"THEY are all part of me. I carry them along with me."
Those were the words of Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou in the aftermath of clinching the Scottish Premiership title against Dundee United in midweek.
The Aussie took a brief moment to namecheck the various influences in his life - his dad Jim, Ferenc Puskas, his wife and family - that had got him to the stage where he had achieved his managerial dream of winning a European title with a world-famous club.
His voice cracked with emotion. He was proud as punch.
Amid all the wild celebrations from the Celtic fans, players, management and staff there was one poignant image. When the dust had settled and everybody had gone home Postecoglou strode over the Tannadice turf with just his phone in hand. It was a wonderful freeze-frame moment for a football manager who in that instant must have felt that he was on top of the football world.
For those of a green and white persuasion, the phasers were then turned to party mode on trophy presentation day.
"Everywhere we go. Watching Glasgow Celtic putting on a show!" It's the song that has rung out from grounds all across Scotland this season and the supporters rolled up to Paradise to sing their songs and whoop it up as they saluted the 2021-22 champions for their final game against Motherwell.
One more show would see Celtic end their campaign on a magnificent 32-game unbeaten league run. And one more show the Hoops faithful got - and then some.
It was relentless. As the banner said: "We never stop."
The players certainly rose to the occasion and it became a stroll in the park as Postecoglou's men ran out emphatic 6-0 winners on trophy presentation day. Two goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and a David Turnbull counter had Celtic on an easy street as they were three to the good by the interval. A Jota counter and a Giorgos Giakoumakis overhead kick and a tap-in after the restart were just the icing on the cake.
READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Kyogo and Giakoumakis help Hoops hit Motherwell for six
While the Celtic crowd were paying homage to one Aussie in the shape of Postecoglou, they were also saying a tearful and emotional goodbye to another: Tom Rogic.
The midfielder and Israel international Nir Bitton had called time on their respective decade long service at the club. The club announced yesterday that there would be a parting of the ways despite the duo still having 12 months left on their current deals.
It was twinkle-toed Rogic who was handed his chance to take a final bow from the start whilst Bitton had to be content with a place on the bench.
Cheers rang around the stadium every time the Aussie was involved in proceedings. He has given the supporters a treasure trove of memories. All or nearly all were beautiful. Wonderful. Magical.
It was tears and snotters time on 62 minutes as a clearly emotional Rogic left the field to a tremendous ovation and he was warmly hugged by every Celtic player as well as manager Postecoglou.
Yet not even the departure of two of the club's most loyal and successful servants could dampen the spirits inside Parkhead. Nothing was going to spoil this title party.
It was fitting that Rogic and Bitton brought the Scottish Premiership trophy to the plinth at the end of the game.
It was even more fitting that Zadok's The Priest (The Champions League theme music) blared out of the club's PA system. It served as a reminder that Celtic are back among the big boys of European football's elite with automatic entry to the Champions League group stages.
Mission impossible last June. Mission accomplished in May.
The season has been an utterly joyous one for the Celtic supporters. Postecoglou has put the smile back on the board, the players and the supporters' faces. He and his players should, and will, enjoy the moment.
They have woven their own fabric in the rich tapestry of club history - even if the Aussie still can't quite comprehend the scale of his achievement.
"That's the bit that overwhelms me," he said. "If my late father was around, I would share that moment with him because he was the one that set me off on this path. The fact that I have made an impact at one of the most famous football clubs in the world, I am sure one day I will cherish that."
Celtic supporters will tell you they are ever the romantics. If there is any justice in the world then you would hope and pray that somewhere upstairs Jim Postecoglou is kicking a ball around with Hungarian football legend Ferenc Puskas.
Hopefully, for once his proud father is telling everybody: "That's my boy."
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