Giorgos Giakoumakis Opens Up On Fragile Relationships That Ended Celtic Career
In a recent interview, former Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis spoke candidly about the events that led to his departure from the club in 2023. Giakoumakis, who scored 26 goals in 57 games for Celtic, had a tumultuous relationship with then-manager Ange Postecoglou and chief executive Michael Nicholson, which ultimately led to his exit.
According to Celts Are Here, Giakoumakis was brought to Celtic by Postecoglou to lead the line, but later found himself out of the starting XI more often. This led to signs of frustration, particularly on social media, where the Greek forward posted messages that Ange called out in public. Despite these issues, Giakoumakis has nothing but praise for Postecoglou as a coach, stating he is the best manager he has ever worked with in his football career.
As reported by Celts Are Here, Giakoumakis said: "Maybe it was different sides. So, maybe Ange was preferring this false nine. I think the relationship between me, Michael (Nicholson) and Ange in the end was really fragile. It was really fragile, and I think at some point it just broke the glass." He also added, "He was the best manager I ever had in my career, football-wise. As a person, it doesn’t matter. Personal relationships and personal opinions are different to every person, for a specific face, for a specific individual. But as a manager, I cannot say anything bad. He brought me there."
Giakoumakis’s comments highlight the challenges of managing player relationships and making tough decisions. The Greek striker respected Postecoglou’s style but was still upset about how things finished. What is notable is that Giakoumakis mentioned Michael Nicholson, a rare occurrence for a player to publicly mention the chief executive. This statement shows that Giakoumakis holds no punches when discussing the events that led to his departure.
The comments made by Giakoumakis were sourced from an interview with Celts Are Here, a publication that has provided in-depth coverage of Celtic FC. In the interview, Giakoumakis expressed his disappointment with the situation but stopped short of shutting the door on a possible return to Celtic. Despite publicly criticising the Hoops’ Chief Executive, Giakoumakis still seems to care for the club and supporters, even after a tough ending. There is a sense that, for him, the problem wasn’t with Celtic itself, but with how he was treated in his final months.
Giakoumakis is now focused on his career with Cruz Azul, but his comments are likely to garner significant attention in Glasgow. He remains a player who left his mark on the club, and these new comments add more detail to a story many Celtic supporters still remember well. Whether a return ever happens remains to be seen, but the Greek striker’s bond with Celtic clearly hasn’t faded.
The situation highlights the complexities of professional football, where relationships between players, managers, and executives can be fragile and often lead to unexpected outcomes. As reported by Celts Are Here, Giakoumakis’s experience serves as a reminder that even the most successful players can face challenges in their careers, and that the personal relationships within a club can be just as important as the on-field performances.
For now, Giakoumakis will continue to play for Cruz Azul, but his comments will undoubtedly be closely followed by Celtic fans. As Celts Are Here reported, his bond with the club remains strong, and it will be interesting to see if he ever returns to Celtic in the future. Only time will tell if Giakoumakis will don the Celtic jersey again, but one thing is certain – his legacy at the club will not be forgotten.
Source: Celts Are Here – Giorgos Giakoumakis Opens Up On Fragile Relationships That Ended Celtic Career – https://celtsarehere.com/giorgos-giakoumakis-opens-up-on-fragile-relationships-that-ended-celtic-career/
