Former Celtic star Alan Stubbs believes Scott Brown was the perfect modern player as he gets set to hang up his boots.
Record Sport broke the story that the Aberdeen skipper is on the verge of calling time on his trophy-laden playing career by exiting the Granite City.
Brown's close friend Stephen Glass was axed as boss last month and the 36-year-old was told by Jim Goodwin that his coaching role would be reduced under his stewardship.
But it was his incredible 14-year stay in Glasgow's east end that he will be most fondly remembered by as he spearheaded a dominant era at Parkhead.
Stubbs has nothing but high praise for the man who played a starring role in Scottish football during the 21st century.
And the former Hibs boss reckons those who came a cropper in terms of mental warfare only have themselves to blame when coming out second best.
Speaking on the Record Celtic podcast, he said: "He (Brown) played at a real high standard for so many years and, to sustain that at a club the size of Celtic, and how he was off the pitch, he was a leader in every sense of the word.
"He's adored as a Celtic player and he'd be welcome with open arms if he wanted to go back in a coaching role, whatever capacity that would be.
"I think there's going to be a lot of options for him, whatever Scott decides to do and I think initially he may just take a bit of time to look back on what he's done, what he's achieved.
"We know he wants to go into coaching and management, but I think it's important to be clear when you go into that, because it does take a huge commitment but he's been a fantastic player.
"He will be - and rightfully so - remembered among some of the great players to play for Celtic.
"There's more than one way to win individual battles on a pitch and Scott could do that in virtually every way.
"Whether it was through his own ability, getting in someone's head, getting in someone's face, there's so many different facets to getting one over on your opposite number and Scott was a master at that.
"There's an art to it. He's certainly backed up his confidence on the pitch. He had personality, he was exuberant, he was intimidating, and it's not very often you get all that in a mix in a modern-day footballer. He rubbed people up the wrong way but, again, that's you winning. And opposition players will call him annoying and whatever but more fool them for letting him annoy them.
"I have nothing but admiration for him. He's a great guy off the pitch, I've been in his company on numerous occasions."
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