Giorgos Giakoumakis reckons he handled the responsibility of carrying the lofty number seven shirt at Celtic well - but the MLS proved too much of a challenge to turn down.
The striker had contract talks with the Premiership champions break down last year and Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan were thought to be in pole position to sign him up. Sampdoria of Serie A were also in the mix but Atlanta United came in to sign the Greek international officially this month, and he'll be their replacement for Josef Martinez, who has left the Mercedes Benz stadium for Inter Miami.
Henrik Larsson is regarded as the King of Kings at Parkhead and manager Ange Postecoglou handed down the number seven shirt he wore to Giakoumakis, something which the 28-year-old was happy to handle. Now replacing a hero at another club, it's the kind of pressure he relishes, and a more competition across his new league is something he believes will help him find the net more often.
When speaking of the great Swede at his Atlanta United unveiling, the forward explained: "He’s the legend of the legends. So I respect it, but at the same time I wanted that pressure, that motivation.
"And I think I did well. I think this league [MLS] is a bit more competitive, they all try to play.
"So I think I will find even more space. Of course I feel pressure and I’m happy that I feel pressure, If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have a big motivation.
"I like pressure, I work under pressure all the time. I'm hungry for goals, I think that's my fuel."
