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Fullname: Aaron Frank Mooy
aka: Aaron Mooy, né Aaron Frank Kuhlman
Born: 15 September 1990
Birthplace: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Signed: 19 July 2022 (on a free)
Left: 30 June 2023 (retired)
Position: Midfielder
Debut: Celtic 2-0 Aberdeen, SP, 31 July 2022
Squad No.: 19
Internationals: Australia
International Caps: 57
International Goals: 5
Biog
“Everything you can feel in football, you feel it at Celtic. Celtic is a club where you feel the support, you feel everything. I’m just taking it all in.”
Aaron Mooy
Celtic signed up the experienced Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy in a surprise move in July 2022 as a free agent after leaving Shanghai Port. His move to Celtic wasn’t necessarily a big change for him, as his wife was from Glasgow and he had previously played with St Mirren. Having fellow Aussie Ange Postecoglou in charge was a help and previously Ange Postecoglou had tried to get him to Celtic.
However in a squad already over crowded with midfielders, he had a lot of work ahead of him. Up front he wasn’t the type of midfielder that the support was calling for but there was faith in Ange Postecoglu.
The club was frugal giving him only a one year deal with an option of a second but up front he was expected to be solely a squad player to cover for McGregor when need be.
Yet from the get go he was dumbfounding all the up front expectations, and demonstrated what a valuable talent he truly could be, and duly impressed. Calm and composed on the ball he brought an extra element to the midfield, and could be taken as another fine acquisition by the manager. One of the biggest cheers he likely ever received in his life was when he accidentally knocked over unpopular referee Willie Collum in a 3-0 away win v Livingston in October 2022, which the referee & Mooy were able to laugh off after the incident on the pitch.
One thing was clear of his discomfort in being interviewed after a match, he appeared to be introverted and private, if not bashful. Off the field he avoided the limelight, quite a challenge in the goldfish bowl world of football in Glasgow.
As an older player, age wear and tears were affecting him, and after his bright start the weaknesses in his physical condition were coming to the surface. He had a certain lack of pace and this impacted his reaction time in covering for tackles. Better as a sub but often seen as suspect for a starter for a match. Performances such as starting in the 6-1 victory over Hibs (Oct 2022) where he was key with two assists countered criticisms but there was some justification to the concerns
Admittedly, he had it tough in the Champions League matches he played in, but when you are coming up against the quality of players at Leipzig and Real Madrid, it was never going to be easy, and weaknesses came to the fore. He never hid, but the tactics by the management were liable for the disappointing campaign too.
He was good in the World Cup in Qatar (2022), being a central player in an Australian side that beat the odds to qualify out of the group stage only to lose to eventual tournament winners Argentina in the following round of 16. For Scotland, this was a major source of pride as a number of SPFL players were in the Aussie squad, and Mooy was a central player. He showed his worth and his ability to beat the odds, but it also demonstrated that the SPFL was a league that players could thrive in.
Back in Scotland, on his return he demonstrated his burgeoning confidence with a double in a comfortable 4-0 away win at Hibs (Dec 2022), and supporters were beginning to wonder if he should now remain a first team pick! His incredible cross to Jota for the opening goal v Dundee Utd (Jan 2023) in a 2-0 win indicated so.
Soon it was clear that he was on top of his game, and with O’Reilly off form, Mooy’s form helped to cover for any gaps.
However, back problems in March 2023 led to him pulling out of the Aussie squad in an international break. From then on, his form dipped at Celtic too.
He then had a very poor league match v Sevco which Celtic still won 3-2 in April 2023, but the emergence of Iwata meant that Mooy was less in need. Celtic won an incredible domestic treble in this season (2022/23) and Mooy deserved respect for his part in the success. He helped create history, in what was a global record first for any side to have won an eighth domestic treble.
He unsurprisingly retired from the playing side in June 2023, despite a year left on his contract. He was though leaving on a high, having scored 7 goals and provided 11 assists.
It was clear that Mooy had run his course at Celtic, but he deserved this wonderful swansong season to his career. The departure of his sponsor Postecoglou was likely another factor to call it a day. He had more than played his part and was a favoured player for certain supporters (especially older ones who still had delusions they could still make it in the game!).
We wished Aaron Mooy the very best. A season he’ll never forget and will highly treasure.
