Samaras will leave legacy of love at Celtic

IF GEORGIOS Samaras is to leave Celtic at the end of the season he will do so satisfied that he has made his mark at a club he has grown to love.

Georgios Samaras has recently passed 250 appearances for Celtic. Picture: Robert Perry

The Greece international arrived at Parkhead on a six-month loan spell from Manchester City in January 2008 before making his move permanent, but the signs are that he will not renew his current contract which finishes in the summer.

Samaras, 29, has recently passed the 250-appearances mark for the champions and is glad his relative longevity will mean he is remembered at Parkhead long after many of his former Celtic team-mates have been forgotten.

“When I started playing football I always wanted to stay at a club for many years,” the former Heerenveen forward told Celtic View.

“I didn’t want to change clubs like other players do, moving every two or three years. I wanted to love a club and for it to love me back, so they could remember me for something.

“This club for me is Celtic. I have seen players coming here for six months, one year or two years and maybe they have played 60-70 games and they won’t be remembered.

“I have tried my best and tried to help my team-mates be successful. But the most important thing is that it’s good for me to know that I have a connection at the club and that’s really important. I am not a passenger.

“When I retire I will have my hall of fame and everything there will be Celtic.”

One man who is definitely leaving Parkhead at the end of the season is assistant manager Johan Mjallby.

The Swede enjoyed six years as a defender at Celtic before returning to join Neil Lennon’s backroom staff in 2010.

The 43-year-old admits leaving the club “will be sad as it will leave a big hole in me” and knows he may not enjoy the same level of success in his next post.

He said: “Success is something that you can take for granted and if I have to go and work for a lesser club somewhere in the world it will be different for me as it won’t be something that is guaranteed.

“But you must have this burning desire to try to change things and that’s always the outlook we have had here.”

BT Sport Q&A: Rangers | Hibs | Neil Lennon

THIS week’s BT Sport video Q&A looks at whether Rangers fans will buy season tickets and if the club’s supporters will force a change of ownership.

The form of Hibs under Terry Butcher is also examined following the Easter Road side’s derby defeat while the future of Neil Lennon is also considered following the announcement that his assistant Johan Mjallby is to depart at the end of the season.

• Email your Scottish football question for the BT Sport panel to answer. The next show will be recorded on May 7 after St Johnstone v Celtic with the video available on The Scotsman website the following day. You can also tweet us @TheScotsman.

A line-up of experts will handle your questions after each BT Sport game. Most match days, the team includes Darrell Currie, Derek Rae and Gary McAllister.

Over this season, BT Sport will air 30 SPFL matches plus 10 Rangers games from the SPFL League One.

• T&C We can not guarantee which presenters will answer your questions. Questions are vetted and no correspondence will be entered into.