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Samaras was sold on move by Celtic cuddle

16 July 2008 Provided by: The Daily Express

PARKHEAD 'FAMILY' PERSUADED GREEK ACE TO MAKE DEAL PERMANENT AFTER CITY SNUB GEORGIOS SAMARAS knew he would be a happy Bhoy at Parkhead after receiving such a warm welcome on his arrival on loan in January. That convinced the Greek striker he was a wanted man again after being frozen out at Manchester City.

"Gorgeous George", as Celtic's adoring female fans labelled the long-haired attacker during last term's loan spell, revealed he felt right at home from day one. "The atmosphere here at Celtic is really like a family, " said Samaras. "From the first minute I arrived all the coaching staff, my team-mates and the people working around the club put their arms around me with one really big hug.

"That was really important for me, feeling that support. "At that time I needed a club to support me and respect me and Celtic did that. I appreciated what they did. "I didn't feel I got that in my last six months with City. "There was a small problem with the negotiations with City.

"There were too many discussions and not enough decisions, but I never felt I would not sign for Celtic.

"I had the full support from the gaffer, Gordon Strachan, and the board and I was sure everything would end up fine."

He added: "The gaffer stayed in touch with me. "When you see a club really wants you it makes a difference. You feel they are on your side. When you feel you have that support it's enough.

"The new manager, Mark Hughes, arriving at City didn't affect me. "My decision was always to leave City. If Sven-Goran Eriksson was the manager or someone else, I really didn't care. I wanted to leave the club." Samaras is keen to play as often as possible for Celtic after rarely getting a chance at City under Eriksson.

"It was not exactly that they did not want me. I just didn't play the games I wanted to play, " said the 23-year-old.

"I was part of the team at City, but I wanted more games – and that's the reason I left.

"You must work hard because if you say 'they don't want me so I quit' then your career will suffer. And that's no good."

The striker is now relishing the challenge of trying to take a top-team jersey from last season's first-pick pairing of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald. Samaras said: "They had a great season and scored a lot of goals, but I am also here now and I will try to make things harder for them. "It will be good for all of us if it's competitive because you push yourself to be better and better.

"It's not the best thing to go to a club in January, as you have only four months and must show really quickly what you can do. You need to learn about your coach, your team-mates and also the club while settling in the city. "I was a little unsure because I was on loan, but now I'm really excited to have signed." Samaras insisted he will never reach for the panic button, as he simply doesn't play the strain game. "This might sound weird, but I don't feel pressure. I don't suffer from stress, " he said.

"The only thing I need is to go out there and enjoy the games and try and play attacking football, that's it. It's a game. My character is like this, but some other players may have another character and can't handle stress. "I know Barry Robson said something else and, of course, there is pressure at a massive club because you always have to win and play attacking football, or you have problems with the supporters and media.

"But some people can handle it differently from others.

"The pressure is there for everyone, but for me panic goes around my head. My only love is to play football."

Samaras has already proved he is a winner by striking crucial goals on Celtic's march to last season's SPL title. "I never give up. I always believe in myself and the team, " he said.

"A lot of people gave up on us after we lost at home to Motherwell and said we had lost the league.

"But we showed great spirit and heart. You never know what will happen in football, what to expect.

"You get spirit and heart if you have some personalities in the dressing room who give you character.

"Maybe other teams don't have that, but we do – and that's the reason we finished so well last year."

(c) 2008 Express Newspapers The Daily Express

Stephen Halliday: Unable to stomach a lunchtime kick-off, Samaras may become Celtic's cup scapegoat

IN THE lingering fall-out to any seismic cup shock suffered by one of the Old Firm clubs, there are invariably some of those involved who pay a heavier price than others. History informs us they are usually strikers.When Rangers lost to Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Cup in 1967, widely considered the greatest upset of all time in the tournament until the past few days, forwards Jim Forrest and George McLean were made the scapegoats and never played for the Ibrox club again.

