Craig Gordon on his strange route to Celtic via theRangers | OneFootball

Former Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has opened up about signing for the Hoops and how he came very close to sealing a contract with theRangers back in 2014…

Craig Gordon of Celtic arrives prior to the UEFA Europa League Group B match between Celtic and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 8, 2018. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Gordon, who remains Hearts’ first-choice goalkeeper, spent the 2013/14 season training with theRangers – then competing in Scottish League One – while Ally McCoist was the manager.

Speaking to the media at Tynecastle – where he is set to play his testimonial match against former club and English Premier League newcomers Sunderland next month – the 42-year-old Scotland international reflected on how both Glasgow clubs played a part in his comeback to professional football following a spell on the sidelines due to persistent and long-term knee injuries.

“(the)Rangers were in League One at the time, and they already had two senior goalkeepers,” Gordon said as reported by The Scotsman. “To add another one at that stage probably wasn’t financially the right thing for them to do.

Craig Gordon of Celtic reacts during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Bayern Muenchen and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on October 18, 2017 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

“They wanted me to play in a couple of reserve games to prove that I was fit enough to stay. If I had done that, then my injury insurance would have been invalid. So I couldn’t do that. That was the reason why that never happened.

“Then, it was about looking for a club, and I didn’t know what level I could get back. I spoke to Raith Rovers, and they were interested. Hearts had Jamie Macdonald here at the time; they didn’t know if he was going to be leaving. I think Neil Alexander came in. Then Celtic came in, so that was the reason I went there.”

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon in action during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park on March 1, 2015. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Gordon added: “I knew I wasn’t going to be the first choice when I first went in with Fraser Forster being there, but I knew I’d have, again, really good medical care. I could give it the best possible chance to continue my rehab and try and get some games.

“I knew there was obviously speculation about Fraser, so there was a little bit of light there to potentially him moving on and getting a chance to see what I could do. As you say, your sliding doors moment, it all fell into place, and all in exactly the right time.

“I managed to go in and play 50 games my first season back after not playing for two years, which I didn’t know was possible until I managed to do it.”

Craig Gordon of Celtic reacts to their opening goal of the game during the Betfred Cup Final between Aberdeen FC and Celtic FC at Hampden Park on November 27, 2016. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Over six seasons at Celtic, playing under Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers, and Neil Lennon, Gordon racked up 242 appearances and collected 12 domestic trophies – among them five Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups, and five League Cups.

After leaving Celtic, he returned to Hearts in 2020 and has since featured in 155 matches across all competitions, helping the Edinburgh club secure the Scottish Championship title in his comeback season.

Perhaps for Celtic supporters the most iconic moment from Craig Gordon’s time at Celtic was his celebration at the 2017 Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen after Tom Rogic scored that brilliant late winner to secure an historic Invincible Treble. More on that below….

Conor Spence

Invincible Celtic keeper Craig Gordon’s Fabulous Scottish Cup Final Celebration…

Craig Gordon never let Celtic down and will be remembered fondly as a top quality goalkeeper. My own favourite moment – the one we’ll all remember – was his reaction to Tom Rogic’s winning goal in the Invincible season Scottish Cup Final in May 2017. The video of that is just brilliant to watch, see below…

Matt Corr’s outstanding book ‘Invincible’ covers the closing moments of that very special Scottish Cup Final.

Here’s how Matt Corr described that magical moment…

The 49,000 drenched supporters and 22 players are resigned to extra-time in this season of seasons, as the clock moves past the 90-minute mark. And then it happens.

Just like the movies. Rogic picks up a pass from Armstrong in right midfield and starts to glide. As he does. Dons substitute Anthony O’Connor tries to stay with him but the Wizard has cast his spell, the ball remaining glued to his feet as he bears in on goal.

All those years of Futsal give him a degree of control and touch which few can match. He is past O’Connor and now Andrew Considine, as Lewis comes out to meet him.

The angle is tight. Ridiculously so. But we can only watch in awe as the tall Aussie effortlessly clips it past the keeper and inside the near post as the net bulges.

There is a second of silence and then absolute mayhem. That moment when you realise that this might indeed be the day when your team, our team, will make football history. And you will be there. Your kids by your side. Your dad in your heart. We are all here.

Erik Sviatchenko has replaced Roberts, using up a few more precious seconds and disrupting whatever flow remains in the game. But there is still some time to endure before we can really celebrate.

And this is Celtic, so we just know there will be more drama. And there it is. With Madden checking his watch, the ball is launched into our penalty area. Dons defender, Ash Taylor, has risen highest to knock it down, as Adam Rooney slides in to convert.

“There is a moment of blind panic, before the roar around me confirms that the danger has been averted. Gordon has flopped onto the ball. “Stay down, Craig.” He does and I know that’s it. The whistle blows. Relief and release. Strangers are hugging you.

“It is a Celtic experience that cannot properly be described. Only felt. An Invincible Treble. The first. The only,” Matt Corr.

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Pat Bonner reckons Gordon will go into coaching when he calls time on his playing days

Anyway back to Craig Gordon and former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner, speaking about Craig reckoned that when the time comes for him to hang up his gloves he’ll make an ideal coach.

“I would be amazed if he didn’t go into coaching because I think he has a natural aptitude for it and he also has so much to offer,” Bonner told Glasgow Times. “I would certainly think that he will definitely be thinking about what his next step is. You do have a point where you think to yourself, ‘Right, what comes next?’

“I met Craig before he had gone to Celtic at a coaching event when he was coming back from injury and had been out of the game. I was really impressed with him; his manners, his knowledge, the way he conducted himself generally. I was shocked myself that he got himself back to the level he did with Celtic.

“He was out for such a long time. It is not that you would ever doubt his credentials but when you have been out for such a long time it is exceptionally difficult to get back to playing at the highest level.

“I know myself because I was out for three months at one stage with a disc problem in my back and you do doubt yourself. The longer it goes on, you do wonder about whether you will get over it. He must have had those concerns numerous times so he is clearly a resilient character.”

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