CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS spent the first six years of his career with seven clubs and didn’t win a solitary honour.
Since his 2021 loan move to Celtic from Spurs, the 27-year-old central defender has picked up nine medals and is aiming for a tenth when he lines up against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden tomorrow afternoon.
Carter-Vickers is also on the verge of playing a key role in the Hoops winning their second treble in three years.
And the Southend-on-Sea-born operator has also earned his first full international cap for his adopted nation USA.
It’s been success almost all the way since the defensive kingpin arrived from the London club – his sixth loan move – before he signed a permanent contract a year later following a £6million switch.
HEADS, I WIN…Cameron Carter-Vickers rises high to bullet in Celtic’s opening goal in their 6-0 romp in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen in November.
Anticipating a competitive encounter with the Dons team beaten 5-1 at Pittodrie by the champions just nine days ago, Carter-Vickers admitted: “We know the work is far from done.
“We still have 90 minutes or possibly 120 minutes to get over the line and get another trophy. But we are fully focused now. All of our energy and thought process is going into that.
“It’s about going into the game, having a clear mindset and playing the game, not necessarily the occasion.
“It’s important to always have an understanding, too, that at the end of the day, whatever is on the line, it’s a football match, which we’ve all played in lots of before.
“So, it’s just about sticking to the things that we have done all season.
“Cup games are unique in the sense that, for whatever reason, it might not always go 100 per cent to plan.
“We are expecting a difficult challenge and for Aberdeen to be right up for it. So, we will have to make sure we are the same.”
WALKING ON AIR…Cameron Carter-Vickers and Adam Idah have lift-off after Daizen Maeda’s decisive penalty-kick in the Premier Sports League Cup triumph over Rangers in December. Kasper Schmeichel, who saved a crucial spot-kick in the shoot-out, holds aloft the Japanese ace.
Quizzed if lifting his third successive Scottish Cup to complete another domestic silverware clean sweep would mark his best year at the club, CCV, speaking to Celtic TV, answered: “Different seasons are good for different reasons.
“Last season, we started out off in front in the league, we kind of got caught up and then had a bit of a battle towards the end.
“Obviously, it’s always nice to try and get those leagues over the line.
“But if you are looking at performance-wise, I think this has probably been one of the better seasons since I’ve been here.
“We’ve had progression in Europe and I thought we had some really good performances in that.
“Then if we win the treble, that is kind of the best you can do domestically.
“Once you have had success and won trophies, and you have that feeling, it is one that you don’t want to let go of.
“It’s a feeling that is hard to describe, unless you’ve done it, but it’s one that once you have had it, you want to repeat it.”
DERBY WINNER…Cameron Carter-Vickers races away in triumph after firing in the winner at Ibrox in April 2022 as Ange Postecoglou’s team close in on the Premiership title. Carl Starfelt is about to join the celebrations.
It was Ange Postecoglou, of course, who brought the no-nonsense centre-back to Parkhead from Spurs in 2021 – a move he made in the opposite direction just days after Celtic sealed a world record eighth treble with a 3-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Inverness Caley Thistle in June 2023.
The Greek-Australian manager has been under pressure for most of the season with the London club completing the league just above the three relegated teams.
However, Postecoglou guided the side to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League Final in Bilbao in midweek – and CCV admitted he was delighted for his old boss.
He added: “It was good to see. I watched the game. It probably wasn’t the greatest from an entertainment standpoint, but it is massive for Tottenham to get a trophy and for Ange, as well.
“He said he always wins in his second season and he did that. So, I’m happy for him.
“I think the majority of us enjoyed working with him and wanted the best for him. For them to get over the line in a Cup competition is great for him and does show what he can do.”
