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FRASER FORSTER earned hero worship status with the Celtic fans following his many outstanding performances during his colourful Hoops career. However, no display could ever surpass his defiant presentation at Hampden on a grey, cold December 8 afternoon in 2019 when he proved to be unbeatable in the League Cup Final against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side. Neil Lennon’s men won 1-0 with a 61st-minute effort from French central defender Christopher Jullien following a precise left-wing free-kick from Ryan Christie. Shortly afterwards, the Govan club were awarded a penalty-kick and the Hoops had Jeremie Frimpong red-carded at the same time. HAMPDEN HERO…Fraser Forster dives to save Alfredo Morelos’ penalty-kick in Celtic’s 1-0 League Cup Final triumph in December 2019. Alfredo Morelos stepped up to fire the spot-kick low to the keeper’s right, but Forster stretched his 6ft 7in frane across his line in an athletic dive and managed to block the effort. That was the save that sealed the destination of the silverware. There was no way Celtic’s city rivals were going to get the ball behind the towering shotstopper that unforgettable day at the national stadium. Originally, Forster made his breakthrough when he signed his first professional contract at Newcastle United in 2005. Remarkably, after six years. he hadn’t made a solitary first-team appearance for the Tyneside club. He had brief loan periods at Stockport County and Bristol Rovers before former Celtic captain Paul Lambert, then in charge at Norwich City, arranged a season-long move for the netminder and he responded by helping the Carrow Road club to promotion to the Championship in 2010. He was due to return to Newcastle, but the Old Bhoys’ network came into play when Lambert, realising his former team-mate Neil Lennon, now boss at the Hoops, was searching for a new No.1, tipped him off about Forster. On August 24 2010, the giant custodian agreed a year’s deal at the Parkhead club. Hr played in every game apart from two Cup-ties. Forster kept 24 clean sheets in 44 appearances and capped off his debut campaign with a shut-out in Celtic’s 3-0 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Motherwell. A BIG HAND…Fraser Forster acknowledges the Celtic fans at Hampden. The following summer, the keeper rejoined Lennon’s side on another season-long contract and celebrated with a title medal while blocking out the opposition on 26 occasions. Celtic made the transfer permanent in June 2012 when they parted with £2million to get the fans’ cult hero on a four-year deal. Forster said: “I’m very happy. The manager’s faith in me means a lot, I’ve loved my two seasons at Celtic and he’s done so much for my confidence.” On November 7 2012, Forster impressed the Spanish media and earned the nickname ‘La Gran Muralla‘ – ‘The Great Wall’ – after a stunning display in the team’s 2-1 Champions League win over Barcelona. He enjoyed a league and Cup double, winning the national competition with another clean sheet in a 3-0 success over Hibs. The following season saw the popular Forster linked with several clubs who couldn’t have failed to have taken notice of the goalie’s command performances and Lennon conceded: “It’s going to be impossible to keep Fraser, the way he’s playing.” On February 2 2014, Forster set a new a club-record of 11 clean sheets in a row, surpassing a record of 10 shut-outs set by Charlie Shaw in 1921/22. He completed the season with another league winner’s medal as Celtic clinched their third successive crown. Inevitably, Forster returned to England when Southampton paid £10million for him in August 2014. After a string of excellent showings, the keeper suffered a broken kneecap the following March that brought his season to a premature end. He was sidelined until January 2016. ROARING SUCCESS…Fraser Forster with the 2019 League Cup. After his comeback, Forster earned a new five-year contract at the south coast club. However, he lost his first-team place in December 2017 with Alex McCarthy taking over. He was pushed further down the pecking order when the club bought Scotland international Angus Gunn for £13.5million from Manchester City in August 2018. A year later, Forster returned to Celtic on a season-long loan and was between the sticks that wonderful December afternoon to foil the Ibrox side at every twist and turn during his memorable Hampden outings. By March 2020, the Hoops were 13 points clear in the league on their way to a ninth consecutive title when all football in the UK was suspended during the Covic pandemic. They were later confirmed as champions and the latest success took Forster’s medal haul to eight over his two spells at the club. Celtic reportedly attempted to extend his stay for another season, but Southampton recalled the netminder who then made only 13 appearances in all competitions. After completing his contract, free agent Forster signed for Spurs in June 2022. He was signed as back-up to Hugo Lloris, but was given an extended run of nine consecutive games in the team after the French international sustained a knee injury in February the following year. The former Hoops hero left the London club when his contract expired in May 2025 and was out of football for seven months before Bournemouth signed him on a six-month deal. The contract for the 38-year-old six times-capped England international keeper was later extended until June 2027. * TOMORROW: Don’t miss the adventures of another former Celt in CQN’s EXCLUSIVE series. WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Celtic Confidential is the stunning book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Who was the tycoon who would have ruined Celtic? What really happened the night Kenny Dalglish quit the club? The real story behind Mo Johnston’s sensational move to Ibrox. All is revealed in Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book which is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Enjoy the revelations!