After six eventful and emotional seasons with Celtic Emilio Izaguirre is expected to complete a move to MLS outfit Toronto later this week.
The popular full-back led Celtic onto the park to collect the SPFL trophy on Sunday before bidding a tearful farewell with a special salute to the Green Brigade who had produced a banner in his honour.
Izaguirre was one of Neil Lennon’s first signings in 2010 making an instant impact by sweeping the Player of the Year awards despite Celtic being pipped to the SPL title by a point from a club that refused to disclose full details of payments made to players to the football authorities.
After picking up four SPL winners medals Izaguirre’s place came under threat from Kieran Tierney with the teenager making the left-back slot his own as he made a dynamic entry into the Celtic side.
Shortly after breaking into the Celtic side Tierney said: “Emilio helps me a lot. Given that he plays in the same position as me, that says a lot about him.
“He’s played at a World Cup for Honduras so anything he tells me, I take on board. Emilio has been brilliant with me. And that’s not just been this season or in the last few weeks.
“It’s been over the past year since I started training with the first-team squad. He’s taken me under his wing at Celtic, given me tips and I’m extremely grateful for that. Scott has also been amazing with me.
“He’s done everything as captain of his club and country — and he gives me pointers at various times on what I should or shouldn’t do.”
With a large Honduran community resident in Toronto as well as a number of Celtic Supporter Clubs it shouldn’t take Izaguirre long to adapt to life in the Major Soccer League.
Toronto are currently sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with just nine points separating the ten clubs after 11 matches.