Just ten years ago, Ian Wright was the front man quickly hunted out of town when Celtic suffered their own previous Scottish Cup nadir at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

So when the team-sheets were issued at Celtic Park on Tuesday night, it was easy to wonder if Georgios Samaras is destined to be the man who carries the can for last Saturday's convulsive semi-final defeat against First Division Ross County at Hampden.

Neil Lennon not only dropped the Greek international striker, who had started all three previous matches since the interim manager replaced Tony Mowbray, but did not even name him among the substitutes. German right-back Andreas Hinkel suffered the same fate and watched Celtic's gritty if unspectacular 2-1 victory over Motherwell from the stand.

Lennon insisted afterwards that no-one had been specifically targeted for their part in the weekend debacle, saying: "They are still part of the squad. I had to pick a team to win the game. It could have been anybody. Don't forget you have three under-21s to pick as well so sometimes you have international players in the stand."

The Ulsterman also made it clear, however, that he felt no need to offer any form of explanation to the players he had left out and Samaras may find it difficult to force his way back into the side. All in all, it was an unfortunate evening for the 25-year-old.

The curse of matchday programme printing deadlines saw Samaras adorn the front cover for Motherwell's visit and occupy the main inside pages with a lengthy feature article and poster. In an interview clearly conducted before Saturday's early afternoon humiliation against Ross County, Samaras informed the Celtic supporters of his distaste for the lunchtime kick-offs which are prevalent in Scottish football. It is something they had probably discerned already from his feckless weekend display at Hampden.

"I prefer to play night time games," said Samaras. "It's better than waking up at eight o'clock in the morning and you have to get out for a 12 o'clock kick-off. I've been here three years so it's not as bad now, but at the start I thought to myself 'that's not possible'. You can do it maybe three or four times a year, like I did when I was at Manchester City, but not every weekend.

"In Holland, the games are always at night time, just like in Greece with the national team. Your build-up for a game is better, and more relaxing, for a night time game rather than a 12.30pm kick-off. I think most of the players agree with me."

With Celtic's next two matches against Hibs and Dundee United both having 12.15 kick-offs, it would perhaps be wise not to bet on a quick recall to the starting line-up for Samaras.

Yet it sums up the enigmatic nature of the former Heerenveen player that after his first match in charge of Celtic three weeks ago, the 3-1 defeat of Kilmarnock, Lennon was moved to heap praise on Samaras, stating that he "was the best I've seen him".

But talent and ability has seldom been an issue in appraising Samaras. Application and consistency are a different matter. He has been an endlessly frustrating figure in the eyes of the Celtic support since Gordon Strachan recruited him, initially on loan at the end of the 2007-08 title-winning season and then on a permanent three-year contract.

There were spells during this season, notably around November and December, when he appeared capable of being a hugely influential figure in Mowbray's bid to shape Celtic in a manner both attractive and successful. Samaras scored six goals in five matches during one especially purple patch before fading badly.

His overall strike rate of 37 goals in 98 games for Celtic is more than decent, but his recent return of just one goal in his last 14 appearances certainly vindicates his omission by Lennon.

Irrespective of whether he plays for Celtic again this season, Samaras is almost certain to be on the biggest stage of them all this summer. His place in the Greece squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa is highly unlikely to be threatened by events at Celtic. Greek coach Otto Rehhagel holds Samaras in high regard, having played him in ten of the 12 qualifiers played to reach the finals.

It was a sumptuous pass from Samaras which created the goal from Dimitrios Salpingidis to defeat Ukraine in Donetsk in November in the play-offs, just another example of the player's fine technical gifts.

With Lennon making clear the need for major surgery on the Celtic first team squad this summer, it remains to be seen whether Samaras will be one of those off-loaded. He is under contract until 2011, but a good World Cup may attract suitors.

Just don't expect clubs from countries where fixtures kick-off at lunchtime to be among them.

Samaras: We want to repay 'unbelievable' fans

By: Mark Henderson on 04 Mar, 2011 13:36

DURING Celtic’s recent 3-0 win over Rangers, Georgios Samaras did something he had never done before when involved in a game of football. Kris Commons had just struck the Hoops’ third goal of the game in the 70th minute and the ball was at the other end of the field from the Greek striker.

