ON THIS DAY: WHAT BECAME OF THE LIKELY LADS

Celtic’s backs to the wall 0-0 draw in Barcelona nine years ago today was achieved partly because of performances from two players who at the time looked to have huge careers ahead of them at Celtic – David Marshall and John Kennedy – sadly for both this turned out not to be the case.

Celtic took a 1-0 lead over to Barcelona for this UEFA Cup last 16 second leg thanks to a goal from Alan Thompson in a game in which three players were sent-off, including Celtic goalie Rab Douglas, which meant that 19 year old David Marshall had to come replace Douglas. He performed admirably enough, but the real test would come at the Camp Nou.

Marshall passed the test with flying colours, turning in a series of superb saves in a now famous performance, which saw him rightfully named man of the match, as he stopped shot after shot against a Barca team containing the likes of Ronaldinho, Xavi and Luis Enrique. It really was an incredible performance. Just three days later he turned in another fine performance in a 2-1 win at Ibrox, and with a new contract signed it seemed that Marshall had long future ahead of him at Celtic.

Sadly this wasn’t the case, despite saving a penalty against Barca in the next season’s Champions League, Marshall eventually lost his place to both Magnus Hedman and Rab Douglas. The season after, Gordon Strachan’s first, Marshall conceded nine goals in his first two games and was replaced by Artur Boruc. A combination of both injury and Boruc’s form meant that he never became Celtic’s first choice goalie again.

In 2007 he signed for Norwich and was first choice goalkeeper for two seasons before moving to Cardiff where he has been the starting goalkeeper for most of his time there, and will probably play in the Premier League next season at it seems likely Cardiff will in promotion from the Championship. Marshall is still only 28 and could have a great career yet.

Sadly that is not an option for the other star of Celtic’s draw in Barca, John Kennedy. Kennedy, who made his Celtic debut at 16, was 21 by the time of the Barca game and was getting a run of games in the first team. His solid performance in the Camp Nou and then the 2-1 win at Ibrox led to a Scotland call-up, where sadly disaster struck, as during a friendly with Romania a dreadful challenge by Ionel Ganea but Kennedy out of action for almost three years, and required many operations.

It was feared Kennedy would never play again, but he made an emotional comeback in 2007, starting on the day Nakamura clinched the title for Celtic at Kilmarnock. Kennedy made some other appearances for Celtic after that, but an injury suffered against Shakhtar Donetsk proved to be his last game for Celtic. In 2008 he went to Norwich City on loan and put in some good performances but yet another injury forced him to return to Celtic. Sadly this proved to be an injury too much and Kennedy was forced to retire at the age of 26.

Since then however, Kennedy has carved out a successful role as Celtic’s youth team coach, and at the time of writing the youth team are in contention for a fourth straight league and cup double. Perhaps Kennedy is a future Celtic first team manager? Time will tell. Neither Kennedy or Marshall would have predicted what would have became of their careers since that famous night at the Camp Nou nine years ago, both probably had dreams of long successful times at Celtic, sadly this wasn’t to be, but both have done well in their relative careers, and they’ll always have the memory of the night they stopped Barca.