Two years ago Celtic and Josip Juranovic were strangers.
One was going through their worst season this century while the other had just left Croatia for Poland, settling in at Legia Warsaw during lockdown conditions.
A £2.5m transfer in August 2021 brought the two parties together- the player could hardly have pictured leaving Celtic as a World Cup semi-finalist who had a solid Champions League campaign on his CV.
Football is a fast moving business, Alistair Johnston has replaced the popular Juranovic at Celtic with the Croatian telling the Daily Record about the special memories and events that he experienced in Glasgow:
Leaving Celtic was very difficult for me. I met so many good people there, so many friends who will remain my friends for the rest of my life.
Sometimes I wonder if I was only there for 18 months because that time flew by. Celtic is a world institution, such a big club, a club that the fans adore so much. I shudder when I think about the 60,000 fans at every home game.
Those derbies against Rangers are a special experience and you immediately understand why it is one of the biggest games that exist in the football world.
At Celtic, the players respected each other. In Scotland, the football was hard, but fair. Celtic is a special way of life and I will remember those 18 months for the rest of my life.
Juranovic could find himself back in Scotland next season playing in the Champions League. Union Berlin aren’t one of the traditional giants of the German game but are currently sitting in second place in the Bundesliga with just three points separating the top four clubs.
