The Celtic Family

Conor Hazard was delighted that the rest of the clan could join him at Paradise to sign a new four-year deal.

- Mark Henderson

CONOR Hazard has paid tribute to his family for helping him achieve his football dream after the highly-rated goalkeeper signed a new four-year deal with his boyhood heroes.

The 19-year-old was thrilled to put pen to paper in Paradise last Friday, and it was an extra special moment for the Irish youngster as his parents – Pauline and Gary – and younger brother Jack were also in attendance.

And Hazard, who joined the Celtic Youth Academy three years ago from Cliftonville, told the View that he wouldn’t be in this position had it not been for their support.

“It means everything for me,” said the shot-stopper in an exclusive interview. “It’s my boyhood club and I have always dreamed of this moment coming true, and thankfully it has, and I owe it to everyone else – the people in the backroom, my family. I do it all for them to try and make them proud.

“It was brilliant to have my family there as they have been here from the beginning. One day, hopefully, I can put on the No.1 shirt for Celtic and they will be there in the stands.

“They have played a big part in my career, 100 per cent. They brought me on from such a young age, travelling to training hours away in the car, running me everywhere. It’s special to have them here to sign this and I want to do them proud.

“To have them over here was brilliant and it’s not just me signing it, it’s all of them, because of all the work they have put in to help me on this journey.”