‘Heartbreaking, however unimaginable’ – Shaun Maloney on Celtic’s defeat to Porto within the 2003 UEFA Cup Closing

Ask any Celtic fan of a sure classic what probably the most passionate and heartbreaking away day they’ve skilled is they usually may say the 2003 UEFA Cup Closing. 

A reported 80,000 Bhoys followers made their method to Seville for the showdown with Jose Mourinho’s Porto, who claimed the Champions League title only one 12 months later. Celtic scored twice via iconic hitman Henrik Larsson, however a Porto facet that includes future family names akin to Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Maniche sealed a 3-2 victory in extra-time. 

For Shaun Maloney, who had simply damaged into the Celtic staff and who got here on in extra-time, it was an evening to recollect. 

“Scottish soccer was in an amazing place within the early 2000s,” the present Wigan Athletic supervisor tells FourFourTwo. “I bear in mind Henrik Larsson and John Hartson each being injured forward of the UEFA Cup final 16 first leg in opposition to Stuttgart, and I acquired my first huge begin. We gained 3-1 and I scored. 

“We then beat Liverpool en path to the ultimate and ultimately misplaced 3-2 to Jose Mourinho’s Porto – I got here on late within the recreation. I’ve nonetheless by no means watched that remaining once more. We additionally misplaced the league title 4 days later, with Rangers pipping us on aim distinction. It was heartbreaking however, trying again, what an unimaginable season for a teen to expertise.”

Maloney would go on to turn into a mainstay within the Celtic staff, successful 5 league titles and three Scottish Cups. His performances in the course of the 2005-06 season even earned him Scotland’s participant of the 12 months and younger participant of the 12 months gongs. 

“I’d missed a lot of the earlier season via harm, then Gordon Strachan changed Martin O’Neill as boss and was eager to develop extra of the youthful lads,” recollects Maloney. “He modified my function from striker to left-winger and gave me confidence to exit and present what I might do.

“I bear in mind seeing Andy play when he was about 9 and he was already tremendous gifted,” Maloney recollects. “I wasn’t fairly as gifted however I attempted exhausting. I opted for soccer as an alternative and, fortunately, it turned out to be a fairly sensible choice.”

Maloney gained 5 Scottish titles and three Scottish Cups with Celtic, earlier than heading south of the border to win the FA Cup with Wigan. Add 47 Scottish caps to that haul and it is honest to say Maloney made a really smart resolution. 

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