KT return massive for Celtic Academy stars says Stephen McManus

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The Celtic Star

·13 June 2025

KT return massive for Celtic Academy stars says Stephen McManus

Kieran Tierney has quickly become the centre of media attention following Tuesday’s news that the left-back is making his sensational return to Celtic from Arsenal…

Kieran Tierney, Photo Celtic FC

After six years at Arsenal and a loan stint with Real Sociedad in Spain, the 27-year-old has committed to Celtic on a five-year contract, having made 144 appearances for the North London side across all competitions.

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Reunited with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic, Tierney’s impact will be felt both in the first team and by those trying to progress through the academy and Celtic B. That is the opinion of B team manager Stephen McManus, himself a former academy product, who now fronts the Lowland League side.

While joining former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given to preview the upcoming July 19 friendly in Glasgow, the ex-Celtic captain emphasised that Tierney’s homecoming brings wide-ranging benefits, impacting the club positively both on and off the field.

Kieran Tierney, Photo Celtic FC

Speaking to The Celtic Star and other fan media outlets, McManus said: “It is massive, because Celtic’s young players want to feel as if they have got somebody they can look up to.”

“They have got it with Callum [McGregor] and James [Forrest], so now, with KT coming back, it gives them and us an extra top player [to look up to]. The fact that he is coming back with a long career ahead of him after the experiences that he has had, playing down in England at a top club like Arsenal, is going to be invaluable, not just for himself and the younger players, but for everybody throughout the football club.”

“When somebody as good as that leaves, you want to make sure that, one, you are financially getting rewarded for the success that he has brought, but you also don’t want somebody then coming back with two years to go within their career, and they are obviously winding it down. I think that’s really important.”

“Kieran coming back at the age that he is at is tremendous for the national team and for us as a club. He is going to be a real boost for Celtic, and for the younger lads, it is another role model that they have got to look up to.”

Conor Spence

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