hit the winning goal for Spain.
The full-back returned to Bayern and made only three first-team appearances before going on loan to 1899 Hoffenheim in January 2011.
In August 2014, the Dutchman joined Lazio on a free transfer and two years later he returned to his homeland on a one-year deal with his first club FC Utrecht. Five months later, his contract was scrapped.
He had a stint at USL Championship expansion club Austin Bold FC before moving to Palm Beach Stars in November 2020 as he wound down his career.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss the adventures of another former Celt in CQN’s EXCLUSIVE series.
