Jackie McNamara - A Local Hero

Jackie began his senior career at East End Park with Dunfermline. Having signed from Gairdoch United on 17th September 1991, he made 64 appearances, scoring 4 goals. He also broke into the Scotland Under 21 side.

He signed for Celtic on 3rd October 1995 for a fee of £600,000, and quickly became an integral part of Tommy Burns side, playing on the right side of midfield in a very attacking team. He eventually tasted success at Celtic Park when Wim Jansen arrived to win the League Cup and to stop Rangers reaching ten, then had to suffer the debacle that was the Dream Team. Having been in and out of the side during Martin O'Neill's reign due somewhat to injury, he now finds himself a regular again in a defensive role, often playing on the left of a three man defence. Regardless, he continues to play at a level deserving of the 20 odd international caps he currently has, a figure which would surely have been higher were it not for the strange tendency of Wee Craigie Broon to constantly overlook him whilst picking players clearly inferior. Now captain and longest serving player at Celtic Park, he has won the Young Player of the Year and last season added the Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year after a fantastic campaign, culminating in him lifting the Scottish Cup to complete the double. Not to mention the honourable distinction of playing in a European Final.

There have been many memorable performances, and a few goals too. A masterful lob over Jim Leighton to finish off a wonderful move at Easter Road and a rasper into the top corner against his old club Dunfermline at Parkhead are probably my favourites. Then there's the opening goal of this season against Motherwell. He just doesn't score bad ones! Not forgetting, of course, the opening goal in the 2001 Cup Final to clinch the Treble. Given his current role within the team, the goals in future may be few and far between, but have no doubt there will be a few more great performances by Jackie in a Celtic jersey for us to enjoy.

Jackie scoring in the Scottish Cup Final against Hibs in May 2001 to complete the Treble