Joe Hart inadvertently set the wheels in motion for Kasper Schmeichel to join Celtic - more than 17 years ago.The veteran shotstopper is set to join Brendan Rodgers' side and the latest from Denmark is that he could even be announced and join his new teammates in the USA on Thursday after passing his medical.
He's known well to Rodgers, and anyone asked about his suitability point to the fact he's already played in Scotland. Albeit with Falkirk all the way back in 2007.Former Celtic defender John 'Yogi' Hughes took him to the Bairns when they were flying high in the old SPL and he saved a Craig Beattie penalty against the Hoops in one of his first games.
It's stars aligned stuff but if not for that move from Man City, where he impressed and put himself on the radar in Scotland, England and beyond, he may not have had the career that led him to legendary Leicester status - and an imminent swansong at Celtic.Curiously, however, the move may not have happened without Joe Hart's helping hand.
Hart is the man Schmeichel will replace and it was a chance meeting with Hughes, when the Falkirk boss was scouting him shortly before taking him north, set the wheels in motion.That's according to Yogi's then-assistant Brian Rice, who told the Scottish Sun: “I knew his manager at Manchester City, Stuart Pearce, who I had played with at Nottingham Forest.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk