M | Player Pictures | A-Z of Players | First Team Squad

Personal

Fullname: Stephen McManus
aka: Mick
Height: 6.02
Weight: 13.0
Born: 10 Sep 1982
Birthplace: Lanark, Scotland
Position: Defender
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 18 (To May 2009)
International Goals: 1
Signed: 1 July 2003
Squad No.: 44

KDS Honours
MOTM Winners 2006-07
05-May-07	Rangers 2 v 0 Celtic	SPL
MOTM Winners 2007-08
03-Oct-07	Celtic 2 v 1 AC Milan	Champions League

Biog

Stephen “Mick” McManus (born 10/09/1982 in Lanark, Scotland) is a product of Celtic’s Youth Academy and current club captain. His preferred position is centre back, though he often deputised at left back in his early career.

The no-nonsense defender made his debut under Martin O’Neill on 21/03/04 in the 4-0 demolition of Hibernian at Easter Road. He went on to make a further 4 appearances that season, primarily at left back, as Celtic romped to the title.

The following season saw McManus score his first goal for the club in the 8-1 defeat of Falkirk in the CIS Cup, and also saw him make his Champions League debut in the disappointing 3-0 defeat away to Shaktar Donetsk. However a knee injury sustained during a collision with an advertising boards at Almondvale cut short his season, and the defender made only one further appearance under Martin O’Neill.

The 2005/2006 season signalled a dramatic upturn in McManus’ career. Rumoured to be on the verge of joining Livingston on loan, the disastrous performance against Artmedia Bratislava saw the 23 year old McManus pitched into the first team by new manager Gordon Strachan in the season opener at Motherwell. While Celtic drew 4-4, McManus retained his place and as the season wore on began to forge a formidable partnership with Bobo Balde. The rugged defender also proved to be a potent attacking force as he notched up an impressive tally of 8 goals for the season, including two last gasp goals to give Celtic a 3-2 win against title rivals Hearts at Tynecastle. By the end of the campaign McManus had collected his first senior medals, as Celtic eased to a league and CIS Cup double.

The absence of Neil Lennon through suspension on the opening day of the 2006/2007 season saw McManus captain the team in the match against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park. The 2007/2008 season saw McManus mature as a player and establish himself as first choice centre back for club and country. A number of solid performances in the Champions League enhanced the defender’s reputation as Celtic reached the last 16 of the competition, taking eventual winners AC Milan to extra time before succumbing to a strike by then 'World Player Of The Year' Kaka.

The departure of Neil Lennon to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2007 left the position of club captain vacant, and on 31st of July 2007 Stephen McManus was officially unveiled as the new captain of Celtic FC. The season began rather inauspiciously with a flat 0-0 draw at home to Kilmarnock. Things soon picked up however with McManus seeing his troops through a tricky Champions League qualifier against Spartak Moscow and scoring his first Scotland goal in the 3-1 win against Lithuania at Hampden Park.

A number injuries to key players saw Celtic’s form dip dramatically, and come Christmas time the players and manager found themselves under serious pressure as Rangers pulled away at the top of the league. However the club’s trials were put into perspective on the 29th of December 2007 as ex-Celt Phil O’Donnell, Motherwell captain and close family friend of McManus, died on the pitch at Fir Park. Sadly this was not to be the only tragedy to befall the club during the 2007/2008 season.

The team’s erratic form saw Rangers pull further ahead in the title race, with a number of humiliating home defeats in the League and Cups seeing McManus’ leadership abilities being called into question. On the 13/04/08 McManus led his team out at Motherwell with the knowledge that anything less than a win would see their slim title hopes dead and buried. The team responded, with McManus scoring the opening goal in a 4-1 win. A further 4 wins, including two memorable home wins against league leaders Rangers, saw Celtic rise from the ashes to top the league. However on the 15th of May 2008, a week before the title decider, Celtic first team coach Tommy Burns died of skin cancer. His death rocked the club, with a number of ex-youth team players, including McManus, particularly shaken. Despite the great sadness that enveloped the club, the team went on to claim the title the following week away to Dundee United, with McManus dedicating the victory to the memory of Tommy Burns.

Season 2008/09 would see McManus lift the League Cup but his individual performances were increasingly put under the micro-scope as the Bhoys struggled to find their form and leaked several costly goals from basic set-piece plays. Many fans began to question once more the leadership qualities of the player. Indeed some questioned if handing such a responsibility to a relative youngster had actually hampered his own progression as a player. While always whole-hearted it was true McManus had not developed in the manner many had hoped. Celtic would surrended the title to Rangers and Mick's role in the team as well as that as skipper was now seriously questioned.

The arrival of new Parkhead boss Tony Mowbrary in June 2009 saw further fuel added to the debate when the manager said he would be reviewing the captaincy issue. With McManus missing out on pre-season games it looked likly that the 2009/10 campaign would be a make or break season for his Parkhead career.

So far it has certainly been a disappointing campaign for McManus who has sadly once more failed to convince when given the opportunity. Glenn Loovens and Gary Caldwell - Stephen's rivals for a starting berth - have also struggled for form. Yet it is the Caldwell and Loovens partnership which is now the preferred Celtic centre-back pairing. Following this situation in season 2009-10, manager Tony Mowbray has loaned McManus out for 6months at £500k cost to Middlesborough (managed by ex-Celtic manager Gordon Strachan). This is either a case of being a taster to get him a full move or more simply to help him get his confidence back.

Pictures

• Player pictures
  

Quotes

"I'm proud to follow in the footsteps of so many great Celtic captains from the past and I hope that I will be able to achieve as much success as they have over the years," he said. McManus' decision to commit himself to Celtic long-term may have swung the captaincy his way. "I've come through the ranks here at the club and am proud to have played a part in the success we've had these past few seasons," he said about his contract extension. "Hopefully that will continue in the years to come, both in Scotland and in European competition as well."
McManus on becoming captain (Aug 07)


"It will be no bother to the Lanarkshire lads like myself,” McManus said. “I grew up playing on a red ash pitch at Blantyre Sports Centre, picking things out of burn marks on my legs after games, so plastic is easy."
McManus on playing on artificial pitch in Moscow v Spartak Moscow in Champs Lge Qualifier. (Aug 07)