26-05-2025
I won the title with Celtic but it was strange and there's one silly question that really riles me
The journeyman was one of various names who passed through Parkhead during the years without Rangers in the top-flight
Colin Kazim-Richards admits it's only now that he looks back and pinches himself at winning a title with Celtic.
The journeyman striker - who played for a staggering EIGHTEEN clubs throughout his career - spent six months on loan at Parkhead in 2016.
Kazim-Richards only managed 13 appearances under Ronny Deila but did help the Hoops to five-in-a-row, scoring twice.
The ex-Turkey international confessed it was an odd time in Glasgow, during a season where Celts suffered a shocking Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Championship Rangers.
But now he's retired, the 38-year-old is proud to have played a small part in winning the Scottish Premiership.
He told BetIdeas: "For me, my time there was a bit strange. I think Celtic was going through a transitional period in 2016.
"Still, to come away with the title, obviously, that's always brilliant, but it was also expected because Rangers had been booted out of the league.
"Now, looking back at it, in hindsight, it's 'I've won the Scottish League with Celtic,' and when you talk about iconic football clubs and iconic jerseys, Celtic's is right up there on a global level.
"I've been able to wear the hoops, the green and white. Amazing. I just think at that time, for many different reasons, it wasn't as enjoyable as it should have been.
"I would like to say, the fans are top up there. There was other stuff that was going on within the club, so it didn't really make it that enjoyable for me.
"Not having Rangers in the league, we were expected to win the league. That's not being disrespectful to the other teams that we were competing against, it's just a fact.
"At the same time, to be able to score the goals – me and Patrick Roberts scored the goals in a decisive game that guaranteed us the league. It's amazing to be in the Hoops history books."
Meanwhile, the ex-Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Feyenoord star admits he's fed up answering questions on whether Celtic would become a force in England.
He said: "I never understood that question because that's like asking if MK Dons got in the Premier League, and this is MK Dons, a club not even in the same stratosphere of Celtic. It's like asking if they would be able to compete.
"Of course any team could compete because you're getting funded, right? You're getting all that money and then, with Celtic's fan base and their history and everything, they're going to have no problems adapting to the Premier League.
"If Celtic came into the Premier League next season with their current squad, are they going to be able to compete? Maybe not, but that's not going to be the squad that they have for the opening game.
"They would go out and spend money, and they would be a seriously appealing club to a lot of players, because it's an iconic club. They would be able to compete, no problem at all. They would hold their own.
"Give Celtic a Premier League budget and then ask the question. I think it's one of the most stupid debates of all time, a hypothetical debate.
"It's a really silly question that everybody keeps asking, but the answer is obvious. Celtic could compete with anyone with Premier League money."
