The St Mirren game might be more than just another league match for Greg Taylor. When the left-back steps onto the Celtic Park pitch, he could be playing his final home league fixture in the famous green and white hoops. After nearly six years at the club, his contract runs out next month, and despite manager Brendan Rodgers expressing a desire for him to stay, Taylor’s future remains up in the air.
Taylor arrived at Celtic Park from Kilmarnock back in 2019, costing a modest £2.2 million. At the time, plenty of sports betting websites marked this as excellent business for the Glasgow giants. It’s hard to argue with that assessment now. The Scotland international established himself as the first-choice under three different managers and collected an impressive trophy haul along the way.
Born in Greenock on November 5, 1997, he started in the Rangers youth system, dreaming of making it big at Ibrox. Those dreams crumbled when the club released him for being “too small and too slight.” It’s the kind of rejection that ends many promising careers, but Taylor refused to let that setback define him.
Kilmarnock gave him his chance, and he grabbed it with both hands. Strong performances at Rugby Park caught the attention of Celtic scouts, who saw technical ability and tactical intelligence rather than focusing on his physical stature. That £2.2 million now looks like pocket change compared to what Taylor brought to the club.
Once at Celtic, Taylor had to win over three different managers. Neil Lennon brought him to the club, Ange Postecoglou kept faith with him, and now Brendan Rodgers relies on him as his first-choice left-back. In a sport where managerial changes often spark squad overhauls, Taylor’s ability to retain his place speaks volumes about his consistency and adaptability.
During his time at Celtic, Taylor lifted 11 major domestic trophies, including five Scottish Premiership titles. He could add one more piece of silverware to that impressive collection if Celtic manage to overcome Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on May 24.
Taylor racked up 214 appearances for Celtic across all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing 33 assists along the way. For a defender, those attacking contributions stand out. Breaking it down further, he made 155 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, with six goals and 29 assists to his name in league competition.
Cup competitions saw Taylor turn out 16 times in the Scottish Cup and nine times in the League Cup, scoring once in each tournament. European nights featured Taylor on 34 occasions, where he notched one goal and provided three assists against continental opposition.
In financial terms, Taylor sits somewhere in the middle of Celtic’s wage structure. His weekly salary of £15,000 amounts to an annual package of £780,000; decent money, but far from the highest at the club. It reflects his status as a reliable first-team regular rather than a marquee star.
The contract situation now hangs over Taylor’s head. His current deal expires in June, leaving him free to walk away unless a new agreement materializes soon. While Rodgers publicly backed Taylor to stay, football rarely offers guarantees. The club or the player could easily be looking in different directions.
One factor potentially complicating matters is the persistent rumor about Kieran Tierney possibly returning to Celtic. The Arsenal left-back, currently on loan at Real Sociedad, maintains strong emotional ties to Celtic, his boyhood club. If Tierney does return, Taylor would face competition for his spot from a player who enjoys hero status among the Celtic faithful.
Off the pitch, Taylor’s life changed significantly during his Celtic years. In June 2024, he married Laura McFarlane after two years of engagement, with their wedding taking place in Ibiza. The couple welcomed their daughter Ruvie earlier this year, on February 27. These family developments might weigh heavily as Taylor ponders his next career move.
The business side of his career saw changes, too. In April 2022, Taylor switched representation, joining the Pro Legal Group agency after previously being with Jackie McNamara’s Consilium Sports Group. This shift coincided with his growing stature in Scottish football and perhaps signaled ambitions beyond the domestic scene.
Taylor’s past holds an interesting twist. Despite now being firmly associated with Celtic, he once admitted supporting Rangers as a boy. This revelation surfaced in January 2017 following a contentious incident during his Kilmarnock days, when he received a red card for a tackle on Rangers midfielder Joey Barton.
Questions arose about his intentions, given his childhood allegiance, but Taylor insisted the tackle wasn’t deliberate. The incident happened on August 26, 2016, during a Scottish Premiership match at Rugby Park. Rangers had just equalized through James Tavernier when Taylor made a high challenge on Barton’s leg. Despite going down to ten men after Taylor’s dismissal, Kilmarnock managed to hang on for a point.
Moving from Kilmarnock to Celtic demanded significant adaptation from Taylor. At Kilmarnock, the team typically played on the counter, defending deep and striking when opportunities arose. Celtic, as the dominant force in Scottish football, usually controls possession while facing teams that park the bus. Taylor had to adjust his game accordingly, developing his attacking skills while maintaining defensive solidity.
He embodies the modern full-back. No longer limited to just defensive duties, today’s full-backs practically serve as additional attackers when their team pushes forward. Taylor’s assist tally, particularly in league competition, where he provided 29, demonstrates how thoroughly he embraced this evolution of the position.
Celtic fans took time to warm to Taylor. Initially seen as the replacement for academy graduate Tierney, Taylor faced the unenviable task of filling the boots of a local hero. Through consistent performances and obvious commitment, he gradually won respect from the Parkhead crowd, even if he never quite achieved the adoration reserved for homegrown talents.
If the St Mirren match does turn out to be his final league appearance at Celtic Park, fans will likely acknowledge his contribution properly. Celtic supporters traditionally show appreciation for departing players who served the club well. The atmosphere for such occasions carries extra emotional weight, with fans making sure players know their efforts were valued.
Celtic Park itself forms a significant chapter in Taylor’s story. Playing in front of 60,000 passionate supporters represents a huge step up from the smaller venues of his early career. Taylor adapted to these surroundings, learning to thrive under the intense pressure and sky-high expectations that come with wearing the Celtic shirt.
When Rangers deemed Taylor too small as a youngster, nobody could have predicted he’d win multiple league titles with their bitter rivals. Life throws these curveballs sometimes. His journey from rejection to champion serves as a powerful reminder that early setbacks don’t define a career.
As Celtic evolved tactically under different managers, Taylor showed remarkable adaptability. Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou, and Brendan Rodgers all implemented different systems, yet Taylor remained a constant presence regardless of the approach. This flexibility made him particularly valuable to the club through periods of transition.
Teammates often praise Taylor’s professionalism and work ethic. The dressing room demands players who contribute positively to the collective environment, and by all accounts, Taylor ticks that box. Younger players at Celtic reportedly look to him as an example of proper professional conduct.
If Taylor does leave Celtic this summer, he departs with his reputation intact as a player who served the club admirably. His trophy collection tells one story; his consistent performances week after week tell another. Together, they form the legacy of a player who maximized his opportunity at one of British football’s most storied institutions.
What happens next remains anybody’s guess. Taylor might yet extend his stay at Celtic Park. He could seek a fresh challenge elsewhere, possibly even outside Scotland. Whatever road he takes, his Celtic chapter is a success story: a testament to resilience, adaptability, and quiet excellence.
For Celtic, Taylor’s potential departure creates both challenges and opportunities. Replacing a reliable performer never comes easy, but it could open the door for an exciting new talent or the return of a beloved former player. The recruitment team surely has contingency plans in place, whether Taylor stays or goes.
As for the player himself, at 27, Taylor sits at an interesting career juncture. Not young enough to be considered a prospect anymore, but with plenty of good years ahead of him. His next move could define the second phase of his playing days. Does he stay within his comfort zone at Celtic, or push himself with a new challenge? Only Taylor knows which way he’s leaning.
Whatever decision emerges in the coming weeks, the St Mirren match offers Celtic supporters a chance to show their appreciation for a player who arrived with minimal fanfare but delivered maximum commitment. Whether it’s goodbye or see you next season, Taylor’s Celtic story deserves recognition from those who witnessed it unfold.
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