It’s the city where he got his first taste of silverware. The place where he was happiest in his career. And the club that turned him from a boy into a man.
That’s why Dedryck Boyata is absolutely gutted he won’t be back at Celtic Park on Wednesday night. The Club Brugge defender should be making an emotional return to Glasgow on Champions League duty this week. But after falling out of favour at the Belgian club and being banished from the first-team, Boyata was left out of their European squad. It was a body blow to the 33-year-old, who spent four years in the Hoops, winning four Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups.
He was part of Brendan Rodgers’ legendary Invincibles team in 2017. Boyata says his time at Celtic is the period of his life he cherishes most.So, after discovering he had no future at Club Brugge, he was devastated when the Champions League draw paired the Belgians with Rodgers’ side – and the club where he started, Manchester City.
Boyata is philosophical about his situation but he’s almost certain to leave Brugge in January. Before that, he’ll face the agony of not being able to play at Celtic Park again.
In an exclusive interview with MailSport, the centre-back said: “I’m really disappointed not to be coming back to Celtic Park. But my situation here was created before the Champions League squads were done.
“It was made especially difficult for me when I found out Brugge would be playing Celtic away. We were also drawn against Manchester City so it’s the two clubs where I did everything before.
“It was hard to hear. It would have meant a lot to me to come back to Glasgow and play at Celtic Park again.
“It’s a place where I spent four years of my life. I’d say that’s where I became a proper professional player.
“Celtic is the club that made me a man. And family-wise, myself and my wife had some great times over there.
“So it’s really disappointing not to be going back with Brugge. But it’s football. You can never have everything you want.
“Celtic was by far the best period of my career and one of my happiest times. Because as a young player, I was playing at City before but went to a place where I’d have the chance to play every week.
“And of course, there was the challenge at Celtic of trying to win trophies. That was a new experience for me.
“When you’re there you don’t realise it but you just never know how many times you’re going to get that in your career. That’s what I’d say to a player winning a cup – enjoy it because you don’t know when it will happen in the future. For sure, I probably had the best time of my life at Celtic.”
Boyata still keeps tabs on what’s happening at Parkhead and has been hugely impressed by their Champions League form. He feels the need to inform his Club Brugge pals about what they should expect on their first ever visit to Celtic Park.
But having lived it for four years, the Belgian defender knows there’s no point trying to explain how special it is. Boyata said: “It’s going to be a tough game for Brugge on Wednesday.
“It will be interesting for them to go there because the clubs have never met before. It will be new for a lot of players here – especially the first 10 minutes at Celtic Park.
“It’s going to be very intimidating. But it’s two great teams and Celtic have been doing well in the Champions League.
“They beat Leipzig in the last game which was a great result. I can tell my Brugge team-mates what it’s like at Celtic but until you’ve been there and experienced it – it’s difficult to explain.
“Even as a Celtic player, that stadium still gets to you every time. That’s what I felt when I was there.
“Even though you’ve experienced it before, those first 10 minutes can be very intimidating. Knowing you’re a Celtic player, at least it’s FOR you.
“But to be playing against it? I’ve never had that so I can only imagine what it’s like. So I can tell them. But so many players over the years have gone there and spoken about the atmosphere.”
It was Ronny Deila who signed Boyata for Celtic in the summer of 2015. A year later when Rodgers arrived, he was out of the picture and his future in Glasgow was in doubt.
But he knuckled down under the man who is now back in the Parkhead hotseat. Boyata says Rodgers had a big impact on him – and revealed he wishes he could have stayed at Celtic longer before leaving for Hertha Berlin.
He said: “Brendan was a big influence on me. We had a good relationship and he was always good with young players, especially when giving advice on how to become better and improve.
“Everyone knows about my situation at the beginning with Celtic. My first year was OK with Ronny but when Brendan came I wasn’t playing.
“Then he gave me the reasons and I focused on what I had to improve on. After that, he was great with me. I was part of the Invincibles team and what we achieved there was unbelievable.
“Do I wish I’d stayed for a bit longer? Of course. Everyone would like to go back and be in that same situation again. But it’s part of my football story. I’m a player from Brussels who ended up living in England, Scotland, Germany and Holland.
“This is what football brings you. You travel and you experience good things. I had another chapter of my career after Celtic so I don’t regret anything that I’ve done. It has all made me the person I’ve become.”