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Real name	Stephen McManus
Height	6.02
Weight	13.00
Date of birth	10-09-1982
Place of birth	Lanark
Position	Defender
Nationality	Scotland

Signed on	01-07-2003
Fee	Trainee
Squad number	44

KDS Honours

• 05-May-07 MOTM Rangers 2 v 0 Celtic SPL
• 03-Oct-07 MOTM 07-08 Celtic 2 v 1 AC Milan CL

Previous Clubs None

Review
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 2007/2007 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 WPOTY 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 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.


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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)