Celtic icon Artur Boruc has revealed he once turned down the chance to play for Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs to sign a new contract with Celtic.
The Hoops will play in Poland against Legia Warsaw tomorrow for the Holy Goalie's farewell match after hanging up his boots at the age of 42. And, in a reflection on his career, Boruc - who later went on to play for Southampton and Bournemouth in the English top flight - explained why he turned down the chance to play for some of the biggest clubs in England to sign a new contract with Celtic...so he could play at the 2006 World Cup.
He recalled: "I had Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs after me and I remember speaking to Arsene Wenger on the phone."But it was just before the World Cup and I was desperate to play for Poland at the Finals and I couldn't be sure I would be first choice goalkeeper at any of those clubs. So I signed a new contract with Celtic."
And Boruc admitted he got away with far more in Scotland than he did in his homeland, after his career ended in controversy last season when he was sent off in what turned out to be his final match against Warta Poznan. He was banned for three matches and fined which he refused to pay and never played again.
Boruc insisted: "I don't regret anything during my career. Sometimes I react to things faster than I think! In the Scottish League, I got away with it, but not in Poland. Emotions sometimes got the better of me."
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