Scott Brown has opened up on his 'worst f****** nightmare' in football as he revealed it embarrassed him when his Celtic team-mates did it.
The legendary Hoops skipper has now adopted a different role in the game as he bid to land success at Fleetwood Town. He's already created history in his new position by guiding the Cod Army to the FA Cup fifth round for the first-time in their history. Vincent Kompany and his Burnley high-flyers are next up tonight while an extended unbeaten run in League One has staved off any fears of relegation with a healthy cushion now intact.
During his playing days, the former Celtic star set the standard both off and on the pitch for his side and was very successful with an incredible trophy haul before leaving for Aberdeen to take on a player/coach role. He played at the highest level and came up against the best in the world in the shape of Lionel Messi and Co - but he was never one for mementos from the big occasion with shirt swapping something that never bothered him.
READ MORE: Micah Richards hails Celtic recruitment as he reveals 'bad thing' about Ange Postecoglou transfers
But Brown admits taking a hammering and watching his team-mates not worry about the result but wanting these guys shirts was something he could never get his head round. He told The Telegraph : "I never really bothered (with shirt-swapping). I always thought ‘what would people think if I was seen swapping shirts with someone and they had got the better of me?’ If they asked me it was ok but I never ran and asked them.
“I would never run to Messi and say ‘can I have your shirt please’. That’s embarrassing. I have seen it. I have been walking up the stairs and we are 4-0 down (at Celtic) to Barcelona and our lads are not worrying about the result but want to swap shirts with Messi, Busquets, Xavi and I am thinking ‘that’s my worst f****** nightmare’. I could never get my head around it: ‘you are embarrassing us out there but you want their shirt?’ That’s not for me.”
Since moving into the dugout, Brown has ditched his skin-head look for a full head of hair. He has revealed he was out to 'intimidate' people more than anything else with his iconic look and always embraced the 'pantomime villain' role during his time in Glasgow.
He continued: “It was more to intimidate people than anything. I shaved my head before every game and it was to look a bit harder, to look more aggressive, to show that I meant business.
“I would always try and pick on the bigger guy; never the small guy. I wanted to punch above my weight. I wanted to play Champions League. I wanted to play against Barcelona, Bayern Munich. And I loved it. I loved playing against the best players in the world and I did it quite a lot and I thrived off it.
"You could be anyone you wanted for 90 minutes. As soon as I crossed the line I became a different person. I was quite chilled and relaxed away from the pitch. On it, I was a pantomime villain. I could become a bit of an a***hole on the park.
“If I felt we were struggling in games I would try and set the tone with a tackle. I would smash someone or try and play a good pass or win a header: ‘right, come on lads, let’s go!'"
READ NEXT:
- Rangers and Celtic 'biggest disparity' highlighted by Andy Halliday as he makes windows claim
- Micah Richards hails Celtic recruitment as he reveals 'bad thing' about Ange Postecoglou transfers
- Sead Haksabanovic in Celtic 'born for this' admission as he makes Rangers chances vow
- Kyogo Furuhashi EPL suitors told Celtic would need 'big money' as pundit namechecks two clubs
- Celtic hero Scott Brown on Pep Guardiola 'aura' Vincent Kompany has ahead of historic FA Cup tie
