Scott Bain on how close he came to retiring from football

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The Celtic Star

·02 de abril de 2026

Scott Bain on how close he came to retiring from football

Scott Bain has revealed that he came close to retiring from football after limited opportunities during his successful spell at Celtic…

The 34-year-old goalkeeper – who earned a recall to the Scotland squad for the first time since 2018 – joined Premiership newcomers Falkirk last summer.

His consistent performances have played a key role in his return to international selection for Steve Clarke after an eight-year absence.

Vídeos OneFootball

After delivering an impressive showing in goal against Ivory Coast, the former Hoops goalkeeper has spoken about the pivotal moment in his career last year, when he seriously considered walking away from the game.

Scotland’s Scott Bain ahead of the international friendly match between Scotland and Ivory Coast on March 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Speaking via BBC Sport, Bain said: “I was planning on doing coaching badges and calling it a day. It’s been a great season, a great moment for me. I can go home and potentially have an amazing season at Falkirk, and if that leads to getting on the plane for the World Cup, then that leads to that.

“The manager said before we left that it’s not often you get to play a game with the shackles off and not scrapping for three points. It resonated with me. I’ve waited a long time to come back into the Scotland set-up, and I’m just going to enjoy it.

“We’ve got excellent keepers with real experience and a lot of caps between them, so it certainly helps me to feel like I’m in a better place.”

Celtic v St Mirren – cinch Premiership – Celtic Park Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart is substituted for team-mate Scott Bain during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Saturday May 18, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Bain arrived at Celtic in 2018 on Deadline Day, completing a loan move from Dundee alongside teammate and future Scotland international Jack Hendry.

During a seven-year spell at the club, Bain was largely deployed as a backup goalkeeper but still played a part in a highly successful period, collecting 14 domestic trophies – including seven Scottish Premiership titles.

Across his time at Celtic, Bain featured 78 times in all competitions, making appearances over eight consecutive seasons.

Conor Spence

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