Blog

Dec 27, 2023

The gruelling journey to Celtic history that saw Alistair Johnston play 73 games in 18 months across FOUR continents

The Canada international hasn't stopped since January 2022 and it's been a

The Canada international hasn't stopped since January 2022 and it's been a whirlwind for the Celtic star.

Get the latest Celtic news sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter

We have more newsletters

It began in Honduras and ended at Hampden taking in Qatar, Canada and every corner of the States in between.

A lung-busting 73-game sequence that started in January 2022 produced World Cup qualification, three appearances at the greatest show on earth itself, a full MLS campaign with Montreal and six months in the east end of Glasgow. Alistair Johnston admits his body has taken a battering from what he dubs an 18-month footballing whirlwind. But after helping Celtic blow away the competition to land a world record eighth Treble in the last few weeks the Canada international is already turning his attention towards cooking up another storm in the Hoops.

Whirlwind might be describing that year and a half mildly. It's been a full-blown tornado for the 24-year-old who still isn't quite finished yet. And if he thought Saturday's Scottish Cup Final was a scorching way to finish the clean sweep then the temperature is only set to soar on his next quest. Later this week Johnston will head back across the Atlantic to prepare for Canada's Nations League semi final against Panama in the searing Nevada heat of Las Vegas.

There’ll be either the final or third place-play off after that. Then and only then will the right back get the chance to rest up properly. For an entire 14 days! It's a footballing epic. But Johnston admits he wouldn't have it any other way after a season he admits was beyond his wildest dreams. He said: "Yes, and it's been a long one too.

"I’ve done a full season in MLS and then going to the World Cup and then coming here it's been a whirlwind. That's the best way to describe it. It's been a long 18 months but it's been really enjoyable.

"My body has definitely started to deteriorate over these past few months but at the same time when you have the opportunity to go for a Treble that helps you push through that pain barrier.

"I’m happy with that and I will get a nice week or so before I’m back into international football! But that's the life. It's been a great start to life at Celtic.

"I’m just going to have to reflect on it. It's been a great year for me personally. I want to enjoy my off-season and get my body ready to go as this is going to be the expectation next year."

Before then it's back to international football and Johnston said: "I’ll get a couple of days off and then we’re right into Nations League. We have a semi-final as we’ve already done our group stage stuff.

"And then hopefully we’ll have the final after that. If not we’ll go into the third place match out in Las Vegas. So I’ll need to get used to the heat as it will be 20 degrees warmer than this and I’ve kind of acclimated to Scottish weather!

"That one on Saturday was cooking for me but 40C would be a bit of a different beast. After that I get a couple of weeks off then come back here for pre-season. That's football these days. It's a quick turnaround but we love it."

So quick there can hardly be any time to sit and reflect on the magnitude of what Johnston and his team mates have just achieved. The fact he's managed to grab a Treble - and a world record one at that - having played only 20 times for Celtic is remarkable in itself. Johnston had never won a single piece of silverware in seven years as a professional before moving to Glasgow. So it's no wonder he refuses to take it for granted.

Johnston said: "I try to do my best to take it in. You can see when we score I really just try to soak it all in because it's not normal, this kind of passion. It's only a select few football clubs that have that kind of atmosphere, especially when you come to a neutral ground like Hampden and there is still so much passion there. I really try to enjoy it but I will need to take a moment to look back on this season, the World Cup and then winning a Treble."

A first taste of silverware for Johnston it may be. But behind him Joe Hart was taking a step into the history books on his own right by joining Kenny Dalglish and Andrei Kanchelskis as the only players to win the full set of major honours on both sides of the border.

The goalkeeper swept up every trophy in England with Manchester City before doing likewise with Celtic. And Johnston said: "That's some feat. And no better guy to have done it. Just a top professional.

"I don't know how old he is but he acts like he's 24! He's a constant livewire who could talk to anyone. Sometimes when you come into a changing room where there's a guy with that resume and presence then often they can put themselves on a bit of a pedestal. But he's not that guy at all.

"He comes down to everyone's level. He doesn't need to do but he does and everyone appreciates that. He makes everyone feel right at home. He's one of those players who's often overlooked by a lot of the English media and fans. I’m really happy for Joe, he deserves it."

READ NEXT