Stephen McManus: 'So tough to leave Celtic'

STEPHEN McManus has admitted his decision to leave Celtic after 12 years was the most difficult of his career.

The 27-year-old central defender this week signed a three-year contract at Middlesbrough after a successful loan spell on Teesside last season rather than see out the final year of his existing deal under new Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

McManus' move south brought an end to a long-term association with his only previous professional club, and he thought long and hard before opting to play under Gordon Strachan at the Riverside Stadium. He told Boro's website: "I have worked with Neil for a number of years and it was a really tough decision.

"I had a year left on my contract at Celtic, I had been there for 12 years and coming down here really opened my eyes to different things, not just on the football side of it, but the way you can live your life as well.

"It's the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my career, leaving Celtic. I had 12 wonderful years there from a kid when I left school. I went full time in 1998, and it was a really hard thing for me to do, finally walking out of the door.

"Celtic will always be a part of me, it will always be my first love in football. But I am coming down here, it's a fresh challenge and I am really looking forward to it."

Celtic will always remain close to the heart of a man who fulfilled a boyhood dream when he pulled on the famous green and white hooped jersey.

McManus said: "If somebody had said to me as a young kid that I would have played for 10 minutes at Celtic Park, then I would have bitten their hand off to do it. To come through the ranks and to play in the first team, to win Old Firm games, to win the league, to win trophies, to play in the Champions League, to captain the club, it was an incredible feeling and one that will always stay with me."