Ramon Vega admits he thought Martin O'Neill had made a mistake when he handed him his first start for Celtic. The former defender says he never looked back after being shown the boss' trust, and still loves the club to this day.
Vega was drafted in on loan from Tottenham in December 2000 amid an injury crisis at Parkhead. He was returning from a long-term injury of his own and didn't expect to be thrown in at the deep end.
A Surprise Start Against Aberdeen
The former Switzerland international, now a candidate for FIFA presidency, was thrown straight into the starting lineup just hours after arriving. That proved to be a masterstroke – he scored twice in a 6-0 annihilation of Aberdeen and went on to become a key part of the Treble-winning side that ended Rangers' dominance.
While he was only there for around six months, he admits the club left an indelible mark on him.
Vega Recalls His Celtic Arrival
Vega told Seven, powered by Ladbrokes, "I spent the best part of a year out injured, and when I came back, I was told Martin O'Neill was calling for me to sign for Celtic. To be completely honest, I hadn't ever thought of going up to Scotland to play… I had no idea what kind of experience it was going to be, but from the first day I arrived in Glasgow – while I couldn't understand a single word anyone was saying – the fans were unbelievable. It's one of the biggest clubs in the world, for me."
"It's funny, I can remember on Thursday night, I flew to Glasgow, signed all of the papers on Friday so I was able to be a part of the squad for the game against Aberdeen on Saturday. Obviously, because of the quick turnaround, I never thought I was going to play. I hadn't trained; I barely knew the players! Aside from Henrik Larsson and some of the names who had played in the Premier League, I didn't know anyone. I'd never even met them."
Confronting O'Neill in the Dressing Room
"I was preparing myself for the following week, where I'd start to settle into the club. Anyway, we get to the hotel for lunch, and do all of the things we'd normally do to prepare for the game. I'm sat down in the dressing room, not thinking much about anything, then I look at the team on the table, and I see my name. So I go and talk to Martin… 'Is there a mistake here, or are you for real? Am I going to start the game?'"
"He said: 'Yes? That's the reason why I bought you; we need you to play straight away!' So within a minute, I'd gone from not expecting to play, to being out there at Celtic Park, in front of 60,000 people, against Aberdeen. I was so nervous, because I'd never played up there. The atmosphere, even in the warm-up, was unbelievable, as was the reception I got."
A Dream Debut and Lasting Legacy
"We won 6-0 and I scored two goals! I couldn't really have wished for a better start to be honest!"
"I had a great relationship with the fans, I have to say they were wonderful to me. And of course, winning the Treble, and breaking Rangers' domination in the league as well… it was an unbelievable experience. Even if I go back to Glasgow now, they welcome me. I love that football club."
