As Brendan Rodgers looks for a new centre half in January he may look back wishfully at some of the names that have filled that position over the last 30 years.
Seaon 87/88 marked a watershed in the club’s history, the Centenary season, when the young Rodgers’ was popping over to watch the hoops with Mick McCarthy and Lex Baillie playing alongside Roy Aitken and Derek Whyte.
At the moment there seems a real lack of quality central defenders around with the Scotland national side turning the clock back to Charlie Mulgrew and Christophe Berra.
As recently as three years ago Ronny Deila had the luxury of Virgil van Dijk and Jason Denayer to build his defence around but that partnership was never going to stay around.
Billy McNeill set the benchmark in terms of centre-half’s with that position barely changing down the years.
Someone commanding in the air, firm in the tackle and an organiser of not just the defence but elsewhere is required to play in the position with few ticking all three boxes.
With Artur Boruc in goals, Mikael Lustig and Kieran Tierney filling the full-back positions supporters can now vote for their centre-half of the last 30 years to help fill out the backline.
Click through the pages to place your vote.
PAUL ELLIOTT
Spent just two seasons at Celtic but made a massive impact in a time of turmoil at the club.
In his first season he collected an incredible number of bookings as he was welcomed to Celtic Park in a sea of yellow cards.
Season 90/91 was vintage defending from Elliott all the way despite the team around him crumbling. It seemed inevitable that he would be leaving with a bizarre contract clause speeding up his departure to Chelsea for a near £1m profit.
Serious injury ended his career as a Chelsea player.
BOBO BALDE
After one season of Martin O’Neill a brute of a defender was brought in from French football.
‘Bobo’s goannae get you’ was the popular chant from the stand and few forwards fancied taking on the former Toulouse man who formed a defensive shield alongside Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren.
He made just over 200 Celtic appearances but found the door closing on him as O’Neill left although a lucrative contract was honoured by the club.
Bobo was a bit of a cult figure and caught the attention of a young hoop from Wishaw called Kieran Tierney.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK
Very much in the Elliott mould without the yellow cards.
Signed in the summer of 2013 from Groningen he strolled through life in the SPFL although some fans thought he took it too easily.
Ronny Deila made a point of retaining the Dutchman when he took over from Neil Lennon with a brilliant defensive partnership former with Jason Denayer.
Life at Southampton hasn’t satisfied his ambitions, a January move is likely with Celtic likely to pick up a £5m sell-on bonus to add to the £10m received in 2015.