I was just excited
to play, and I
wanted to put in a
good performance
for the team.
But individually
I also wanted to
say 'Here I am'
motivation for me, Obviously Ajax
were Feyenoord's rivals, but when I left
Holland people were saying it was a
waste of talent going to a club like Celtic.
But also at the time, Leo Benhaukker
was the technical director at Ajax,
The two of us go way back because
he wanted me to sign for Ajax when
I was younger, and I did actually sign
the papers as an amateur when I was
15-years-old, but then Feyenoord came
in and offered me a professional contract
so I decided to stay there, He was a bit
disappointed but that's football, and I
knew at some stage our paths would
cross again - and that's what happened
on that day, With our history it gave me
extra motivation to prove myself on the
park,
And it only took you six minutes to
make an impression.
I was just excited to play, and I wanted to
put in a good performance for the team.
But individually I also wanted to say
'Here I am,' because the Dutch national
manager was watching - it was just a
massive game. But first and foremost it
was just great to be there with the team,
I had a hamstring problem leading up to
that game so just to play meant a lot to
me. I was desperate to play on that park
and in front of friends and family who B
the park who could do the job that was
required and there was a great work
ethic, We had a very good team and we
were delighted to get going and reach
the UEFA Champions League for the first
time, We were really excited to play in
the qualifier against Ajax,
What difference did Martin O'Neill
make to confidence in the squad?
Well that's just it, he made people
confident. It was his job to motivate the
players, he wasn't the type to have long
team meetings, never at all, it was five
minutes max and that was it, But he
made you believe you could do anything
and that's a great skill to have as a
manager.
And he had such a strong squad in
that era didn't he?
It was a very strong Celtic team. Almost
every player was an international player,
so there was experience and quality
there. Martin O'Neill and his coaches got
the best out of the players and it was a
great time to be at Celtic, it was a great
era.
Had you played in the Amsterdam
ArenA before that night?
No, I left before that, but going back
to Holland in general was a personal
Celtic v Ajax 59
