Harry Kewell has praised the Parkhead atmosphere as the Celtic coach reflects on his experience since joining the club.
The former Champions League winner played for clubs including Liverpool and Leeds during his lengthy career on the pitch. And now he has a key role on the sidelines at Celtic alongside fellow Aussie Ange Postecogolou. The 44-year-old took up the position as first team coach with the Hoops in June, enjoying pre season with the club before getting stuck in to both domestic and European adventures so far this season.
And the coach has taken special note of the famous Parkhead atmosphere since arriving, specifically highlighting the cinch Premiership opener when Celtic welcomed Jim Goodwin's Aberdeen side to Glasgow's east end. And with European giants such as Real Madrid the visitors since, Kewell has already got a lot of huge games under his belt during his short spell in the Celtic dug out.
Speaking to the Celtic View, he said: "As a player, I never really noticed the atmosphere. You could hear a noise at the start when you’re walking out but as soon as I went on the park I switched off. The biggest crowd I’ve played in is 120,000 with Australia away to Iran and they were bouncing about but it didn’t affect me.
"To me, it’s a pitch with 11 men, some fans cheer you or boo you, but to me, I went out and would do my job. Now as a coach, I take it in a lot more because I have the chance to sit back and watch. The opening game of the season at home to Aberdeen – I’ve heard You’ll Never Walk Alone every week at Liverpool but that day it was something different, it was awesome. The way the fans timed it and they stopped when the whistle blew, even I was like ‘Wow!' That’s part of the excitement about being here because I’ve played in a lot of derbies and atmospheres but everyone always says this place is different."
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