Jozo Simunvoic doesn't quite know what the future holds just yet - but he is certain he will stay in football whether that is playing or not.
The former Hoops defender is back in Croatia weighing up his next step. He's been without a club this year but has been focusing on university and his coaching badges. He's currently hitting the books to learn all things sports management and has been doing the course for the last two years.
A return to football for the 28-year-old - who spent five years at Celtic - has not been ruled out at this stage, but he is already planning for life after the beautiful game if it is decided that a playing return is a no go. The defender was gutted to leave Parkhead back in 2020 and admits it will always remain a 'special place' in his heart.
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He told the Scottish Sun: “Life is good. I have a one-year old baby now and I am very busy!
“Come the summer I will decide whether to start playing football again or not. We will see how it goes. Right now, I have a lot to be busy with. I’m at university and also doing my badges.
“I am studying sports management. I have been doing that for the last two years and I enjoy it. It’s going OK and I am combining that with my coaching qualifications.
"If I don’t go back to playing, I will stay in football — it’s really all I think about. That could be coaching, agency work or sports management. Let’s see what happens.”
He continued: “I spent five years in Scotland. It was a long time and I have so many happy memories. We played in big games, we won a lot of trophies and I will always see Celtic as a special place.”
Celtic and Rangers go head to head at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final next weekend with a place in the showpiece up for grabs against Falkirk or Inverness. The Hoops won the last meeting at the national stadium in the League Cup Final and have got the better of their Old Firm rivals of late.
The last win came just a couple of weeks ago in a five-goal thriller at Parkhead. Kyogo Furuahshi's double and a Jota strike handed Ange Postecoglou's men a 3-2 win and Simunovic was impressed with what he witnessed from his former club as he cheered them on from afar.
He added: “There is always pressure in that derby and I was impressed with how Celtic handled that.
“They are the best team in Scotland, and they showed why in the big moments with the important goals.
“The atmosphere looked amazing and it was an important game for the team. I was cheering them on — but I always do.”
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