Quotes
“It’s an amazing feeling. I’m just so happy to be here and it’s a massive club with huge history and I want to be part of it, so I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
Aaron Mooy July 2022
“Hopefully I’m improving all the time. That’s what you want to do. Obviously, when you join everything’s new, and systems are a bit different, and new players, so it’s a lot and sometimes it doesn’t always happen straight away.”
Aaron Mooy Dec 2022
“I’m really enjoying my football just now, it’s an amazing club to play for and I’m just trying to make the most of it.”
Aaron Mooy
“Every time I get home, my kids are singing it. My wife, she sings it. It’s a great song.: 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣, 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙮 (to the tune of Boney M Classic)”
Aaron Mooy
“He’s not one of these guys who seeks the limelight too much. He’s one of these guys who probably gets appreciated more by the people he plays with and the fans that he represents rather than the greater public”
Ange Postecoglou (Feb 2023)
“Everything you can feel in football, you feel it at Celtic. Celtic is a club where you feel the support, you feel everything. I’m just taking it all in.”
Aaron Mooy
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2022-23 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 42 |
| Goals | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
Scottish Cup
Scottish League Cup
Pictures
Forums
Notes
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Articles
Aaron Mooy: from training solo in a Glasgow park to a World Cup in Qatar
Australia’s star midfielder is keen to let his football do the talking after resurrecting his career at Celtic
Aaron Mooy looks to camera
Aaron Mooy has enjoyed a resurgence just in time for the World Cup. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/FIFA/Getty Images
Emma Kemp
Emma Kemp in Doha
Thu 17 Nov 2022 10.50 GMT
Last modified on Thu 17 Nov 2022 10.54 GMT
Aaron Mooy gently agonises over every one of his answers for 10 full minutes before eventually confirming what was already long suspected. “I’m not much of a big talker around the room,” he says quietly, inviting supportive laughter. “Everyone that knows me knows that.”
The midfielder, seated at a press conference table in front of a dozen journalists, had just been reminded of his relative seniority compared to many of his World Cup teammates and asked if he was providing a strong guiding presence in the dressing room.
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“I just try and do the right things off the pitch, on the pitch, and yeah, hopefully, I dunno, I don’t like to talk about myself.” Mooy is laughing now, too, and the Socceroos media manager is murmuring something to him about letting his football do the talking. “Yeah,” he says. “Hopefully just try and play well, and then hopefully that inspires people.”
For as long as Mooy has been playing for Australia – he has 53 caps, for the record, equal with Aziz Behich and behind only Mat Ryan (75) and Mat Leckie (73) – he has been frugal with the spoken word. One can only speculate, but it seems he is simply shy. In a world loaded with loud voices, it is endearing, and inversely makes you want to hear more of what he has to say.
On this particular occasion it feels as if the 32-year-old should have quite a lot of material. There was that shock move in 2020 from Brighton to Shanghai SIPG, followed by his mid-pandemic departure and five clubless months. Then came those lonely training sessions at a local park in Glasgow with only Socceroos coaching staff for company, trying to ready himself to play some part in Australia’s qualifying playoffs against the United Arab Emirates and Peru.
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“It was a tough period for me,” he says. “In China there was lots of Covid restrictions and stuff like that. Arnie [coach Graham Arnold] gave me a call a few times and he wanted me to be involved, so that gave me a real motivation. They wanted me to be there and yeah, that’s what my focus was on. Just worked as hard as I could, got into the best shape as possible and tried to help.
“Probably [also] the little boy inside of me that started playing football, that’s probably what motivated me. Always the World Cup, we were close to qualifying and … I knew that if I was going to be involved I didn’t want to let anyone down.”
Mooy went into those June matches otherwise cold yet somehow played the full 90 and 120 minutes, exceeding internal expectations about how far his body would take him.
After that, of course, Ange Postecoglou had seen enough to afford him another chance in the UK at Celtic where, after a tentative start, he has forced his way into the team and made 20 appearances including eight starts – one against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in the Champions League. At the time, the former Socceroos boss said Mooy’s “unique situation” presented a reciprocal opportunity for both club and player.
“Obviously he was with Shanghai and that sort of didn’t work out in the end,” Postecoglou told Fox Sports last month. “And him being based here in Glasgow, I just thought it was a good opportunity for both sides, for him and for us to do something quickly to bring him in.
“He’s a good footballer, he’s somebody I knew well and I knew he could contribute here … he’s finding his feet now after getting his fitness up to speed, because he’d obviously missed pre-season and hadn’t played a lot of football, but I think everyone can see now he’s sort of getting to a really good condition. And his football’s been really good over recent games.”
