Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has revealed he believes that one former Hoops boss was tough to deal with and even labeled him ‘weird.’
Sutton featured under two managers at Celtic, with Martin O’Neill signing Sutton in July 2000 before leaving in May 2005 to look after his wife. Gordon Strachan then took over at the Hoops. However, Sutton and Strachan’s relationship wasn’t straightforward, to say the least.
Gorden Strachan is announced as the new manager of Celtic with Celtic’s chief executive Peter Lawwell
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Making just 10 appearances in the first six months of Strachan’s time at Celtic, Sutton departed in January 2006 after negotiations between the Englishman and the former Celtic boss over a new deal ultimately being unsuccessful. Sutton left to join Birmingham City.
It is a time at Celtic that Sutton does not forget; however, he has since become more forgiving, particularly towards Strachan, over the situation.
Sutton said: (BBC’s Monday Night Club), “I thought he was odd, a little bit weird. He turned me over a contract situation, and that’s basically it, really.
“We didn’t see eye to eye, so I ended up leaving. We get on now.
“Gordon did well at Celtic. He did. I have to say that. I wasn’t with him long enough to know that he was a good coach, but he did very well at Celtic.”
Ultimately, Sutton’s time at Celtic came to an end in a rather surprising way, with Strachan not as fond of the Englishman as O’Neill was. However, Strachan’s spell at Celtic was very successful, and it’s clear to see that Sutton is not going to criticise someone who put Celtic before him.
Given his fondness for the Hoops, it’s a mature and respectful way for the Englishman to look back at things, 19 years later.
