Callum McGregor has echoed calls for a statue of Martin O'Neill to be erected, following his role in securing the Scottish Premiership title for Celtic.
The captain lifted the eleventh title in his long, successful career at the club on Saturday, with the 32-year-old getting his hands on his fifth as skipper of the Glasgow side.
"Good day for it, isn’t it? It probably is statue time. It probably is. Happy?" he said when asked if the 74-year-old should be commemorated in bronze.
"Unbelievable. A man with such massive experience in football. He knows how to manage people and knows how to manage a building. He gets people on the right track, gets people in the right frame of mind. Again, what can you find in yourself to bring to the team that makes you special, and bring it out and help the team?
"He’s an unbelievable man-manager, backed up with some amazing coaches as well. He’s been really solid when the club needed him."
Celtic emerged as 3-1 winners on Saturday, a result that put them two points ahead of Heart of Midlothian, pipping Derek McInnes' side to the top spot on the final day.
"They have been brilliant," said McGregor, regarding the runners-up in the Scottish Premiership. "Really consistent. I think we always say the most consistent team will win the league. And that’s right. Thirty-eight games, there’s no hiding place.
"So, over the piece, you find that the best team has won the league. Hearts have run us really, really close. Had a lot of stability, consistency in their team and team selections, so that’s what it is.
"Good football is built on consistency and good people. So they’ve done amazing, done really well. As I said, just obviously glad that we’ve managed to come out on the right end of that, but it shows that we have to be right moving forward."
On getting over the line, McGregor continued, "That was incredible. Obviously, a massive pressure game. You could feel the tension, especially in the first half. But then once we got playing and got going, it felt like the goal was coming.
"Obviously, when you get to eighty-five minutes, you think maybe this is one step too far. But credit to the boys, they keep going, they never stop fighting, and that’s why we’ve won the league.
"It’s not really anything to do with football; it’s heart and desire and wanting this to win and commitment to each other that has taken us over the line.
"What a special day."
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Somewhat understandably, the scenes following Callum Osmand's goal have taken centre stage in the aftermath of last weekend's fixture.
After the 20-year-old scored into an empty net, home supporters ran onto the pitch to celebrate, which led to the game being called to an end. "It is understandable, isn’t it?" said McGregor.
"I know everybody wants to say stay safe, and of course, we have to make sure that safety is paramount, but it comes at the end of such a dramatic moment. It’s inevitable that people are going to spill on at the pitch.
"Just as long as everybody is safe and nobody gets hurt, then of course we always try and keep a lid on it, but it’s a special moment, and the fans have endured as well. So good for them to have their moment as well."
Expanding on events at the end of the game, he continued, "We just assumed when the fans came on. It was a bit weird. We saw everybody heading to the tunnel, and then we got into the dressing room, and somebody said, 'Is it the final whistle? Is the game done?' So then we’re like, 'Okay, let’s get back out there.'
"It is a strange one, obviously, but we kind of knew it was done at that point. It was just a case of making it official. An even stranger end to the game than it seemed."
McGregor has been the subject of speculation this year, with reports linking the veteran midfielder with a move to Saudi Arabia and Al-Qadsiah, who are managed by Brendan Rodgers.
"If anyone wants to question what I’m doing for the club, then they’re crazy," he responded when asked if his passion was fuelled by league triumphs such as Saturday's climax. "I’ve been here my whole life.
"I told you when the going gets tough, you see people emerge into the background, and then you see people step forward. No matter how hard it is, you’re the leader of the team.
"Let’s enjoy today and then see where we get to."
Despite lifting the Scottish Premiership for the fifth time in a row, Celtic have suffered a tumultuous season, both on and off the pitch.
With a big summer ahead for the club, their captain is hoping that the troubles of this season can be used as motivation for smoother sailing next term. "I think so. I think that’s right," he said, when asked if this season can be used as a springboard.
"Hopefully, when the dust settles, we will try and get as much right as we can in the summer, which will hopefully put the club and the team in the best position for when the Champions League qualifiers come round.
"This place craves Champions League football. It’s a different place when you don’t have it. We’ll get the Scottish Cup final out of the way next week. Hopefully, we can finish with two trophies, and then the work starts again.
"We start again in August, and we want to make sure we’re successful at that point as well, so the people in the building have to continue to drive to make this place as good as it can be."
