“I was cleaning a sauna. I was cleaning people’s sweat off a glass cabinet,” Luke McCowan

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The Celtic Star

·4 maggio 2025

“I was cleaning a sauna. I was cleaning people’s sweat off a glass cabinet,” Luke McCowan

What an incredible football journey Luke McCowan has been on from his days at Ayr United, to becoming the talisman and captain at Dundee before getting his dream move to Celtic last summer…

Luke McCowan in action. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

As the season reaches its climax Luke got to experience a title winning party at Tannadice last Saturday and will be in the mix this afternoon at Ibrox against theRangers with a Trophy Day at Celtic Park a few weeks away and then the Scottish Cup Final and the chance of a third winners medal for this Celtic supporter absolutely living the dream.

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Luke’s second Celtic title winning experience at Tannadice

Celtic also won the title at Tannadice under Ange Postecoglou in May 2022 and Luke McCowan was there that night too – although he had a slightly different perspective as he was in amongst the Celtic support enjoying the title triumph. Clearly he’s one of our own living the Celtic dream.

Luke McCowan. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Earlier this week Luke spoke to the media ahead of this afternoon’s clash with theRangers at Ibrox and looked back on his first season at Celtic where he has loved every single second of it.

‘This time last year I was delighted to get top six with Dundee’

“This time last year I was delighted to get top six with Dundee — and that was a massive occasion for them. A year later, you’re becoming champions of that same league. It’s scary,” the Celtic midfielder reflected. “But when I actually think about it too much, that’s when I’ll probably get emotional,” Luke admitted as he looked ahead to what is still to come in his remarkable debut season.

Luke McCowan with his fiancee. Photo social media

“She knows the struggles I went through”

“The trophy day will be special, with having my family at Parkhead, and being able to get them on the pitch and take pictures with the trophy. That’s really what it’s all about, having the people around you. Especially my fiancee, who’s been with me since I was 17. She knows the struggles I went through, and the mental challenges it took to battle away at Ayr, then go to Dundee and move away from home and go through all that.

“Then you’re coming back to where you’re from to play with your boyhood club — and her club, as well — which makes it a bit special. Am I an emotional guy? Yes, I am. But when I’m with family, I can sit down and talk about it and get really emotional about it.

“That’s when I can get on that level. I’m probably that way because at 20 or 21, I was cleaning a sauna. I was cleaning people’s sweat off a glass cabinet. Now six years later I’m in a side that’s become the champions of Scotland.

“It’s a bit crazy, but that’s why my fiancee is very special to me”

Luke McCowan with his fiancee, Erin. Photo social media

“It’s a bit crazy, but that’s why my fiancee is very special to me, and that’s why my family and everyone else who stuck by me are too. When I see them holding the trophy and with my medal around their necks, it will be a brilliant moment.

“I probably thought maybe I’d missed my window to get here with the age I was”

“But I would have never got this far thinking about it. I would have never told you that would happen. You’d have been motivated to get there, but as life goes on, it’s always harder the older you’re getting.

“I probably thought maybe I’d missed my window to get here with the age I was. I know 27 doesn’t seem old but it’s been an amazing season. So, yeah, me and my fiancee will probably be sitting greeting on the pitch! But it will be a nice moment.”

Dane Murray, Nicolas Kuhn and Luke McCowan celebrate. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

On his first taste of winning the title at Tannadice – as a supporter in 2022 – Luke gave his thoughts on the difference between being a support in the stands and one out on the pitch playing for the club he adores.

“When you’re in among the fans everybody goes crazy”

“It was probably a lot tamer this time. When you’re in among the fans everybody goes crazy. Back in 2022, you don’t even picture yourself being on that pitch. You can’t really think about it then.

“Out on the pitch last week, I saw Erin in the stand again, and it was like, ‘Oh my God’. It was kind of full circle. It was nice to do it on my old rivals’ pitch, too, and to give them a bit again! It’s people who aren’t winning who can say that. It’s as special as it’s ever going to be.

“Especially if you’ve got a good few boys in there who are winning this league for the first time in their careers. You could probably see that with the celebrations after the game last Saturday.

“There are guys in there like James Forrest who’s won a lot”

“There are guys in there like James Forrest who’s won a lot. But if you asked him, he would say it’s always about the next one, and how special that will feel because it’s the hard work you put in within the season.

St Johnstone goalkeeper Andy Fisher saves a close range shot from Luke McCowan of Celtic. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, , McDiarmid Park, 06 April 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

“When you’re playing in it, involved in it and putting the hard work in to get it, then it becomes special. I feel what keeps everybody motivated is breaking other records within seasons. How many goals you can score within a season or whatever.

“There is always that next motivating factor. The cup final coming up”

“It’s always the next thing. There is always that next motivating factor. The cup final coming up is another motivating factor. So there are a lot of things to work towards this season.

“The boys are happy getting this over the line and it’s a great achievement. But it’s on to the next thing now.”

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