It's Good To Be Home

Emilio Izaguirre is delighted to return to Paradise

- Mark Henderson

FEW players enjoy a second stint at Celtic, but Emilio Izaguirre always believed that one day he would run back out in Paradise in the Hoops.

Perhaps that was more in hope than expectation for the Honduran after he fell in love with the club during seven success-filled years in which he notched up 252 appearances and won 10 major honours.

But sometimes dreams do come true, and last week the 32-year-old became a Bhoy for the second time, signing a one-year deal, following a 12-month stint with Saudi Arabian club, Al-Fayha. Home is where the heart is and, for Izaguirre, that is Celtic.

“It’s amazing for me and a blessing,” he told the View in an exclusive interview. “I prayed to God that one day I would come back and see all the Celtic fans again, and I’m really happy to be back home.

“I played a lot of games at Celtic Park and I always dreamed I would be able to come back and play one game and now I have an opportunity to be a player here again.

“I played here for seven years, and I was here for the best part of my career. I came in 2010 after I played in the World Cup and also played in the 2014 World Cup, so my best years in football were spent here.

“I love Celtic. I played in big games for the club such as Glasgow derbies, and I feel Celtic in my blood, and my whole family feel it as well – my parents, my friends in Honduras and my wife are kids are Celtic fans.

“I had a feeling I could come back here. I had this feeling of adrenaline of being a fan or a player in Celtic Park, and now I have this chance.