Connelly: 'It's good to be back'
Former Celtic star George Connelly admits a burden has been lifted from his shoulders after supporters forgave him for quitting in his prime.
Connelly made 254 appearance for the Parkhead side in the late 1960s and 1970s and was a member of the Scotland squad which qualified for the 1974 World Cup.
However, the big Fifer walked out on Celtic several times before controversially retiring at the age of 26.
However, Connelly was given a warm reception by the Celtic fans when he was invited onto the pitch at half-time in the Champions League match against AC Milan last month.
Today, launching his book ’Celtic’s Lost Legend’ at Parkhead, the 58-year-old said: “I didn’t know how I was going to get received that night.
“It was a worry to me because I felt people would hold my walk-outs, and the fact that I quit the game when I was only 26, against me.
“But everything worked out fantastically well. I was really pleased with the reception I got. I had a word with chief executive Peter Lawwell and he said to come to Celtic Park any time and not be a stranger.
“I’ve been in touch with my old Celtic team-mate Davie Hay and he asked me to go to games. So I feel as if I’ve been welcomed back into the fold and it makes me feel good.”
Connelly, who was one of the great talents of his generation, is less than enamoured by modern-day football but admits he would not mind the salaries enjoyed by some of the top players in the game.
He said: “We were on £65 per week when I played and I always say that if I was on £25,000 per week they could put boxes of tomatoes around the track and they could throw them at me if I had a bad game.
“That’s the way I see it.”
He explained: “To be honest I don’t like the style of football these days. There is too much square passing and to me that’s Italian style and I never liked that. It would be better to revert back to having attacking wingers.
“But the wingers are not there now, it’s more of a team effort and individualism is out of the game. It’s not my style of football at all."
