They say the shirt doesn’t shrink to fit inferior players.
But perhaps Jock Stein’s famous old quote can also be applied to Celtic ’s armband.
When Scott Brown called time on his glittering captaincy last summer, many wondered if Callum McGregor had the presence or the size of personality required to fill the gigantic void left behind by this shaven-headed force of nature.
Turns out they need not have worried. The man in the mask was voted Scotland’s player of the year by his peers on Sunday night, hours after leading his team to a draw on derby day - a result that has all but secured the reclamation of Brown’s favourite piece of silverware.
Nine times he claimed it over the course of 10 trophy-laden years.
So no one knows better than Brown how McGregor will feel when the crowning moment finally arrives.
He said: “I know how much it will mean to Cal when he walks out there to lift that trophy. It’s what he’s dreamt of doing since he was a kid.
“I know he’s had his hands on it before but he’s not been up there alone on that podium, lifting it by himself. Trust me, it’s a very special feeling.
“The best thing about it is the lads in that dressing room will be delighted for him and his family because that’s the level of respect he commands throughout the club.”
One more win over Hearts this weekend will unofficially seal the deal for Ange Postecoglou’ s side and fulfil McGregor’s childhood ambition.
A nine-point lead with a huge goal difference advantage means Celtic will not be caught by Rangers.
But while McGregor might still be pinching himself at the thought, Brown saw this moment coming from a long, long way off.
He said: “I honestly never had any doubts.
“Look, football is all about how hard you work in training, how hard you work in the gym and how you look after your body.
“A lot of younger players take all that for granted but Cal had that mindset right from the start.
"He wants to come first at running, he wants to be the quickest over the short-distance sprints, he wants to have the most touches during the game, he wants to cover more ground and run bigger distances than anyone else on the pitch.
“He studies his own stats and he wants to better them all the time.
"When other players see someone like that it makes them strive to improve too and drive their own stats up. It rubs off on everyone.
“That’s what you get when you have good people around your club and you have to keep a hold of them because they are priceless.
"That’s why Cal was always destined to become a successful Celtic captain.”
But the contrast is stark.
While Brown was the spontaneous, larger than life heartbeat of Celtic’s side for a decade, McGregor is more of the thinking man’s captain – quietly composed and considered in almost everything he does.
And Brown saw that from the start too. He said: “What makes him special? He’s a learner, that’s what. When Brendan Rodgers was the manager the wee man used to soak in as much information as he could.
He picked up very meticulous detail on how to play different positions.
“He’s one of these players with so much natural ability that he can play in a variety of roles.
"But he also understands what’s required to play those positions properly.
"I’ve seen him play left wing, No.10, centre mid, left midfield and even left-back which just shows how versatile he is.
"He takes it all in his stride.
“Yes, this season was always going to be a hard one for him but he’s been absolutely flying since the start.
"I watch him and I see a guy who is rallying his troops and that’s what a good captain has to do.
“You have to lead from the front and set an example and that’s what he does every single day.
“There have been times this season when Celtic have been struggling but Callum has been the one demanding the ball and driving them forward.
“That’s exactly what Celtic need as a captain.
"There have been a lot of changes in personnel so they needed a Scottish guy who knows the club and loves the club to bring it all together.
“He’s at the core of it all.
"There have been a lot of changes but he’s been through the whole transformation like an absolute rock.
"There are different ways to be a captain. It’s not always about launching yourself into a tackle or fighting with people.
“Callum does it his way. He shows his intelligence on the park.
"For him, it’s all about his football philosophy and his brain. But he’s got a wee bit of everything.
“He might not be as daft as the last captain but he does have a bit of dig in him, don’t worry about that!
“He can also weigh in with a few goals every season and they are usually big goals at big moments.
"That’s when you realise how important he is to the team.
“But overall it’s all about his workrate, his enthusiasm and his drive. He pulls people with him and that’s what you need in a leader.
“When the team is struggling you want players to look at their captain and see him leading the fight. In the thick of the battle he is always calm and composed and that’s what inspires people when the chips are down.
“There was a lot of weight on his shoulders last summer, with a new manager and a lot of new lads coming to the club.
“But Cal is very welcoming to everybody. He wants a dressing room that’s open to all. Football is changing but Calmac is the type of guy who puts an arm round everyone and gets the best out of them. That’s the way it has to be.
“Different people from other backgrounds are used to their own cultures. It’s no surprise to me that the lads from Japan have all come in and done unbelievably well.
"That’s probably a lot to do with the way they’ve been treated as people by Cal and by the manager.
“It can be hard for foreigners to come in and understand the language, especially broad Scottish accents. But Cal always makes sure he speaks to everyone and that’s what you want in a leader.
“Everyone at the club looks up to him.”
