Lustig’s 16 honours at Celtic versus none at West Ham or Fulham

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The Celtic Star

·12 octobre 2025

Lustig’s 16 honours at Celtic versus none at West Ham or Fulham

Mikael Lustig has admitted that he didn’t have much faith in his own defensive abilities ahead of signing for Celtic…

Mario Balotelli of AC Milan competes for the ball with Mikael Lustig of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League group H match between AC Milan and Celtic at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 18, 2013 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Lustig arrived at Celtic in January 2012 signing rom Norwegian side Rosenborg and he has now revealed the reason he opted for Celtic rather than the other offers he had on the table from English sides West Ham and Fulham.

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Speaking to Swedish podcast Lundh, he said: “I had the chance to go to West Ham and Fulham when I was at Rosenborg. But they were two teams that were in the Championship one year, then the Premier League one year and fought at the bottom.

Neymar of FC Barcelona vies for a high ball with Mikael Lustig of Celtic FC during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between FC Barcelona and Celtic FC at Camp Nou on December 11, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“At that time I really couldn’t defend. I couldn’t go there and just defend; then I would be completely depressed. When I chose, it was really that I needed to go to a team that fought at the top and won a lot of games, because that was the offensive game I had,” the Swede said.

Lustig initially, found the transition from Rosenborg to Celtic challenging: Celtic’s higher tempo, physicality and expectations meant the Swedish right-back had a rough first few months, and he even considered leaving. Thankfully he gradually found his feet in Scottish football and became a fixture in the team for the next seven seasons.

Mikael Lustig of Celtic is tackled by Mario Balotelli of AC Milan during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between Celtic and AC Milan at Celtic Park Stadium on November 26, 2013. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Lustig made around 276 appearances for Celtic in all competitions, scoring some key goals, including a dramatic diving header against Aberdeen in May 2019 which helped seal the club’s 8th successive Scottish Premiership title.

He also admitted that he didn’t realise just how big a club Celtic was until he started to realise the extent and the range of the huge Celtic support around the world.

“It’s such an incredibly big club. When you’re there and especially when you go abroad, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the USA or Spain, there are always Irish pubs where you see people in Celtic shirts.

Mikael Lustig of Celtic and Junior Morais of FC Astra Giurgiu challenge during the UEFA Europa League group D match between Celtic FC and FC Astra Giurgiu at Celtic Park on October 23, 2014. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

“Then you realise that it’s not just in Glasgow that people talk about Celtic. The club is very big.”

Lustig’s trophy haul at Celtic is considerable: he won 16 major honours, including eight consecutive league titles (2012-19), four Scottish Cups, and four Scottish League Cups. A highlight was the 2016-17 season under Brendan Rodgers, when the team went undefeated domestically, often referred to as an “invincible” campaign.

At West Ham or Fulham he’d have won nothing at all so not a bad decision opting to sign for Celtic, regardless of the reason.

Get your copy of ‘Celtic in the Eighties’ which has been personally signed by Celtic legend Danny McGrain…

Celtic legend Danny McGrain is seen during the League Cup Final between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park on November 27, 2016. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain Danny McGrain , who also wrote the foreword for Celtic in the Eighties. And you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, plus you’ll only be charged for postage on one book. Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.

Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain has signed the remaining batch of David Potter’s outstanding final book Celtic in the Eighties so hurry to get your signed copy!

Ordering is simple, just place your order for Celtic in the Eighties at celticstarbooks.com/shop and we’ll do the rest, ensuring your copy is signed by Danny PLUS you’ll also receive a complimentary Willie Fernie book dispatched by the next working day, whilst stocks last.

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

Please note that stocks are now running very low indeed and the book will NOT be reprinted. Click on the image below to order. Also postage will only be charged on ONE book, not per item so if you are in Britain or the six counties you will pay £24.50 for both books – one side by Danny McGrain and that includes the postage costs for speedy delivery. As always the books are hardback and are of the highest quality.