Normally that wouldn’t have made any difference to his focus on the match but such were the scenes around him, he found himself pausing for a few seconds and transferring his gaze away from the action to survey what was happening in the stands around him.

What greeted him was a sight and a sound he has never experienced in his career, as the entire home support jumped up and down in jubilation before embarking on an impromptu mass huddle.

It was just another reminder to Samaras about how special a club Celtic are, and he insisted that this kind of backing would inspire the whole team to deliver some silverware at the end of the season.

“This is my fourth season here at Celtic and I have to say that was the best atmosphere I have ever seen in my life,” he told the matchday programme in an exclusive interview. “It was even better than Champions League nights. It was something unbelievable.

“To be honest, it wasn’t just me as I chatted with some of my team-mates after the game about it. I caught myself for a few seconds in the game just looking at them instead of the game. I was like ‘What’s going on here’.

“The ball was down the other side and I was looking around me. Normally, I never do that as I stay focused on the game, even if the atmosphere is good or bad. But it was the only time in my life that the crowd just struck me. It was unbelievable. I saw some clips on YouTube later on and they were even better.

“To see 50,000 people doing a big huddle and jumping up and down in the stands – I have never seen anything like that in my life.

“You might see it in Greece, Spain or Italy where you have the Tifosi – the really fanatic fans who sing from the first to the last minute. But this was the whole stadium.

“We, the football players, know that and everybody knows how special a club this is, and we're all working really hard to bring some success and win some trophies again – something we didn’t do last year.

“And the supporters must realise how big they can be and how much they can help us, not just in derby games. I know it’s not possible every week but I hope they can be with us in every game and we can do it on the pitch for them.”

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Samaras

Written by St Anthony
Thursday, 04 October 2012 18:41
From Celtic Underground

Source: http://www.celticunderground.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=963%3Ahow-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-samaras&catid=49%3Aseason-2012-2013&Itemid=85&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Regular readers to this site (there may very well be one or two) may recall this article I wrote 15 months ago regarding Georgios Samaras.

After last night’s dramatic win in Moscow Eddie Pearson contacted me to ask if I was a fan of Samaras’ yet. And the answer is..…….yes.

During the summer a friend remarked to me that Celtic needed a big striker up front who had pace and, preferably, a shot like a cannon. My reply to him was that we already had a player like that at Parkhead – Samaras. He has everything in his locker a striker requires and ideally the team should be built around his talents but it’s not only me who felt that there was something missing in the big guy’s make up.

There’s no doubt big Geo splits the Celtic support. It reminds me of the way my Dad used to describe Big Yogi, John Hughes, when I was younger – ‘Half the crowd used to swear by him and the other half swore at him’. And yet despite all the criticism thrown his way you cannot doubt that Samaras has talent.

Neil Lennon described the seven week summer spell between the initial draw against Helsinki and victory over Helsingborgs as ‘a living hell.’ I know what he means. Normally a draw against Finnish and Swedish opposition would see Celtic fancy their chances but with recent Euro disasters fresh in the memory, and an inexperienced side, confidence wasn’t exactly high.

I can recall the night at Parkhead when Helsinki took the lead and I have to say I thought the worst. However, the team showed great spirit to recover and take a 2-1 lead to Finland. In both away legs in Scandinavia Samaras scored vital goals and showed his experience in a young Celtic team. Qualification was a major achievement given the financial constraints we face in the SPL. In those four qualifying matches I rated Samaras as Celtic’s best player. The relief felt by Lennon (and the fans) was enormous and it remained to be seen how the young Celts would fare in the group stages.

In Moscow Samaras played well and helped to hold the shape of the team by keeping his position out wide on the left. In the final seconds he attacked Izzaguirre’s cross and headed home a glorious winner as watching Celtic fans all over the world let out exclamations of joy. At last big Sammi had showed us what he was capable of and showed a bit of heart into the bargain.

