Celtic are no strangers to talented players, and plenty of exciting stars have played their part in helping the club establish itself as Scotland’s dominant force over the years.
In the 21st century, the Bhoys have won 19 Scottish Premiership titles, 12 Scottish Cups, and 12 Scottish League Cups, otherwise known as the Premier Sports Cup for commercial purposes.
Brendan Rodgers is the man responsible for the Hoops’ recent triumphs. However, the likes of Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan, Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou all take their place in the club’s trophy-laden history, with plenty of special players spearheading the hunt for silverware in Glasgow’s east end.
However, some stars don’t get the credit they deserve, pitted against others, even if their unique ability has drawn comparisons to some of the world’s best.
Paddy McCourt's Celtic ability led to claims he was better than Cristiano Ronaldo
Anyone connected with Celtic will attest to the fact that Paddy McCourt, who spent five seasons at the club before leaving at the end of his contract in 2013, is someone who possessed a unique ability to evade his marker at will.
Nicknamed the ‘Derry Pele’ due to his mesmeric dribbling ability, the winger made 88 appearances during his time at the club, registering ten goals and nine assists.
Despite McCourt attracting interest from Liverpool during the early portion of his Celtic career, it may come as a surprise to hear that the two-time Scottish Premiership winner only made 20 starts over five years at the Parkhead club.
One man who knew all too well about his talents was former Northern Ireland defender Lee McEvilly, who was a teammate of the former Hoops man while at Rochdale.
Speaking to the Football Historian podcast, he admitted his father claimed McCourt had more ability than Cristiano Ronaldo while the Portuguese star was in his pomp at Manchester United.
“He used to get called the ‘Derry Pele’. Honest to God, my dad turned round and said, he had more ability than Ronaldo when he was at Man United. When the balls would come out (in pre-season), wow. He would send you dizzy. He was a magician.”
Paddy McCourt's honest admission regarding his career
McCourt’s time at Celtic was definitely the height of his career, though some may wonder why a player with such natural flair didn’t end up in one of the world’s elite leagues.
Answering that question, the former Northern Ireland international admitted in an interview back in 2022 with Planet Football that the modern game and its growing demand for high-intensity running and raised fitness levels ultimately worked to his detriment.
He explained: “Certainly in the later years, football became a lot more structured, a lot more tactical and a lot more physical in terms of distances covered and high-intensity running. That type of stuff was never my strong point. I was never blessed physically in that sense.”
McCourt, who left Celtic for free in 2013, could glide past defenders like they weren’t there and became a cult hero at Celtic, earning adulation from supporters due to his entertaining style of play.
With the modern game headed in a structural direction where individuality is contained at times, the ‘Derry Pele’ is a shining example to young wingers who are looking to harness their dribbling skills.
