By 90min | Created at 2024-12-16 17:54:02 | Updated at 2024-12-16 20:55:46
3 hours ago
After a nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday, James Forrest lifted the 25th trophy of his Celtic career.
No other player in the history of the Hoops has every accrued more pieces of silverware and only the legendary figure of Bobby Lennox from the 1960s and '70s can match Forrest's swollen haul.
A product of Celtic's youth system, Forrest made his senior debut for a side overseen by Neil Lennon in May 2010. By the end of the following season, the bustling winger had won his first trophy, coming on for the final nine minutes of the 2011 Scottish Cup final against Motherwell.
More than a decade later, the flood of silver has not stopped. "I've been a part of different eras, different teams in Celtic over the years and it's been a pleasure," Forrest reflected after he helped his boyhood club best their Glasgow rivals at Hampden Park.
"And I think if maybe I wasn't part of successful teams, I maybe wouldn't have been here [as long]. I think it's a great credit to the teams I've been involved in and loads of people putting in great work over the years and I'm just delighted to be a part of that.
James Forrest (second from left) celebrates Celtic's League Cup triumph / Visionhaus/GettyImages
"It's great to be a part of this club on days like this. You see the fans at the end, all the players and staff together, it's unbelievable to be a part of. I've cherished every minute I've been here and hopefully there's more to come."
At 33, Forrest has been reduced to the role of a substitute, starting just five of Celtic's 15 league fixtures this season. The squat forward was only brought off the bench for the final 15 minutes of normal time in Sunday's final. However, Forrest has often made the most of his cameos - his tally of four top-flight assists can only be bettered by one of his teammates.
Forrest has won the League Cup six times, alongside seven Scottish Cup triumphs and a staggering 12 top-flight titles.
When it came to Sunday's shootout, Forrest was relieved that he wasn't called upon to deliver against Rangers. "I was up next," the veteran sheepishly admitted post-match, "so I'm glad Daizen [Maeda] scored!"
