The transition from Premiership playmaker to punter has been seamless for Gary Harkins.
As a self-confessed Celtic fan, the former Dundee and Kilmarnock midfielder admits retirement has allowed him to reconnect with his boyhood heroes. It also allowed Record Sport to get a supporter's eye view from the maverick ahead of Sunday's Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final. There were words of caution as well as compliments for Ange Postecoglou and his players from the 38-year who was part of the Killie side which beat the Hoops in the 2012 League Cup Final, the last time Celtic lost a final at the national stadium. But as Rangers attempt to bring a halt to the Australian's bid for a treble, Harkins believes they are a huge outside bet against a Celtic side he rates as the best in a generation.
He said: "Celtic are far and away the best side in the country, it's also the best Celtic team I have either played against or watched as a fan. I'm not saying there has not been some fantastic players at the club and some quality teams over the last three decades but it's the style of play which sets this current team apart. When they are on their game they are brilliant to watch. Clubs struggle to play against them as they press the opposition so quickly. Then when they have the ball they move it too quickly for teams to cope with. I don't remember watching a more exciting Celtic team to watch and since Ange came in as manager, I've been delighted with them.
"I didn't get to play against Martin O'Neill's Celtic side but I watched the games as a fan. They were a very good side and were hard to beat and there were obviously special players within that. But when I look at Ange's team they are the complete package.
"I look back at the Champions League game against Real Madrid at Parkhead earlier this season and for sixty minutes they were superb, I've never seen any Celtic side play as well as that in Europe. I don't think Ange will leave this summer as he still has European ambitions and then I think he'll be the next Manchester City manager. That's how good he is."
Harkins also outlines his belief that the gulf between the Champions elect and Michael Beale's side is so large that not one Ibrox player would get honourable mentions in a combined Old Firm XI.
He said: "I just don't rate the Rangers squad, it's very average and when I read Beale saying he needs to add four or five players next season I was stunned. He clearly thinks more of his current squad than I do. I honestly couldn't name a single Rangers player who would get near the Celtic team. Where would you fit any of them in? That doesn't mean they have no chance on Sunday. When I was part of Kilmarnock's League Cup win over Celtic it was proof of what can be achieved as the underdog. We needed luck and Cammy Bell was unreal in goal that day.
"So if Celtic don't produce as they can then Rangers could well go through but if Celtic play as they can then I can only see one winner. "
The 38-year-old has picked his preferred Celtic XI for this weekend's clash and he believes courage is at the core of a side which also combines class without a soft centre.
He said: "There's a bravery in possession in the current team which stands out. I remember Brendan Rodgers would go to places like PSG and try to play but they were so wide open when they lost possession they were picked off.
"That's a huge difference from this team, all of the players are so comfortable on the ball and they look to play forward without having that same vulnerability.
"Wee Greg Taylor moves into midfield from the fullback position and that suits him perfectly as he's a brilliant footballer.
"It suits him far better than the previous role where he found himself isolated on the wing and being asked to beat players which isn't his game. Now he can get on the ball and make passes.
"Callium McGregor's also key in that midfielder and in my opinion is the best player in the country just ahead of Reo Hatate who has been brilliant. Those two and Aaron Mooy are the three who'll start in midfield on Sunday as I think Hatate will be fit.
"There's also Matt O'Riley who I love and he's a quality back-up which underlines a strength and depth which Rangers can only dream about.
"Hatate offers so much more going forward and there's not the same attacking drive when it's O'Riley with Mooy."
The quality of Celtic's attack also came under the Harkins microscope and he insists it's overflowing with talents which bring graft to the side as well as goals.
He said: "Jota does everything you'd want a winger to do. He's brave, he works hard and he will create. The one issue is that he needs to add more goals to his game. He's a huge talent and the same can be said for Liel Abada.
"Abada's statistics are ridiculous and he is still raw but if you look at his numbers and compare them to other wingers then he blows them away. I look at Ryan Kent who has ability and looks good at the halfway line and he'll go past a few players but what are you actually getting at the end of it? Very little.
"Then there's Kyogo and DaIzen Maeda up top, what team wouldn't love two guys who have such terrific work-rate and movement. They are why I can't see past a Celtic win this weekend."
