Mark Fotheringham has told The Scottish Sun that Ange Postecoglou should name Callum McGregor as the new Celtic captain after Scott Brown joined Aberdeen.
Brown left Parkhead after 14-years to take up a player/coach role at the Pittodrie Stadium this summer. The move meant Postecoglou arrived in Glasgow as the new manager with a big decision to make over who leads the Hoops on the field next season.
Fotheringham believes Postecoglou should look no further in the Celtic ranks than his close friend and former teammate McGregor. The Hoops product and current Ingolstadt assistant manager admires his sheer professionalism and ability to lead by example.
McGregor returning to training next Monday is just one example of why, having played the 64th game of his season just two weeks ago. The 28-year-old has averaged 51 games a term over the past seven after featuring 360 times for club and country.
And Fotheringham believes Postecoglou should capitalise on McGregor in his search for Celtic’s next captain.
“He’s a total role model. He’s a Rolls-Royce player, who plays week in and week out,” Fotheringham said. “He never misses training and every week he is available for the manager. Callum is an elite player, utterly dedicated to being the best he can be.
“Callum has to be Celtic’s next captain. People talk about how captains have to be like Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira, full of fire and aggression. But, as much as I admire players like that, I don’t agree.
“Callum leads by example in terms of how he plays and the standards he sets in training. It’s no surprise to me he is reporting back so – and he’ll give everyone a lift when he walks back in the door.”
McGregor a natural role for Celtic captain under Postecoglou
Fotheringham is right that McGregor would be a natural choice for Postecoglou in his search for the next Celtic captain. His dedication to pushing his body to its limits for club and country is highly admirable for the other players.
Postecoglou would struggle to find another option as reliable in leading by example at Celtic than McGregor. He has typified the cliché of playing for the name on the front of the shirt, not the back. His high standards on the pitch are also a marker for teammates to match.
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