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Happy Birthday Pierre

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Pierre Van Hooijdonk was an iconic figure at Celtic Park. At over six foot three the Dutch striker had great control of the ball at his feet and his presence and threat from dead balls either as a target man or free kick taker was well known at Paradise.

Today, the big Dutchman turns 51, we say “Happy Birthday” and look back at his career at Celtic and at some of his goals.

The late great Tommy Burns signed Pierre from NAC Breda back in January 1995 and he made his Celtic debut in a league match against Hearts at Hampden Park. The striker made an instant impact for his new team by scoring an outstanding solo goal to open the scoring.  PVH joined Celtic at a time where Rangers where gunning for nine in a row and the Hoops had not won a trophy in six years but it was his goal in the Scottish Cup Final that year that ended that barren run and brought silverware home to Paradise.

In his debut season, PHV made 19 appearances, scoring 8 goals.  Not a bad return for a player that had joined mid season but it was season 95/96 that he really came into his own. PHV appeared 44 times and scored 32 goals in all competitions including a 72nd minute equaliser in a classic 3-3 draw against Rangers at Ibrox in the Glasgow Derby.

In season 96/97 things quickly turned sour for Van Hooijdonk at Celtic Park as a fallout with Fergus McCann over a “gentleman’s agreement” that he was to receive an improved contract.  The contract he was offered wasn’t deemed good enough for Pierre and in an unfortunate interview he claimed “£7,000 is enough for a homeless person, but not enough for a top-class footballer”.

He was subsequently sold to Nottingham Forrest for £4.5m that summer and his career at Celtic was over.

PVH will always be remembered for the goal the ended Celtic’s trophyless six years, but unfortunately he will never be forgotten for “that” comment.

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