Aaron Mooy is on the brink of switching from park football to the World Cup Finals in less than six months.
As Australia completed their qualification route to Qatar by beating Peru in a penalty shoot-out the midfielder was unattached, back with his wife and family in Scotland after ending his contract to play in China.
Fate can play a massive part in sport but just two years ago he could never have imagined that a former international boss would be offering him a World Cup route via the Champions League including an appearance at the Benabeu Stadium in Madrid.
Scott Brown and other legendary figures at Celtic never got to play at the home of Real Madrid but that is where Mooy turned out earlier this month, next week he’ll be playing against World Cup holder France on the biggest stage in the international game.
Reflecting on recent events, the midfielder told The Herald:
It was a tough time when I was training in a local park in the summer. I was back home from China and with my family so there were positives there but I wasn’t playing much football.
But then I joined Celtic and I’m loving it here and I’m going to the World Cup. It’s fair to say Celtic is one of the best moves I’ve ever made.
It’s just an amazing club and the fans are incredible. It’s a demanding club but you want to be testing yourselves in these kind of situations. Playing for a big club is demanding. I just want to give my best. I’m just trying to soak it all in as much as I can.
I joined Celtic later in the summer and I agree with the manager when he said I can only get stronger the longer the season goes on. As a professional footballer that’s what you want to do. You always want to improve and I’ll be trying my best to do that.
According to Celtic, Mooy signed a two year contract.
That is true Diversity. No same old story! Park football to the World Cup in under six months. Take a bow, Ange! What a difference one dude who knows what he’s doing can make!