Ross Doohan’s remarkable return to Paradise pleases Celtic legend

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The Celtic Star

·17 de junio de 2025

Ross Doohan’s remarkable return to Paradise pleases Celtic legend

Celtic’s tradition of unearthing and nurturing talent has delivered some of the club’s most iconic success stories, and former Hoops goalkeeper Pat Bonner believes another chapter may be about to unfold in the form of Ross Doohan’s return…

Scotland 08/06/2025. Press and training Ross Doohan during the Scotland National Team training session before travelling to Liechtenstein, photo Colin Poultney PSI

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While recent summers have brought in breakout stars like Moussa Dembele and Kyogo Furuhashi, echoing the historic arrivals of Henrik Larsson and Lubomir Moravcik, it’s Doohan’s homecoming that has struck an emotional chord with Pat Bonner.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper has rejoined Celtic after a successful spell away from the club that first developed him. Speaking at the Refugee World Cup media conference, Pat Bonner praised Doohan’s perseverance and growth, insisting the shot-stopper’s journey is a testament to the long, often winding path many goalkeepers must take to reach the top.

“What a story, Ross! There is a young man who couldn’t get in, leaves, develops and now has an opportunity to come back,” Bonner said. “In a year’s time he could be second choice, he could be first choice. Brilliant for him. Absolutely brilliant.”

“Doohan originally came through the ranks at Celtic but found opportunities limited and left to gain crucial experience elsewhere. Now, after maturing both as a player and person, he returns with a realistic shot at breaking into Brendan Rodgers’ senior squad. Bonner noted that the goalkeeping position often demands patience, with maturity and experience playing key roles in a player’s development.

“He’s maturing as a young man, and he’s maturing a little bit later now,” Bonner added. “He’s come back to be number two, number three, maybe number one — and it’s all there in front of him.”

Celtic’s summer rebuild is gaining pace. The club has already been linked with Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Danish forward Benjamin Nygren, and Japanese full-back Hayato Inamura, as Rodgers looks to fine-tune his squad for the challenges ahead

But amid the big names and foreign imports, it’s Doohan’s return — a story of perseverance, growth, and second chances — that’s brought a touch of romance back to Paradise.

Meanwhile Sandman’s Definitive Graphically Enhanced Review of Season 2024/25 has been published on The Celtic Star this evening and this is something that you simply can’t miss!

Here’s some of Sandman’s introduction to his season review….

Daizen Maeda poses with his Scottish Premiership winners medal after the season s final league match against St. Mirren on May 17, 2025. Photo IMAGO

A little later than expected but I recently discovered the potency of AI, as evidenced in this mental collection of closing thoughts. And that’s a deep, dark, depraved rabbit hole you didn’t want to follow me down, especially when you learn to navigate round their censorship firewalls… #cough#… Anyway….

Thanks in aces of spades for your feedback and crack through the months, every comment, point and contention or opinion very much appreciated, even though…

Just remember – these ratings are definitive and in Biblical times would be lightning-carved into stone tablets by higher powers (probably aliens) to emphasise that. Nothing I can do about it…So, yeah…

Buckle up and let’s put the season to bed before the mayhem revs up again. And, as ever, ‘MOS’ means ‘Moment Of the Season’ for the acronym-allergic…

Read Sandman’s Definitive Graphically Enhanced Review of Season 2024/25 HERE.