Legendary Celtic keeper Artur Boruc had many tussles with Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers during his stay in the Scottish Premiership.
Artur Boruc has told Mundial that he didn’t realise that religion was a factor in Celtic’s rivalry with Rangers.
The Polish goalkeeper joined the Hoops from Legia Warsaw in 2005 and went on to win six major domestic trophies in Scotland – including three Premiership titles – during his five-year stay.
The 38-year-old earned the nickname ‘the holy goalie’ for blessing himself in front of Rangers fans after a 1-0 win at Ibrox, and was later cautioned by Scottish police for a breach of peace.
Celtic are from a catholic background, whereas the Gers are traditionally protestant, and Boruc – now at Bournemouth – has suggested that he loved making supporters of the Ibrox club “go insane”.
“I didn’t realise before I came to Celtic that there was a religious aspect to the rivalry, I didn’t expect it,” he told Mundial.
“But I did enjoy the relationship I had with the Rangers fans, to be honest, it kind of makes you feel alive, makes you feel like the things you’re doing makes them go insane. I did enjoy that.
“Those kind of games brought out the best in me. You didn’t have anything to lose in a way. You don’t worry about anything, you just try to live in the moment and make the best saves you can, and that’s what was always good about it.”
Celtic could do with a 25-year-old Boruc again.
Craig Gordon is out injured with a knee injury, but even without that it seems unlikely that the Scottish keeper will be at Parkhead in the long term, given that he turned 35 in December.
Dorus de Vries has been deputising for the former Sunderland man, but really, manager Brendan Rodgers needs to bolster his goalkeeping options one way or the other this summer.
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