Comedian Kevin Bridges gave a team talk to the Celtic dressing room before the Glasgow side played an Ireland XI in Scott Brown's testimonial back in May.
"I got a phone from Brendan Rodgers," Bridges, a massive Celtic fan, revealed on The Big Interview with Graham Hunter podcast.
"He said 'It's Scott Brown's testimonial tomorrow, I usually give a tactical talk and then get the team in a huddle and give wee bit of inspiration, could you come in and give the inspirational talk before the game?'
"I said, 'Of course but if we're going to do it, we need to do it right. Get me a tracksuit with 'KB' on it, get me a clipboard.'"
Proceeds from the game - which took place on the day after Celtic completed the treble by beating Motherwell in the Scottish Cup final - went to charities, including the Liam Miller fund.
Ten minutes before kick-off, Bridges was called to the Celtic dressing room.
Brendan Rodgers pulled me aside in the medical room and said, 'How do you want me to introduce you?' I was like, 'You need to say that we're bringing in this new coach and he'll be working very closely with the team for the next couple of seasons. He's going to come in and say a few words.'
He's pissing himself laughing and going, 'Definitely.'
I'm standing outside the dressing room and he's saying to the whole team, 'We're bringing in this new guy. He's just completed his UEFA Pro badges.'
Scott Brown, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor and others immediately started laughing upon realising who would be giving the team talk. Others were unsure of his identity.
"There's Olivier Ntcham and Moussa Dembele, they're thinking 'Is this the new fucking coach? The guy's stinking of booze!'
"I thought the only way to approach something like that is to get into the character, make it look pantomime, make it look ridiculous.
"They're laughing and I'm like, 'Right boys, silence! Gather in. The gaffer's brought me in because he's worried there's going to be complacency creeping into this dressing room. Your double treble, it means fuck all if you slip up this afternoon. Celtic against Ireland is one of the fiercest rivalries in world football.'
"Tierney and McGregor, they started banging the dressing room.
"I left the dressing room just as the Ireland team were in the tunnel. James McClean was looking like, 'Fucking hell, Celtic sound up for this and it's only a testimonial.' Then he saw me and we were talking away.
"The team came out buzzing. It was a great experience to rally the troops."
Picture credit: Sportsfile