The win against Spartak was Celtic’s best in many years. Perhaps the most impressive thing is that this team does not rely heavily on one individual, such as a Larsson or a Nakamura, as we have tended to do in the past. This is a side who look solid in every area and have players on the bench who can come on and change a game.

So well done to Georgios Samaras on leading the Celtic charge in Europe. Whatever happens now, and we all hope for the very best, the big man has made a considerable impact. Hopefully the confidence he will gain from these goals will help him carry on the good form for the rest of the season.

There are some reading this who will be surprised at my sentiments. Well done Georgios. I am so proud you are a Celt.
Last Updated on Thursday, 04 October 2012 18:48

Hellas and back: The renaissance of Georgios Samaras

The Scotsman

By ANDREW SMITH
Published on Sunday 18 November 2012 00:00

THERE was a time that mentioning Georgios Samaras in the same sentence as Henrik Larsson would have had Celtic-supporting lynch mobs beating a path to your door.

The fifth away European tie of the season for Neil Lennon’s side, which pits them against Benfica in a potentially momentous Champions League group game on Tuesday, demands comparison between the pair. It does so by dint of the fact it presents the Greek with an opportunity to usurp the great Swede.

Samaras, with the help of a couple of kindly deflections, has been credited with goals in every one of Celtic’s on-the-road assignments in the past four months. Not since Larsson did so in earliest rounds of two UEFA Cup tilts between 1998 and 1999, has a player at the club scored in four straight European away games. Celtic’s peerless goal plunderer of recent times couldn’t make it five. Neither, for that matter has any other player at the club. If Samaras does so in two days, there is every chance it will be part of all sorts of history – owing to the fact that a win for Barcelona in their game at Spartak Moscow earlier on Tuesday evening would allow Celtic to progress for the last 16 were they to snatch a score draw in Lisbon’s Stadium of Light.

Celtic’s agm last week inevitably reminded of the comment from Lennon at the previous year’s shareholder gathering when he said the insouciant character was the sort of player “who could get me the sack” on being harangued about his continued selection of Samaras as Celtic struggled to keep pace with Rangers. A year on the Celtic manager was able to point to that league being won because of the rangy performer’s ability to “play teams on his own at times”. A “long and frank chat” two years ago cleared the air between the pair, Lennon recalled, and was the first step towards Samaras being able to play in an atmosphere not polluted by boos from his own fans. Made captain for the win over Barcelona, in part as appreciation from Lennon for having struggled back from an ankle injury while not fully fit, the 27-year-old was given a standing ovation as he left the pitch. No player in Celtic’s history has every completed such a spectacular turnaround in the followers’ affections.

“For me that speaks volumes for him as a person,” said Lennon. “There wasn’t any doubt about his talent but it was just about his consistency, which he has found now. Now, he’s never been prolific, we know that, but he weighs in with important goals at times and brings something to the team that others don’t. Particularly in Europe, where he is very, very important to the way we play.

“This season has been pretty stop-start with injury. He had the elbow injury when he was away with Greece then we got him back in for the Moscow game. He didn’t play great because it was his first game for two or three weeks but we know we will get something out of him [and he scored the winner]. He has definitely become more consistent. I think the players respect him, what he did in the Euros, what he has done for us in Europe, what he has done for us domestically.”

And what he wants to continue doing, Samaras has shown no desire to move away even when there seemed 50,000 Celtic supporters who would have personally driven him all the way to Azerbaijan if he’d found a club there. “He loves it here,” said Lennon. “He loves the club, and the supporters have really taken to him now. When he’s fully fit and flowing, he’s a tremendous player. He’s a very intelligent boy, a great professional, and he’s never given me one day’s problem.”

Samaras: my motivation is more medals, not money

Monday 22 April 2013
The Herald

Georgios Samaras has revealed his motivation at Celtic continues to be medals and not money.

The Greece international came on as substitute against Inverness at Parkhead yesterday and scored a superb fourth goal in the 4-1 win which clinched the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title.

