Paolo Di Canio signed for Celtic nearly 30 years ago this weekend. The Italian maverick dazzled and drew disbelief during his time in Glasgow’s East End, but the man who joined from AC Milan in May of 1996 never failed to leave an imprint in just over a year at the Scottish giants…
Brought to the club during the Fergus McCann-era at Celtic Park, Di Canio was scouted and brought to the club by ex-player and manager, Davie Hay. The Quiet Assassin wasted no time in recommending him for transfer to then General Manager Jock Brown, CEO McCann, and Bhoys boss, Tommy Burns.
‘I had been alerted to him by a contact’
Hay remembers going to see the flamboyant forward in action when he was in his pomp and only had good things to report back to base in the aftermath. In an interview with Scottish Daily Mail, the Hoops legend said: “I had been alerted to him by a contact. I had obviously watched him on television but I like to go to see a player…just to check he has two legs and two arms.”
Recalling the litany of talent that Di Canio was mixing with back then, Hay continued: “AC Milan were playing Bordeaux in the second leg of a Europa League quarter-final. Bordeaux won 3-0 after losing 2-0 in Milan. To give you an idea of the quality, Bordeaux had Christophe Dugarry, Bixente Lizarazu and Zinedine Zidane.
Di Canio came on at half-time for Roberto Baggio
Milan had Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Marcel Desailly and George Weah. Di Canio came on at half-time for Roberto Baggio. This was the level. Yes, he was on the bench but so were Demetrio Albertini and Mauro Tassoti.”
Despite his deputising role and his flair for the dramatic, the man who watched him that night for the first time in the flesh had no doubts he would fit the bill.
‘Hot-headed, yes, but also a player’
“I was convinced pretty quickly,” Hay asserted. “His desire and commitment were obvious and so was his level of fitness. Given the stage, the ability was always going to be there. But he never let up, was fully into the game and was booked. The attitude absolutely convinced me he could do a turn for us. Hot-headed, yes, but also a player.
“Tommy Burns (then manager) agreed with my verdict and Fergus McCann (then chief executive) was keen to move ahead quickly. My recollection is that the deal was fairly smooth in terms of getting it over the line.
‘The fans loved him and I liked him a lot’
“It was the time of Pierre van Hooijdonk and Jorge Cadete so it was an exciting line-up. The fans loved him and I liked him a lot. He lived just up the road from me and would come down to my house for wee bits of advice on living in Scotland.”
Reminiscing about the former Lazio and West Ham striker’s hilarious eccentricities, the ex-Chelsea star mused: “One night he chapped my door and said: ‘What is this council tax?’ I told him what it was but added: “I’m not paying it for you, Paolo, you are on much more than me!”. Any wee issues and he would come to me. He was such a character. I got close to him and admired him. He was extremely fit and hugely talented.”
Di Canio’s spell at Parkhead was short-lived but eventful
Di Canio’s spell at Parkhead was short-lived and he was on the move just over 12 months later in August of 1997 to Sheffield Wednesday. Paolo continued his career down south from there-on in, moving to West Ham, where he became a club legend.
There were some magic moments throughout the years for the Italian in Scottish and English football, and Hay reckons he could’ve replaced Eric Cantona at Manchester United, such was his quality.
“He was truly top level and there was a theory that he could replace Eric Cantona at Manchester United,” Hay remarked. “I would not disagree with that. He was loved at Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham before he went back to Italy. The quality he had will always be fondly remembered by those who saw him.”
Di Canio’s exit opened the Celtic door for Swedish striker Henrik Larsson
Di Canio’s move precipated the club bringing Swedish striker Henrik Larsson to these shores. In what was an exceptional signing for the Scottish side from Dutch outift Feyenoord, the man given the affectionate moniker ‘The King of Kings’ went on to cement a legacy rarely found in football, making sure everyone quickly forgot Di Canio, despite the obvious affection that still remains for the forward to this day.
Paul Gillespie
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1 Comment
“Hot-headed, yes, but also a player,”……Also a fascist