Former Celtic attacking midfielder Morten Wieghorst celebrated his 49th birthday on Tuesday, with the occasion noted by @CelticLisboaa on Twitter in a post that included a video of one of his 14 goals for the club.
https://twitter.com/CelticLisboaa/status/1232206353848045568
The Denmark international played for the Hoops between 1995 and 2002, making 105 appearances for the club and helping them to win the Premiership and League Cup in 1997/98, the season in which they stopped Rangers from winning 10 successive league titles. Sadly, Wieghorst’s time at Celtic was overshadowed by a battle with Guillain-Barre syndrome in 2000, a disease affecting the brain which left him requiring ventilator treatment in hospital (as per The Scotsman).
Thankfully, he would play again for the Hoops the following year before returning to his native Denmark in 2002 (as per Daily Record). He received an Olympic Committee fair play award in 2003 after deliberately missing a penalty during a match against Iran which was awarded after an opponent picked up the ball, mistaking a whistle in the crowd for the referee’s whistle (as per The Guardian).
These Celtic fans on Twitter paid tribute to Wieghorst on his birthday, with one calling the Dane a “class dude” and others acknowledging his abilities as a player as well as his demeanour away from the pitch:
Was flying to Copenhagen on holiday and saw him at Glasgow airport at time he was still playing for us. Went up and got his autograph. Once landed and waiting for luggage he came up to me and started chatting about how much he loved the Hoops and Scotland in general. Class dude.
— Gordon Hendry (@Jake5ey) February 25, 2020
Great guy on and off the pitch
— christopher mcmenemy (@chrissy872) February 25, 2020
A great servant to the club. He overcame serious illness when he contracted Guillain–Barré syndrome. I saw him play in a charity match a few years ago and he looked fit as a fiddle.
— William Kay (@WullieKay) February 25, 2020
He was outstanding in the 97/98 season.
— John Beattie (@johnboybeattie) February 25, 2020
classy player.
— john mccrae (@J67John) February 25, 2020
One of my favourite Celts of that time. Smashing player for us (and Dundee).
— Nessy (Cultist Group Follower) (@nessybhoy) February 25, 2020
Been watching a lot of old games on YouTube recently and he is a player who you forget just how good he could be
— steven (@Beaumontbhoy) February 25, 2020
I spoke to him on the phone once when I worked for British Gas. He had a gas leak in his house. Crackin fella.
— PabloFanque7 (@PabloFanque_7) February 25, 2020
What are your favourite memories of Wieghorst during his time at Celtic? Let us know in the comments section below!