With skipper Scott Brown sitting in the stand recovering from surgery to solve an abductor problem, Samaras was the longest-serving Celtic player on the pitch when the final whistle confirmed his third SPL championship medal.

The 28-year-old forward, who signed from Manchester City in July, 2008 following a loan spell at the club, also has a League Cup winners medal and gets the chance to win his second Scottish Cup when Celtic take on Hibernian in the final of the William Hill Scottish Cup next month.

As he reflected on his time at Parkhead while also looking to the future, Samaras claimed "winning games and titles" was what kept him going.

"I play football because I love it," he said.

"I want to have great memories when I have retired.

"These memories are about winning games and trophies, not the money.

"I love this club. I have been here six years and I feel that I have more to give.

"I am 28 and I do not know how long I will play football, maybe seven or eight years, maybe 10 years, maybe 12.

"I like to live my life in the now. I do not know what will happen in the future.

"I feel nice at this club so we will see what happens."

Samaras joked when asked if longevity in the game could equal that of Ryan Giggs, who is still turning out for Manchester United at the age of 39.

He said: "He is a legend. He is one of the best players in European football in the last 20 years.

"But I cannot see the future. I do not have this special power…yet.

"It is nice to live in the now and wait to see what happens in the future."

Former Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink recently claimed Samaras was on his way to becoming Mr Celtic but he believes that accolade belongs to Brown.

"I think Broony is Mr Celtic," he said. "He came here six months earlier than me.

"It was great to hear those words from a great player like Jan, a great man as well.

"I really appreciate what he said because I respect him.

"But I think this club already has a great leader in Broony.

"We all look up to him. In Scotland, the captain has to be Scottish.

"Broony is perfect for this role. I cannot see anyone replacing him in this position."

Despite the absence of traditional rivals Rangers from the SPL this season, Samaras insists this season's title win did not elicit a different feeling.

"No, the same," said the former Heerenveen player. "It has been a tough season. It is not easy to win games and win titles.

"It is about 20-25 players working hard, helping each other. If you play and do well, that is good.

"If you look at the whole campaign, we deserved to win the league. Fifteen points is a big difference.

"We focused more on the Champions League and the start of the season so we were a bit flat then.

"But we deserved to win the title."

Samaras will leave legacy of love at Celtic

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/samaras-will-leave-legacy-of-love-at-celtic-1-3394776?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

by RONNIE ESPLIN

Updated on the 30 April
2014
23:04

Published 30/04/2014 22:28

IF GEORGIOS Samaras is to leave Celtic at the end of the season he will do so satisfied that he has made his mark at a club he has grown to love.

The Greece international arrived at Parkhead on a six-month loan spell from Manchester City in January 2008 before making his move permanent, but the signs are that he will not renew his current contract which finishes in the summer.

Samaras, 29, has recently passed the 250-appearances mark for the champions and is glad his relative longevity will mean he is remembered at Parkhead long after many of his former Celtic team-mates have been forgotten.

“When I started playing football I always wanted to stay at a club for many years,” the former Heerenveen forward told Celtic View.

“I didn’t want to change clubs like other players do, moving every two or three years. I wanted to love a club and for it to love me back, so they could remember me for something.

“This club for me is Celtic. I have seen players coming here for six months, one year or two years and maybe they have played 60-70 games and they won’t be remembered.

“I have tried my best and tried to help my team-mates be successful. But the most important thing is that it’s good for me to know that I have a connection at the club and that’s really important. I am not a passenger.

“When I retire I will have my hall of fame and everything there will be Celtic.”

One man who is definitely leaving Parkhead at the end of the season is assistant manager Johan Mjallby.

The Swede enjoyed six years as a defender at Celtic before returning to join Neil Lennon’s backroom staff in 2010.

The 43-year-old admits leaving the club “will be sad as it will leave a big hole in me” and knows he may not enjoy the same level of success in his next post.

He said: “Success is something that you can take for granted and if I have to go and work for a lesser club somewhere in the world it will be different for me as it won’t be something that is guaranteed.

“But you must have this burning desire to try to change things and that’s always the outlook we have had here.”