AS A youngster, Gary Caldwell dreamed of following in the footsteps of his hero Ryan Giggs. Now, in a roundabout sort of way, the Celtic defender has done so in being today announced as the Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year. The honour comes a matter off days after Giggs, the most decorated player in the English game, was accorded the accolade by his fellow professionals.
"I had the Ryan Giggs Reebok boots, Reebok gear and watched videos of him," Caldwell says. "Of that Manchester United team who won the league for the first time in 20-odd years (in 1993] he was the player that I really admired."
Admiration for C
aldwell's career development centres on his mental strength. He seems to have had an inexhaustible supply to transform himself from the head Celtic fans forever wanted on the chopping block a year ago to the 'heid' they now cultishly laud.
Caldwell believes he grown as a player year-on-year since joining Celtic from Hibernian in the summer of 2006 under freedom of contract. His first season was interrupted by "missing the middle part" through injury. In his second, he "had the right-back spell, and had pressure and the crowd on my back from that". This year "with the long run at centre-back and the odd game in midfield" he believes he has shown his capabilities. "I've always said centre-back is where I can produce my best and where I'll be judged," he says.
Caldwell judges that he has improved "in every aspect" of his game since he pitched up in Glasgow determined to rise to the test of "playing for a big club and winning championships". He didn't have any choice. His debut in a 4-1 win over Kilmarnock made him painfully aware of that.
"I think I tried to come out and got caught and they missed a chance," Caldwell recalls. "Even when we went on to win, everyone wanted to talk about my ball-playing from the back. I thought 'this is what it's going to be like; this is the challenge'. To remain true to myself and be a ball-playing centre-back I had to cut out the small mistakes that were costing me winning trophies and playing in big games. And I think I've done that."
Refinement that has not required realignment has been possible because Caldwell has had the unstinting support of his manager Gordon Strachan, who he asserts has made him "fitter than I have ever been."
"He has always said be brave," says Caldwell. "The easy option is to boot the ball in the stand and people say no-one can score from there. But you can take a throw in, get it in to the box and score. I'm of the philosophy that, if I can find a green-and-white shirt, I'll do that. There are times the ball does have to go and that is the decision-making aspect of being a centre-half you have to get right. If you do, you'll do your job well."
Caldwell has done his job well this season. To the point of being a fine, dependable performer rather than an outstanding player. At 27, he has the years ahead of him to become the latter – especially if his startling progress across the past 18 months is any indicator of what could be expected in the next few years. "They do say as you get nearer 30, the experience you have gained helps, and I feel I can get better every year. Even over 30 I will still be able to improve. I will need to keeping improving."
With that sort of attitude, there is no reason why Caldwell will not.
The full article contains 635 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
