'joe' aims to make his mark

Gregor Kyle
JEAN-JOEL Perrier-Doumbe is the first to admit that it would have been a ‘bizzarre’ way for his Celtic career to end.

A Scottish Cup final-winning goal in the 85th minute of the game, instant adulation from the thousands of Celtic supporters at Hampden and then a quiet departure from the club without even having the chance to say goodbye.

It would have been a scenario reminiscent of that of the former Carlisle goalkeeper Jimmy Glass, who scored the 89th-minute goal that kept the club in the football league while on loan at United in 1999, but was never given a permanent deal.

But thankfully for the man nicknamed ‘Joe’, his remarkable story will continue following a phone call from Gordon Strachan in the summer.

“It would have been a bizarre way for my time to end at Celtic,” said Perrier-Doumbe in an exclusive Celtic View interview.

“To have got into the team late in the season and scored the winning goal in the cup final and then, for it to have just ended there, it would have been really strange.


“I always wanted to come back here,” he added, “and right throughout the whole summer I was hoping that the move would come through.

“But these things are always complicated and they can take time. But I always wanted to come back here.

“I spoke to the manager a couple of times on the phone and he re-assured me and eventually the move was completed.

“I am very happy to be here now, it gives me a lot of pleasure.”

Read the full and exclusive interview with Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe ONLY in this week's Celtic View. On sale from Wednesday, September 12.

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