Brendan Rodgers looked elated as the traveling supporters sang his name at Rugby Park this week following his team’s Scottish Premiership victory over Kilmarnock.
The Irishman later remarked that he feared the supporters had forgotten his name, but he was happy to connect with them when his team defeated Derek McIness’s team 5-0.
James Forrest, a familiar face for Celtic, has been one of the team’s biggest heroes this season after forcing his way back into the starting lineup with a run of excellent performances and goals.
The 32-year-old netted Celtic’s third of the night in Ayrshire, and by winning the league has drawn level with the club’s greatest ever captain Billy McNeill in major honours won.
Forrest, in fact, is now just two medals away from equalling Bobby Lennox as the most decorated Celtic player; three away from being the most decorated of all-time.
Still, the midfielder, now on the cusp of completing his 15th season at the Scottish champions, does not have his own dedicated song – despite the Paradise faithful’s broad repertoire of player-focused anthems.
All of which begs the question: what does Forrest need to do to get a song of his own?
“He needs to beat Billy McNeill’s record!” Rodgers joked. “If he does that, he might get a song.
“No, I’m surprised he doesn’t have one. There are clever guys in the stands who make up the words. He certainly deserves it. What a player, he’s been absolutely magnificent for us.
The Celtic manager then reflected on the character of Forrest, as a player and dressing room figure, from today right back to when the Irishman first took charge of the Parkhead side in 2016.
He added: “Looking back to when I [first] came in and he was maybe on the way out. He was outstanding in that period. He’s maybe not played as much since I came back, with younger guys taking his place.
“You have to give them a chance. But you quickly come to the conclusion he’s our best winger.
“Okay, he may not be able to do some of the things he did six or seven years ago, but there’s a lot he can do and we’ve seen that in this last period.
“He’s been a real catalyst for this team. All the experienced players have been, they’ve really taken the games by the scruff of the neck.”
