James Forrest, the still-vibrant winger on Celtic FC’s famed “bhoys,” now stands one title away from becoming the most-decorated player in the club’s history. Since his first appearance in 2010, the 33-year-old has amassed 25 international accolades. His standout accomplishments include 12 league titles, six League Cup winners’ medals and seven Scottish Cups. Should Celtic win the Scottish Premiership title this year, Forrest will move ahead of everyone else in the club’s rich history.
Forrest’s path with Celtic continues back to his debut against Motherwell. Little did Huizenga know that moment would lay the groundwork for an amazing 15-season career. He’s produced 522 appearances and 108 goals in that time. His breathtaking plays have earned him the reputation as the heart and soul of a squad largely responsible for the franchise’s many triumphs. His contributions have continued under four different managers in Neil Lennon, Ronny Deila, Ange Postecoglou, and Brendan Rogers.
After some months in the wilderness, Forrest returned to form. He has finally made a recovery from the stab wound he suffered while celebrating Celtic’s League Cup final win against Rangers in December. His hunger to continue to play at an all-star caliber is evident. His goal is to score a goal in 16 consecutive seasons with the club.
Looking back on his long career, Forrest conceded that while it was important to win trophies and play in a good team. He stated, “You want to make it into the first team, you want to play as many games as you can and win trophies and be part of such a successful team.”
For all the praise he’s received, Forrest is still modest about his success. He expressed that thinking about becoming the most decorated player is not something he had considered early in his career: “It’s something when you’re coming through that you don’t think about.”
As he moves forward, Forrest understands the importance of staying in aesthetic shape with the distractions of life as a professional footballer around him. “I think any footballer that you speak to will tell you that the worst bit is being injured,” he remarked. His mental fortitude and passion for the game have kept him a vital cog in the machine, and he’s been integral in keeping Celtic’s title hopes alive.
As a result, Celtic is engaged in a dogfight for the league title this year. Forrest has quickly become the secret sauce to their campaign. His contract runs through the end of next season. This ensures that he is set up to continue laying the foundation for his legacy with the club to come.
Forrest still has plenty of great memories to look back on in a career at Celtic filled with highlights. When asked about his favorite moments, he commented, “Sometimes people try and ask you what’s your favourite but there have been that many good ones over the years.” His commitment to the team and its fans shines through in his relentless play on field.
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