artur: what i love about celtic

David Friel
THE Celtic supporters love Artur Boruc and it’s clear that the feeling is reciprocated. The Polish goalkeeper is a favourite with the fans and he clearly enjoys playing for the club.

Since joining from Legia Warsaw back in 2005, Artur has proved to be a world-class goalkeeper and one of the best ever to have played for the club.

He has helped the club to great success both in Scotland and in Europe, with some memorable saves along the way and even one goal in a dramatic penalty shoot-out!

Ahead of last Sunday night’s special celebration in his honour, Artur spoke of his last four years at a very unique club.

SUPPORTERS
How can I sum the Celtic supporters up in a few words? That’s impossible. I remember when I first signed for the club, I said in an interview before I’d played that it would be great to put 60,000 Legia Warsaw supporters inside Celtic Park. At that point, I didn’t realise what it’s all about to be a Celtic supporter. I didn’t realise that supporting Celtic is a way of life for so many. Celtic is truly what they live for and that’s unbelievable. It’s hard to say just how much I appreciate the backing of the supporters. It’s a privilege to play in front of them and I love it when they sing songs about me. Everywhere we go, the supporters are there. It doesn’t matter how far we travel, they always make the trip. They always back the team and it means so much.

STADIUM
My first impression of Celtic Park came in a strange game. We were playing the second leg of our qualifier against Artmedia Bratislava and we had lost 5-0 in the first leg. That was my debut and it was an unbelievable experience. When we scored the fourth goal that night, the atmosphere was electric and I’ll never forget that. Since then, I have played at Celtic Park for nearly five years and it’s become like a second home for me. I am so used to going out on to the pitch and playing in front of the fans. I feel so comfortable there. I never feel worried when I play at Celtic Park.

EUROPEAN NIGHTS
If we’re still talking about the supporters, then European nights are just unbelievable. I mean unbelievable – it is something different. If you’re talking about results and games, then there have been a few memorable occasions. The Manchester United match when I saved the penalty was good, but the Spartak Moscow penalty shoot-out was probably better. Why? I don’t know, but there is a rivalry and history between Poland and Russia, and it was a good night for the supporters. I try not to look at the past too much though, because I want to stay focused on the future and hopefully there are more special European nights to come.

TROPHIES
I have won a few trophies for Celtic now and I think winning the Co-operative Insurance League Cup last season was one of the best. We were playing Rangers and I don’t know if there’s a better feeling than beating them in the final and getting to lift a trophy after it. All the trophies mean a lot to me though. Winning the League Cup in 2006 was special because it was my first trophy and all the SPL titles have been good too. When I came here, I was desperate to win the league and the cups and it’s a great feeling to manage it. That’s why you play for Celtic – to be successful and be the best side in Scotland.

THE CLUB
I feel proud to have represented Celtic for so many years. Some people don’t realise just how big a club it is and how much it means to people. Joining Celtic has had a massive impact on my own life as well. It has changed my life in so many ways. A lot has happened in the last five years and I will always have a strong connection with the club. Celtic is now a part of me. I look upon myself as a Celtic supporter. Before I signed, I thought Legia was the only club in the world for me, but coming to Celtic has changed all that. The people who know me back home in Poland can’t believe the way I feel about Celtic. It’s even had an impact on all of my friends – they look for the Celtic score every week. Celtic mean a lot to me and I look forward to coming back to watch the team when I am old man. I will travel to an away game, have a few drinks with the fans and then cheer on the team in the stands. I would love that. It would be really nice.

Read more about the Evening with Artur Boruc, including tributes from the other members of the Celtic Goalkeepers' Club, only in this week's Celtic View. On sale from Wednesday, November 25.