Euro Ambition

James Forrest overtook some famous Celtic names with his UEFA Champions League appearance last week

- Mark Henderson

BILLY McNeill and Bobby Lennox are rightly revered as Celtic legends, in large part for helping the club become Kings of Europe in 1967. Last week, James Forrest, at just 27, eclipsed this legendary duo when he became the second-highest European appearance holder in the club’s history.

In the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round victory over FC Alashkert, the winger played his 70th game in continental competition for the Hoops, leapfrogging McNeill and Lennox, and leaving only club captain Scott Brown ahead of him in the list.

It’s a fantastic achievement for Forrest, though you won’t hear him shouting from the rooftops about it or posting about it on Instagram. One of the few high-profile footballers not to have a social media account, Forrest has always preferred to fly under the radar, going about his business without fuss, but his Celtic legacy will certainly be something to behold.

Along with these remarkable individual records, his haul of 14 winner’s medals means his status as one of the most successful Celtic players of all-time is already assured, and that’s with many years remaining at the top level.

The Celtic Youth Academy graduate broke into the first team nine years ago with humble aspirations and he found it difficult to describe his emotions at surpassing such celebrated club icons for his latest landmark.

Speaking exclusively to the View he said: “I wasn’t aware of it and just found out. It’s scary and I don’t know what to say, to be ahead of people like that. It’s unbelievable and hard to put into words. You come through the youth system at Celtic and you just want to make your debut, but I’ve now played a good number of years in the first team and I’m enjoying every minute of it.