Scott Brown admits he considered quitting Celtic before their ten-in-a-row tilt, but the lure of trying to create history was too strong.
The Hoops skipper played his final game for the club after 14 years yesterday in a 0-0 draw at Hibs and will now head to Aberdeen to link up with former teammate Stephen Glass.
Brown was keen for a new challenge after so long at Celtic, and revealed it could have come last summer, but he felt he owed it to the club to stay for their biggest season in recent years and try to win a tenth successive Premiership title.
While they came up short on that front, Brown leaves as one of the most decorated players in Celtic history.
“I wanted a new challenge and I knew it was either go and do 10 or finish on nine with a quadruple Treble,” he said.
“I wanted to give it one last go and see it as far as I possibly could – and the board and everyone upstairs have been fantastic with me.
“They offered me a new deal to stay and be part of it but I wanted to see how it worked with a different club.
“I had a fantastic time at Hibs. I came to Celtic eventually and had a fantastic time, and now it’s for me to try and push Aberdeen as far as I possibly can with Stephen Glass and Allan Russell, and look forward to the future in coaching with a little bit of playing as well.”
Well wishes have flooded in for Brown over recent weeks and he plans to take some time to reflect before starting the next and probably final chapter of his playing career at Pittdorie.
He said: “A lot of people have sent me stuff online but I have tried not to look at too much of it with all the games.
“During the off-season I will have a look back at the last 14 years and take it all in.
“I will smile about it all because it’s been fantastic. There have been so many highs, it’s been one thing after the other, especially over the last four years.
“In the weeks when we had no games it was hard because you are in Lennoxtown and you know it’s your final days.”
One major regret for Brown was that he didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to the Celtic fans.
He added: “The sad thing is that the fans haven’t been there this season.
“I’ll miss playing in front of 60,000 and not getting the chance to wave goodbye.
“They have been a huge part of my life over the last 14 years and they’ve been fantastic with me on and off the field.
“It’s just sad that I can’t say goodbye but I will be back with Aberdeen next season. I will maybe wave at them or I will get booed off the park!
“But I wouldn’t want it any other way because when I come back I want to be a winner and take Aberdeen as far as I can.
“I have done that at Celtic and have so many fantastic memories from different players and managers. It’s been one high after the other and now it’s a new chapter for me at a new club.”
