“He’s a very aggressive lad but he channels it and I like that. He doesn’t treat fools lightly and he gets f***** in about it.”
Dick Campbell loves Miko Virtanen’s throwback style and he believes Hamilton Accies have signed a gem - on and off the pitch.
The 22-year-old signed a two-year deal with Accie s after departing Aberdeen following two loan spells under Campbell at Arbroath.
Campbell is a legend in Scottish football and one of the industry’s most affable and captivating characters.
It’s important not to be enamoured by the 67-year-old, but beneath the charm there is a ferocious competitor and Campbell identifies that in Virtanen.
“He’s an aggressive defensive midfielder,” said Campbell. “He’s not scared of a battle and that’s missing from some players these days.
“Brian Rice has got a good player in Miko and he’s also a brilliant type in the dressing room.
“He was a brilliant signing for me and he’s got a lovely attitude towards the game.
“He definitely never got away with any s**** in my changing room - that wouldn’t be allowed to happen.
“I’d always give Miko any help that he asks for because he’s a top lad and Rice always has a good eye for a player.”
The Finland under-21 international enjoyed two spells at Gayfield under the tutelage of Campbell.
Virtanen was outstanding during the 2019-20 season as he won the Red Lichties' Young Player of the Year award.
He didn’t replicate that form in the first half of last season before re-joining Aberdeen. Campbell is looking forward to being reunited when Accies arrive in town next month but there will be no affection shown on the pitch.
“One thing he knows is that we’ll never change,” said Campbell. “We will still be playing the same way, being f****** aggressive and that.
“But Miko will know that and he’s very well liked at Arbroath because he’s a nice lad.
“The first time that Miko came to us, he was young and innocent. He was very competitive and he did really well for us.
“It didn’t work quite as well the second time but that was probably because he was looking to get into Aberdeen’s first team.
“He wants to be a full-time player in the Premiership and he will hope to achieve that with Hamilton.
“I knew that he was going to go there and he will be playing against us this season.
At 6’2” and with striking features, Virtanen stands out on the pitch and Campbell paid one final compliment.
He laughed: “He’s a big handsome b******! I loved his blonde hair and he’s proper good looking - far too good looking to be playing in midfield!
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