Harald Brattbakk: The Scottish Premier League title is Celtic's
Brattbakks Celtic to stop four in a row
By GARY MCDANIEL
FORMER Celtic striker, Harald Brattbakk, believes Neil Lennon’s team can prevent Rangers from achieving four league titles in a row.
The Norwegian was part of the Wim Jansen side that put the brakes on the Ibrox’s clubs dominance of Scottish football in the 90's. And more importantly, for the Celtic faithful, stopped ten in a row.
Brattbakk, who is now a pilot in his native land, was not as prolific a goal scorer at Parkhead compared to his years at Rosenborg were he averaged a goal a game. Ask any hoops fan though what memory stands out most when you mention his name though. The reply will most likely be that goal against St Johnstone in the final game of 1997-98 season.
The Scandinavian scored the second goal of the game to secure a famous victory for the bhoys and stop their bitter rivals from creating history.
"It probably ranks in my top three goals of my career, along with my strikes against AC Milan and Real Madrid when I was at Rosenborg." The 40 year old claimed.
"It wasn’t until after the game and during the summer break that I realised how important that game, against St Johnstone, meant to the supporters. They were desperate for us to stop Rangers achieving ten in a row.
"I also didn’t realise the intense rivalry between both old firm clubs until my first derby match on the 2nd of January 1998. The date always sticks in my mind. It was a match we won 2-0." Brattbakk added.
The Norwegian doesn’t believe his time in Glasgow’s east end was a failure, but admits he could have done better.
"I wanted to do so well for such a massive club. I put a lot of pressure on myself to please the Celtic supporters.
"I don’t see my time in Glasgow as a failure, but in terms of scoring goals for a big club, I did not do well enough. At the same time it was hard as I was being compared to a certain other forward from Sweden." Brattbakk says with a wry smile.
To the shock of the Celtic legions, Wim Jansen stepped down from the Parkhead helm only two days after securing the title. The Dutchman cited his frosty relationship with then General Manager Jock Brown as the reason for his departure.
Brattbakk was not surprised by his exit. He is also unsure if he would have gone onto be a success if Jansen remained in the dugout at Celtic Park.
"I was not shocked by Jansen leaving. I knew a bit about what was going on behind the scenes at the club. If he had stayed on I might had a different career at Celtic but that would only be guessing," he admitted.
In 2000 the former Norwegian internationalist moved to FC Copenhagen for a year were he had a more productive spell.
The following season he returned to his homeland and back to Trondheim, to the delight of the Rosenborg fans.
Brattbakk resumed were he had left off on his return and started finding the net on a regular basis. His record in the Champions League is also one in which any top class striker Europe would be proud of. The knack of getting on the score sheet in Europe's premier competition was to come back and haunt Celtic. The Norwegian scored a
double against his former club in a 2-0 victory in Trondheim.
"I have always loved scoring goals, so the goals against Celtic were no exception. But it did feel a little strange to sin against former team mates. I've still got Paul Lambert's shirt to remember that evening by," Brattbakk beamed.
"I feel I proved my potential by the goals I scored in European competition. I just wish I could have given the Celtic fans more goals," he added.
Brattbakk was surprised when his former club announced that Neil Lennon was taking over the hot seat at Celtic Park after the demise of Tony Mowbray.
He believes that next season Celtic can stop Rangers recent dominance of the SPL, just like the hoops team he was involved with achieved in 1998.
"I have never met Neil but I was a little surprised he got the job as manager. But I think one thing he has convinced the Celtic board with, is his winning mentality.
"If the current Celtic players keep working hard and believe in their own abilities, like we did in 1998, they will be successful. If you start looking across the river at what is happening at Ibrox, you start using up valuable energy on things you can't do anything about," Brattbakk said.
The shocking developments of last season concerning the death threats and parcel bombs intended for Lennon made the news in Norway. Although Brattbakk is appalled by these events he admits to enjoying his stay in Glasgow.
"What Neil Lennon had to suffer certainly made the news over here. Criticism is OK but what he had to experience was way beyond what is acceptable.
"In my time in Glasgow I met some nice people both from Celtic and Rangers. Yes I had my fair share of abuse from the Rangers supporters during games but I regarded that as friendly banter.
"You will always find people, no matter where you go, who step over the mark. Luckily they are few and far between," he said.
Brattbakk is currently working as a pilot back in Norway but the 40 year old revealed he hasn't ruled out a return to the game as a manager.
"I love my new job as a pilot but management is maybe something for the future," he suggested.
Who knows the Norwegian may jet back into Scottish football sometime in the near future?
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