Guinea international defender Mo Camera was Gordon Strachan’s first signing as Celtic manager on June 21st 2005.

The former Le Havre and Wolves man was brought to Parkhead from Burnley in the hope that he would prove to be the answer to the Bhoys’ ongoing problem with finding a quality left-back.

Although officially a Strachan signing Camera had been strongly linked to the Hoops under Martin O’Neill and it is believed that it was the Irishman who instigated the first moves to bring the player to Celtic Park.

The signing of Camera was initially met with indifference and bemusement from the Celtic support who were not convinced that the 30-year-old journeyman had the qualities needed to improve the team. That bemusement quickly transformed into anger as Camera’s early showings in the Hoops confirmed the fans’ worst fears.

The full back was woeful in the humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of Artmedia Bratislava in the Champions League qualifier – his debut - and although his performances would improve slightly he too often looked out of his depth.

There was no doubting Camera’s work-rate and energy but far too frequently his touch and distribution was poor and his positional sense even worse still. Just six months into his two-year contract Camera, who had been heavily criticised by the support, was out of the first team picture – Strachan preferring to play winger Ross Wallace in the left-back berth.

It was no surprise then that come August 2006 Camera was allowed to move on when he joined Derby County on a free transfer.


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From Not The View - So Farewell Then...

So farewell then Mo Camara
Celtic's worst ever left back? That would make you worse than Brian Whittaker but you were.

Hosanna, joy, rapture; we are finally rid of the hapless Mo Camara, as poor a left back as we've seen in that blighted position in recent years. It's not usual form in this column to give a departing player a bit of a kicking - even Magnus Hedman got off lightly - so we'll tone it down a bit, but with the best will in the world this guy should never have been allowed anywhere near a Celtic squad.

Signed by Gordon Strachan last year (although the deal was apparently instigated by Martin O'Neill) Camara went straight into the first team for the Champions League qualifying tie in Bratislava. A legend was born. Mark opponents, tackle, read the offside line, cross the ball: a few of the attributes of a competent defender that were seemingly beyond Mo's capabilities

In his first league home game against Dundee United he overlapped down the wing and ran the ball straight out of play twice in the first half. We literally hadn't seen anything like it for years. Defensively he was a calling card to the opposition to come and have a go down his flank; marking was a task carried out at about four yards distance in Mo's coaching manual while tackling is only something that correctly positioned defenders have to worry about, so there was no need for Mo to worry about that.

His sympathisers pointed to his debut at Ibrox as evidence that he wasn't completely useless and while none of their goals came through him the idea that he had coped admirably didn't hold up to any kind of examination - he was still more of a liability than an asset.

The fact that he was part of a Celtic team that locked Rangers out twice is hugely amusing. The fact that he now has an SPL medal on his wall is kind of depressing. He never scored for Celtic and never even came close. He set up a few goals, but will sadly be remembered, if at all, more for breaking down many a promising Celtic move.

My heart felt thanks to Derby for taking him. (NTV)

Added note
In fairness to Mo Camara, in his first game for Celtic, a friendly v Fulham away, he stood out very well and played a great game and many went away from the game thinking we'd got a bargain. Sadly the thumping game in the Champions League knocked out any confidence many supporters may have had for him, and a chance to redeem himself never really came along (or was likely to win over anyone in any case). The left-back positions has been a bug-bear for Celtic for many a year now. Regardless, I hope him all the best, and he never left giving grievance stories to the papers and all that, so additional resepct to him.

All Clubs

1996 Troyes Loan
1997-1998 Le Havre Unknown fee
1998-1999 Lille Unknown fee
1999-2000 Le Havre Unknown fee
2000 Lille Loan
2000-2003 Wolves £100k [BBC]
2003-2005 Burnley Free [BBC]
2005-2007 Celtic Free [BBC]
2006-2007 Derby Free