James Forrest’s longevity is something to behold says Andreas Hinkel

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The Celtic Star

·18 aprile 2025

James Forrest’s longevity is something to behold says Andreas Hinkel

Andreas Hinkel has admitted that James Forrest’s longevity is something to behold…

Brothers Alan Forrest of Hearts and James Forrest of Celticat full time during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The German defender was a teammate of Forrest’s way back when he was just really cutting his teeth in the Celtic first team all those years ago, and the man who was part of a successful team under Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon is in awe of the Scottish winger.

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When Forrest burst onto the scene, Hinkel was there to witness this prodigious talent steal the limelight and knew he had a chance at going on to be a Celtic mainstay. Fast-forward to the present day and the attacker has won over 20 domestic honours – 25 to be precise – and his chasing a record-breaking 26, which would make him the most decorated player in the history of the club.

James Forrest scores for Celtic against Hearts at Celtic Park on 21 December 2013. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

It’s quite the feat for that precocious teenager Hinkel saw emerge from the youth set-up in 2010 to assert himself as a dominant figure in the history of Celtic Football Club ever since. The former Sevilla right-back reckons it’s astounding to see the Scot still rolling back the years and even compared Forrest with Spain icon Jesus Navas.

Hinkel told SunSport: “James is the last man standing from my time at Celtic. In fact, he’s probably one of the few of my former team-mates still playing professionally, along with maybe some at Freiburg. It’s crazy to see James still playing in the Celtic team after all these years. It’s incredible.”

Rangers player Kyle Lafferty (r) challenges Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel for the ball during the CIS Insurance Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on March 15, 2009. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“Last December Jesus Navas finished his career with Sevilla and sadly I wasn’t able to take up the invite for his farewell game. I played with him in Spain before I joined Celtic and I had met him again a few months before he retired. I was laughing when I said to Jesus, ‘When are you going to stop playing football?’. But for me, when I think of James Forrest, I always think of Jesus Navas. It’s two guys who played in the same position, ahead of me on the right wing and who have just kept going.”

Forrest and Samaras celebrate . Celtic against Hearts at Celtic Park on 21 December 2013. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Andreas continued:“Sevilla and Celtic were such a big part of my career and I always look for their results. These two players are real symbols for their clubs and I have so much respect for what they have achieved over such a long period of time. It’s not easy to stay at that level for so long and to play into your 30s. Jesus had two spells at Sevilla, with Manchester City in between, and had so much success.

“James has stayed at Celtic his entire career and it’s amazing when I hear that he will soon have the most medals of any player in the club’s history. From that first game at home against Motherwell, he has progressed and will be viewed as a Celtic legend.”

One of the men who was present during the Twists and Turns season back in 2007/08, Hinkel revealed that his young and aspiring teammate was always good company and even took being the butt of a joke well. “James was very young when he came into the squad, but he was always friendly,” Hinkel insisted.

“He was a very good tennis player and I am pretty sure we played each other on top of a skyscraper in America during a pre-season trip! I remember before one away game, we were on a team walk and I pretended to be a dog pulling at his calf. I made a barking sound and he got such a fright. He was in shock, everyone was laughing!”

James Forrest of Celtic celebrates after he scores his sides second goal during the UEFA Europa League Play-Offs Leg One match between Celtic FC and AZ Alkmaar on August 18, 2021. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

He added: “I always had a lot of time for James. He was a good guy and liked to have a laugh. He was young back then and now he’s old! It’s unbelievable to see the list of trophies James has won since he came into the team. His record is top, in terms of medals, appearances, goals and assists. OK, he maybe doesn’t start as many games as he used to, but do not underestimate just how important he is for this Celtic squad.

“When you have his quality and experience, you can still make a big contribution. Yes, his role is now different and he will maybe finish more games than he starts these days. But James is part of Celtic and I hope he has many years left in his career.”

Tom Rogic and James Forrest of Celtic celebrate after the third goal during the Scottish Cup semi-final between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 14, 2019. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Andy also revealed that it was when facing up to the young Forrest in Celtic training, back in the August of 2010, that he sustained the ACL injury which all but ended his Hoops career at that point.

He said: “James maybe doesn’t remember, but I was marking him in a training game when I had my injury. Let me be clear, I don’t blame him. He just happened to by my direct opponent when it happened. He was playing on the left wing and a diagonal ball was played from one of the defenders on his team.

“James had to control the ball with his chest back towards his goal. The ball was loose for a moment and I tried to move in before he got there, but I took a long step. I put my foot on the ground and it stuck in the turf and I suffered the rupture. It was a normal action that happens in football, but it was a really bad injury and I was out for a long time.”

James Forrest of Celtic reacts after he misses his penalty during the Pre Seanon Friendly match between Cetlic and Leicester City at Celtic Park on July 23, 2016. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The player who won 23 Germany caps added that he is also aiming to get back to Celtic Park soon and watch his old mate Forrest and the rest of Brendan Rodgers’ side in action.

Although here previously to monitor Arne Engels when he was assistant manager of Belgium, Hinkel is looking to come back in a more sociable atmosphere this time around. “I always love coming back to Glasgow to see Celtic and visit old friends,” he said.

Celtic v theRangers – Scottish Cup – Final – Hampden. Anthony Ralston, James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor celebrate with the trophy on Saturday May 25, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

“When I was working with the Belgium national team, I had a work reason to go to see Arne Engels. But my next trip will hopefully be a family holiday.”

Paul Gillespie

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