Celtic have seen many players come and go over the years, with the Hoops constantly trying to strengthen their squad to give them the best chance of being successful in every season.
However, as happens with many teamd, some players end up slipping through the net at one club and then go on to have impressive careers elsewhere.
One example of this happening at Celtic came all the way back in 2009, when the Hoops had the chance to sign right-back Seamus Coleman.
According to Planet Football, the Parkhead club had taken the defender on trial but decided he wasn’t worth signing before he eventually joined Premier League side Everton, in a deal worth a reported bargain fee of £60k.
Since then, the Irishman has gone on to become a stalwart for the Toffees by racking up 376 appearances across all competitions, scoring 27 goals and providing 32 assists along the way.
Labelled a “world-class” player by his former Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, the veteran has recorded an average of 2.4 tackles per Premier League game this season, higher than any other defender currently in Frank Lampard’s squad.
Despite not getting his hands on any silverware during his time at Goodison Park, the 33-year-old – who is currently picking up £68k-per-week according to Salary Sport – has still garnered a lot of respect from many big names to have been involved in English football.
For example, during his time in charge of Everton, Carlo Ancelotti likened the former Celtic trialist to legendary defender Paolo Maldini and put him in the same bracket as some of the other big names he has managed, such as John Terry and Sergio Ramos.
Taking all this into account, it can be said that the Hoops and then-chairman John Reid may have made a mistake by not securing a permanent deal for Coleman when they had the chance 13 years ago.
Given the Irishman’s longevity at Everton and what he has provided for the club on and off the pitch, it’s safe to suggest that he would have been a key figure for Celtic had they pounced on him.
In other news: Celtic will rue call on £25k-p/w gem whose value has rocketed 400% since Parkhead exit