Mooy himself describes Scotland as “a very testing place” to play. “Every day we go in with the boys and train a hundred miles an hour,” he adds. “That’s the way Ange likes it and there’s no days where it’s just chill, so it’s intense and it’s a good place to be.”
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Harry Kewell, the Socceroos great and Celtic first-team coach who is in Australia for the club’s two-match tour against Sydney FC and Everton, felt Mooy handled the pressure with aplomb.
“For Aaron to step up and play and to force his way into the team, it takes a lot because we don’t let anything slide,” Kewell told AAP. “You have to be at your very best at training to even be in the manager’s mind.”
Mooy does not, of course, need to point out that this isn’t where the story ends, because here he is, in Qatar, five days before Australia’s opening World Cup game against France.
Mooy’s talking on the pitch that he struggles to speak of is looking very much like one of Australia’s key strengths at this juncture, with teammate Martin Boyle (knee) racing the clock to be fit for the opening Group D fixture on Tuesday night (Wednesday 6am AEDT).
Aaron Mooy: How quiet Australian is making big noise at Celtic
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64530868
Last updated on5 February 20235 February 2023.
From the sectionCeltic
Aaron Mooy scores for Celtic against St Johnstone
Aaron Mooy’s delicate lob put Celtic 3-1 up against St Johnstone
The questions to Celtic midfielder Aaron Mooy after another goalscoring performance were varied and elaborate. The answers were not. The Australian reserves his eloquence for the pitch.
The 32-year-old has come to the fore in recent weeks, having become a fixture in the Scottish Premiership leaders’ midfield.
Sunday’s delightful lob over St Johnstone goalkeeper Remi Matthews was Mooy’s sixth goal in eight appearances and Celtic’s third in a 4-1 win.
Given how quietly he slipped into Celtic Park when he arrived in July following a stint in China, it’s perhaps fitting that his rise to promise has been a stealthy one.
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“I sort of knew what I was going to do in my head when the ball came,” he said on BBC Radio Scotland when asked about his goal. “My first touch was good. Once I took the first touch, I knew I could lift it over him.”
But it’s not just goals. Mooy has the second most assists of all the central midfielders in the league with six and his combined goals involvement of 10 also ranks second.
With 26 chances created, 694 successful passes and 39 duels won, the former St Mirren player is enjoying his return to Scottish football.
“Now I’m playing a bit more regularly, I’m just trying to do my job, what the manager asks of me,” he added.
“It’s a good team to play in, it’s enjoyable, we play good football. There’s lots of movement. When I have the ball, there’s lots of people making runs. That’s what I like. I like to play the ball in behind sometimes. It’s an enjoyable place to play.”
‘Laid back veteran showing how it’s done’
Aaron Mooy
Mooy first came to these shores in 2010 and scored twice in 30 appearances over two seasons in Paisley.
A return to his homeland followed with spells with Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City, before time back to the UK with Huddersfield Town and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Two years in China with Shanghai SIPG followed before he was reunited with his former Australia coach Ange Postecoglou at Celtic.
“He’s a very laid back man,” said Mooy’s former St Mirren team-mate Steven Thompson. “You’ve got to earn Postecoglou’s trust. Once you do that – and Aaron certainly has – and he can rely on you on the pitch, you’ll find yourself playing.”
Mooy has, more so since the World Cup. His inclusion in Qatar has made him a tournament veteran for Australia and younger midfielders such as Matt O’Riley and David Turnbull are finding it difficult to get into the starting line-up.
“He’s at an age now that he can take in information and distil it and get across and act upon it on the pitch,” said former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner.
Postecoglou agrees and may have given O’Riley, Turnbull and new signing Tomoki Iwata some food for thought.
“There’s no doubting the quality’s there,” said the Celtic manager. “He obviously hadn’t played for a quite a while when we picked him up, but there’s a quality footballer there and it’s always been there.
“He’s still got a lot of football in front of him. He’s a fantastic footballer.”
Aaron Mooy: I’m delighted to get my first goals for Celtic
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
Aaron Mooy enjoyed a very impressive World Cup, performing exceptionally well for Australia as they qualified for the last 16 of the tournament.
And the midfielder has continued that great form since returning to club action with Celtic, playing his part in the team’s four wins since the league has restarted after the break.
