THE kid from Dunfermline who once sported a red mohawk and was banned from fizzy juice has gone on to become Scotland’s most seasoned Champions League player. But Scott Brown admitted last night that his illustrious career in the continent’s glamour club competition – which this week saw him surpass the iconic Kenny Dalglish in this nation’s list of all-time appearance makers with 69 – was almost strangled at birth.
Let’s just say the midfielder wasn’t exactly flavour of the month with his manager Gordon Strachan after making his debut in this competition in a 2-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in September 2007, just months after his £4.5 million arrival from Hibs.
“I didn’t think I’d still be here the next week after Gordon went through me,” said Brown. “But it’s been fantastic. It’s an honour and a privilege to play in front of these fans.”
Brown laughs off the obvious comparison with Dalglish, the Liverpool legend whose love affair with this competition came in simpler times. The former Celtic striker captured this title three times – 1978, 1981 and 1984 – but while Brown must endure gruelling qualification matches just to reach the group stages (there will be eight of them next pre-season), with a first-round bye thrown in it took Dalglish just seven in total to claim the trophy in 1978, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win against Club Bruges at Wembley.
“I’d take that [seven games to reach the final],” said Brown. “We play six just to get into the group stages now. It’s just different generations. Kenny was a fantastic player in his generation and I have so much respect for what he did in the game and what he did for Scotland as well.
“Tuesday was a special night for me but don’t take anything away from Kenny – he was a fantastic player and I could not lace his boots if I tried,” he added. “t’s me just being around for a long time, that’s what that shows. We play a lot of games he probably didn’t play back then.
“It has been a long time. But I have enjoyed every single moment. There’s been ups and downs, it’s football. Managers come in and managers go out. I’ve been lucky enough to still be here. And hopefully there is a long time to come for me.”
Brown reckons he is far from finished when it comes to racking up Champions League appearances. And why should he, considering the likes of Ryan Giggs were still gracing this level way into his late 30s? The Celtic and Scotland captain still has a fair way to go, almost 100 behind all-time record holder Iker Casillas (166), Xavi (151) and Cristiano Ronaldo (145).
“How many more can I get?” said Brown. “Hopefully quite a lot. I am enjoying my football. I feel as fit as I ever have been. I am still going there on 90 minutes, no cramp, no muscle pain. As long as I keep on top of my fitness, keep training well and look after myself off the park I don’t see why I can’t go on for three or four seasons.”
Brown, meanwhile, admits the apparent lack of urgency in the SFA’s recruitment of a permanent Scotland manager is becoming a frustration.
Talks are at an advanced stage about a friendly with Morocco in March, with matches in the all-new Uefa Nations League set to commence this September, and the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign under way in March 2019.
“It’s a bit of a pain in the arse to be perfectly honest,” said Brown. “You are sitting back waiting on something happening and there’s a match coming up in March. You’d like a manager to be in charge for the start of the European campaign.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here