Scott Brown applauds Callum McGregor for putting Celtic first as he names hidden factor behind Scotland retirement
McGregor retired from international duty and Brown reckons it was 'the hardest thing in the world'
Scott Brown knows Callum McGregor won't have taken his decision to retire from Scotland lightly - and pointed to his injury last season as one of the factors behind hanging up his boots.
The Celtic skipper has played his final game for Steve Clarke after a relentless few years that saw him run himself ragged for club and country. McGregor played a scarcely believable 57 games from June 2023 through to the end of Euro 2024 and the rigours began to show with the 31-year-old missing a month of action due to injury near the end of last season.
He recovered for the run-in and played all three games for Scotland at the Euros, but on Friday he announced the tough decision to retire from internationals after 63 caps. Brendan Rodgers admitted that, selfishly, it's relief to see his skipper giving himself a break. And Ayr boss Brown, who made the same decision in April 2016 before a brief return in 2017, has applauded his former teammate for putting his health, and his club, first.
Brown, speaking to BBC Scotland before his side faced Airdrie, said: "Callum is his own man. He's done some fantastic things for Celtic and for Scotland, he's been to the Euros and all that. I'm sure he's just put some thought into how he's going to look after his body now and giving everything he's got to Celtic for as long as he possibly can.
"It's similar to what I did back in the day. OK, I jumped back in for a few games, but I knew it was time to retire from international duty, the same as I knew it was time to retire from club football.
"It's the hardest (decision) in the world. Obviously being at two major tournaments with Scotland, for the first time in a long, long time, it's obviously a hard thing to do. He's probably thinking long-term about how to get the most out of his body and maintain his current level for Celtic for as long as he possibly can."
Brown was then asked if he can see where Rodgers was coming from when he said he was pleased to hear McGregor's decision. He responded: "Yeah, definitely! He saves a lot of energy for Celtic (by retiring). It's a long, long season, especially going to the Euros and playing in all these games for Scotland. He's not had a break for a long time. You could see he got injured at the end of last season, but played through and continued to do that for Scotland. The rest will do him brilliantly.
"Callum looks after himself really well. He'll still be eager to watch the Scotland games and he'll be a little bit jealous of the lads, as I was when I retired. But you've got to give it up eventually and Callum knows it's maybe the right time for his body. He's got to look after Celtic as well."