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McCarthy, Mick
[Player Pics]
Mick McCarthy signed for Celtic in the summer of 1987.in a £500,000 move from Manchester City.
The Yorkshire-born Irish international was brought to Parkhead by Davie Hay but within days of the signing the Celtic boss was sacked. Fortunatley for McCarthy Hay’s replacement, returning Parkhead legend Billy McNeill, recognised the centre-half’s strength and aggression were qualities desperately required by a notoriously leaky Celtic defence.
McCarthy quickly established a good partnership alongside youngster Derek Whyte in the heart of the Hoops defence. In terms of pure football ability the former Barnsley man had obvious limitations but his commanding presence, aerial ability and fighting spirit meant McCarthy added some much needed steel to the Celtic rearguard.
His contribution to the historic ‘Double’ win of the 1987-88 Centenary Season may have been unspectacular but it was certainly significant as Celtic’s infamous ‘sieve’ defence began to take on a much more solid and dependable appearance.
In the summer of 1988 McCarthy joined fellow Bhoys Pat Bonner and Chris Morris in Germany as part of the Republic of Ireland European Championship squad. He – like Bonner and Morris - was also to star in the Republic’s 1990 World Cup squad which made it to the quarter finals of that tournament in Italy.
In terms of his Celtic career though McCarthy would never repeat the achievements or level of performance of his debut season. In season 1988-89 he did however add a Scottish Cup winners medal to his trophy cabinet after McNeil’s side claimed a 1-0 victory against a treble-chasing Rangers side in the final.
But that cup victory could barely disguise a dramatic decline in Celtic’s performances which saw the sieve return with avengence. The confidence and stability of the previous year had been rapidly and inexplicably drained from a defence which now often looked disorganised and disorientated.
McCarthy was not to blame for this return to the bad old days but despite some solid performances on his part his lack of pace and often poor distribution was now much more regularly exposed.
On his game he was undoubtedly a strong and formidable opponent but while he remained skipper and a defensive lynch-pin of Jack Charlton’s well organised Irish side he looked less impressive in a Hoops defence too often prone to mistakes.
McCarthy eventually left on a free transfer to Lyon in 1990. He will always be remembered as an integral part of that wonderful Centenary season but in truth will never be remembered as a Celtic great.
Mick McCarthy signed for Celtic in the summer of 1987.in a £500,000 move from Manchester City.
The Yorkshire-born Irish international was brought to Parkhead by Davie Hay but within days of the signing the Celtic boss was sacked. Fortunatley for McCarthy Hay’s replacement, returning Parkhead legend Billy McNeill, recognised the centre-half’s strength and aggression were qualities desperately required by a notoriously leaky Celtic defence.
McCarthy quickly established a good partnership alongside youngster Derek Whyte in the heart of the Hoops defence. In terms of pure football ability the former Barnsley man had obvious limitations but his commanding presence, aerial ability and fighting spirit meant McCarthy added some much needed steel to the Celtic rearguard.
His contribution to the historic ‘Double’ win of the 1987-88 Centenary Season may have been unspectacular but it was certainly significant as Celtic’s infamous ‘sieve’ defence began to take on a much more solid and dependable appearance.
In the summer of 1988 McCarthy joined fellow Bhoys Pat Bonner and Chris Morris in Germany as part of the Republic of Ireland European Championship squad. He – like Bonner and Morris - was also to star in the Republic’s 1990 World Cup squad which made it to the quarter finals of that tournament in Italy.
In terms of his Celtic career though McCarthy would never repeat the achievements or level of performance of his debut season. In season 1988-89 he did however add a Scottish Cup winners medal to his trophy cabinet after McNeil’s side claimed a 1-0 victory against a treble-chasing Rangers side in the final.
But that cup victory could barely disguise a dramatic decline in Celtic’s performances which saw the sieve return with avengence. The confidence and stability of the previous year had been rapidly and inexplicably drained from a defence which now often looked disorganised and disorientated.
McCarthy was not to blame for this return to the bad old days but despite some solid performances on his part his lack of pace and often poor distribution was now much more regularly exposed.
On his game he was undoubtedly a strong and formidable opponent but while he remained skipper and a defensive lynch-pin of Jack Charlton’s well organised Irish side he looked less impressive in a Hoops defence too often prone to mistakes.
McCarthy eventually left on a free transfer to Lyon in 1990. He will always be remembered as an integral part of that wonderful Centenary season but in truth will never be remembered as a Celtic great.
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
Latest page update: made by auldbhoy
, May 19 2008, 3:27 PM EDT
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Edited by auldbhoy
4 words added
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- complete history)
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