GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS has finally sealed his Hoops exit with his move to MLS club Atlanta United.
With the Greek striker now preparing to ply his trade elsewhere, his absence has thrown up an intriguing question: Who will get Celtic’s Number 7?
Giakoumakis was given the iconic number following his £2.5million arrival from Dutch club VVV-Venlo in August 2021.
Now, following the frontman’s departure, the No 7 is again up for grabs.
SEVEN FROM HEAVEN…Celtic’s legendary winger Jimmy Johnstone.
Jimmy Johnstone, of course, never wore the number on his shirt as the club preferred to leave the famous green and white hoops unbroken in another era. Instead, Celtic players were indentified with numbers on their shorts.
At the start of the 1994-95 season, the Scottish League made it a rule that clubs had to have shirt numbers. For the first two games, Celtic hoped to get round the stipulation by wearing them on their sleeves.
However, that novel approach was vetoed by the league chiefs and when the team played at Ibrox on August 27, 1994, there were numbers on the backs of the shirt. They have remained there ever since.
SEVEN FROM HEAVEN…Kenny Dalglish races away from Rangers defender Sandy Jardine.
SEVEN FROM HEAVEN…Henrik Larsson in his early days at Celtic following his arrival from Feyenoord in 1997.
SEVEN FROM HEAVEN…Giorgos Giakoumakis is congratulated by skipper Callum McGregor after one of the Greek striker’s 26 goals for Celtic.
By the time Henrik Larsson was at the height of hs fame as he terrorised rival rearguards, the No.7 shirt was in his proud possession.
It’s usually a number reserved for special players in Celtic’s history, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out like that.
For instance, Nadir Ciftci, bought by Ronny Deila from Dundee United in July 2015, asked for and was given the No.7 jersey. His stay at Parkhead was not a memorable one.
Now all eyes are on the next player to be granted the special jersey in Celtic folklore.
Watch this space!