Now the 32-year-old has added goals to his contribution, netting twice in the 4-0 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road, including one from the penalty spot.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, which maintains Celtic’s nine-point lead at the top of the table, Aaron Mooy said: “It’s an amazing feeling to get my first goals for the club. I’ve had a few chances in other games but it feels great to see one hit the net.
‘You don’t score goals unless you get into those positions, so I try and take that on board and get in position and hit the targets, and one of them went in tonight.’
“I have been (a penalty taker) in the past for different clubs, although not for a while, so it was good.
“Hopefully I’m improving all the time. That’s what you want to do. Obviously, when you join everything’s new, and systems are a bit different, and new players, so it’s a lot and sometimes it doesn’t always happen straight away.
“But you just keep going and keep trying to get better and hopefully I can keep improving and help the team.
“Playing in the World Cup – leading up to it, it was always in the back of your head, because you just want to get into that squad and experience it again for me, because that was my second one.
“It’s an amazing thing to do and I’m proud of that, but it’s behind me now and now I’m just looking forward to trying to help the team.”
Celtic’s Socceroos star Aaron Mooy retires from football
By Editor 30 June, 2023 No Comments
Celtic v Greenock Morton – Scottish Cup – Fourth Round – Celtic Park Celtic s Aaron Mooy celebrates scoring their side s fifth goal of the game during the Scottish Cup fourth round match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Saturday January 21, 2023. Photo Jane Barlow
Celtic this morning announced that the Treble winning, hugely popular Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy has retired from football with immediate effect. The club tweeted the news around 7am this morning saying:
Heart Of Midlothian v Celtic – Scottish Cup Quarter Final Tynecastle Park Celtics Aaron Mooy celebrates his goal at Tynecastle on Saturday March 11, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh
“Celtic midfielder and Australian internationalist Aaron Mooy today announced his intention to retire from football with immediate effect.
Aaron played a crucial role in our recent record-breaking Treble and we wish him the best for the future. Thank you, Aaron,” Celtic FC
Heart Of Midlothian v Celtic – Aaron Mooy celebrates Celtic’s 1st goal during the Scottish Cup match at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Picture date: Saturday March 11, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh
Speaking to the official Celtic FC website Aaron Mooy explained his decision to call time on his playing career after 15 years as a professional footballer. “While it feels really sad to be leaving the game, I just feel the time is right for me. I have been so fortunate to enjoy such a great career across the last 15 years, creating some fantastic memories,” Mooy said.
“I am delighted to finish my career on such a high with Celtic and I would like to thank all the fans for the great support they gave me during the past year – I was delighted to be part of such a memorable season.
“I hope Celtic continue to dominate the game and I wish Brendan, the new manager great success with the great group of lads at the club.”
Aaron Mooy added: “Playing for my country is something I have loved too and of course I will miss the international set up and so many great people who are involved there.
“I have been fortunate to win a number of caps for my country and this has been really important to me – of course I wish Australia nothing but success for the future and I am sure they can get better and better.
“There are too many people to thank who have played such an important role in my career, so many managers, coaches, staff and fellow players. I have been very privileged to be part of some fantastic football environments, all created by really good people.
St Johnstone v Celtic – s Aaron Mooy celebrates scoring the third Celtic goal of the game during the cinch Premiership match at McDiarmid Park, Perth. Sunday February 5, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan
“My family is everything to me and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for the absolute support I have received from them during my career. I just want to thank them for being there for me in so many ways.
“Thank you once again to everyone who has supported me right across my career in this great game.”
Last season Aaron Mooy played a crucial role in Celtic’s recent record breaking Treble victory and became a hugely popular player with the Celtic supporters and indeed with his own teammates. Prior to joining Celtic, Aaron played for a host of clubs including Brighton, Melbourne City, Huddersfield Town and St Mirren. Aaron also spent some time in China where he was on the most financially lucrative contract in his career.
Aaron Mooy of Celtic celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s fifth goal during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Celtic and Greenock Morton at Celtic Park Stadium on January 21, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Mooy also made an outstanding contribution to international football, winning 57 caps for Australia, culminating in his appearance at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar where he was the outstanding player in the Socceroos side.
Rumours of this news started to surface shortly after Celtic’s Scottish Cup Final win over Inverness Caley Thistle in 3rd June after Mooy had missed the closing stages of the campaign with a back complaint.
One season in the Hoops was hardly enough but it was certainly short, sweet and hugely successful and “Aaron, Aaron Mooy” will always be fondly remembered for his contribution to Celtic’s eighth treble winning season.