Donning the Scotland captain’s armband is as big an honour for Charlie Mulgrew as was leading out Celtic, the team he supported as a boy.
His experience and a “been there, done that” CV proved the tipping point for national team boss Alex McLeish in handing the Blackburn Rovers defender the armband – for tonight at least.
A relative latecomer to the international scene, Mulgrew was handed his international debut by Craig Levein a week before his 26th birthday in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia..
The former Don He swept the board at domestic level with Celtic, played in the Champions League win against Barcelona and recently endured relegation to England’s third tier with Blackburn. Captaining his country was missing from the list – until now.
He said: “Alex McLeish told me just before training I’d be captain and it’s a real honour for me. I didn’t have a clue – training has been a really good standard and everyone is looking good. I was delighted to get the news and it’s something growing up, playing for Scotland, that’s massive for me. Growing up supporting Celtic, it was massive for me to captain them. This is right up there. “I always believed in my ability that I would be able to play for my country. I played through the age groups but didn’t play for the senior squad until I was 24. You do doubt yourself at times and think it might never come but, thankfully, it did. I cherish each time I get called up and train like it’s my last session.
“Every time I get called up I don’t take it for granted. I look at the squad to see if my name is there and I’m honoured when it is.”
Mulgrew’s honour is for one night only – tonight against Costa Rica – but it by no means cheapens the armband. McLeish spoke of his wish not to see the captaincy banded around and in the 32-year-old he has someone who is well attuned to the leadership role.
Mulgrew said: “Scott Brown is the most notable captain I’ve played for but I just try to be myself. If you try to be someone else, people see through that quickly. Keeping the squad together, being vocal before and during the game; there are a few boys who are vocal in training and put their point across. Hopefully, I can lead example by the way I play as well.
“I’m captain of my club as well and when I got given that captaincy, I tried to be myself. I hope to have got because of who I am. There’s a bit extra responsibility and I’ll be trying to do my best for my country, as I always do.”
Balancing his Ewood Park commitments with that of Scotland is something he is aware of but as soon as he is part of the national set-up it becomes his sole focus. Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray spoke to McLeish about Mulgrew’s involvement in the friendly double-header, with Tuesday’s game in Hungary coming 48 hours before Rovers’ English League One tussle with Bradford. He said: “I’ve been aware of the fact we play next Thursday but my focus is on doing everything for Scotland. When Tuesday’s finished and we get back here then we can deal with Thursday. It’s 36 hours before the next game; at centre back you don’t maybe do as much running as you would somewhere else. There were chances to move on but I felt I owed Blackburn something. I was part of the squad that went down and wanted to try get back where the club should be. There are doubts in your mind but every time you get called up, you’re honoured and don’t take it for granted.”
