Wayne Rooney put a smile on Celtic supporters' faces this week when he admitted he'd loved to have turned out for the Hoops during his playing days.
Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, the former Manchester United and England internationalist was asked which club he wished he'd played for during his career, to which Rooney replied: "Celtic, I'd say."
In turn, Neville appeared shocked, however Rooney's children have been seen sporting Celtic kits over the years with the former striker himself thought to harbour an enduring fondness for the Parkhead side.
Like Neville, Rooney has played at Celtic Park a few times in the past – twice for Manchester United, and once for England against Scotland – with his most notable appearance (for Celtic fans, at least) being the UEFA Champions League encounter between Celtic and Man Utd in November 2006.
Celtic won 1-0 on the night by way of a breath-taking Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick. Shortly after, goalkeeper Artur Boruc sent the Paradise faithful wild when he stopped a late Louis Saha penalty.
After the match, the legendary forward spoke in praise of the noise generated by the ever-vocal home crowd under the lights during European competition.
Rooney said: "Celtic Park is inspiring and intimidating. It’s a stadium with a particular atmosphere you want to experience as a player."
Rooney joins the likes of world football legends Tony Kroos and Xavi Hernandez in his praise of Paradise, with those players also hailing the atmosphere stirred from the stands of Celtic Park. Kroos said: "I was being asked several times which (away) stadium is my favourite. And there is a new number one, I can tell you, Celtic Park. It has been just crazy! We came out, and the atmosphere was good.
"After the game, everyone applauded. Totally Celtic, of course, but nothing hostile or disrespectful. That was very, very, impressive."
While Xavi said: "The atmosphere generated by the fans in Celtic’s stadium for our visit was the most impressive I’ve ever witnessed."
