Former Celtic star Craig Bellamy has made a surprising call when discussing great footballing derbies.
Former Celtic striker Bellamy has been dubbed the ‘derby master’ ahead of a weekend of derbies in the Premier League.
Over the course of his career Bellamy played for nine different clubs scoring 135 goals.
During that time the fiery Welsh star played in 13 English derby matches during his career with Norwich, Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester City, winning eight, drawing two and losing just three.
But despite playing in Manchester derbies, Merseyside derbies, the Cardiff vs Swansea derby, Tyne-Wear derbies and the East Anglian derby – as well as some intense London derbies with West Ham – it was the club where he had the shortest spell of his career that left the biggest impression on him.
Speaking to Sky Sports’ The Debate, Bellamy explained why the Old Firm derby topped the lot.
“The semi-final (between Liverpool and Everton) was special, you know at Wembley but also Cardiff Swansea was an ambition of mine, I always wanted to play in that you know growing up watching them,” Bellamy told The Debate.
“But do you know the Old Firm one, Rangers and Celtic, the intensity of it is nothing (compared) to when you’re really in it (as a player).
“It is more than football, and even more so going to Ibrox was extra special as well you know going away and scoring and winning there, that one yea, for the intensity that was the derby for me, that was incredible.”
Celtic won the first ever Old Firm derby on the 28th of May 1888 5-2 and they also won the last one 2-0 at Ibrox back in September.
Celtic boast the biggest ever Old Firm derby win – 7-1 in October 1957 – but Rangers have the most Old Firm derby wins with a staggering 159.
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