Alistair Johnston won Celtic lottery as 'crazy' night set him on path to country music Irn Bru and disastrous golf

Alistair Johnston has become a Celtic favourite for his barnstorming displays. But the full-back reckons it was a stint of barn dancing that sent him on the path to Parkhead.

The Canada star was thrilled to pen a new deal at Celts up until 2029 and he’s happy to put roots down after a life on the road. Johnston grew up in Vancouver, and got hooked on country music in Nashville and is now hacking out the rough in the home of golf. It’s been some journey and the 26-year-old believes he can trace it back to the wild MLS draft of 2020 when he got scooped out of college and sent to Tennessee side Nashville SC.

Johnston said: “It’s crazy to think that a lottery of a night changed everything in my football career. I look back on it, and maybe if I’d been picked by a team who had a player more solidified in my position, I may never have had the chance to break through and before you know it, I could have been bouncing around the MLS without ever finding a home.

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“I might never have ended up in a place like Celtic. I got lucky in a way. That night was honestly crazy.

“There was a producer from the draft who had a 20-second head start on what was going on. I could see that he had every single team’s scarf lined up.

“Before I even knew who’d made the pick, he’d take that team’s scarf away. So I’d look over at him – okay, so I’m not going to Orlando...

“North America is so big, meaning one pick might see you sent to Vancouver, where I was born, away on the west coast. But if they don’t pick you, then the next pick is Miami and you’re away down southeast with a completely different lifestyle.

“Everything being so out of control is really odd. I was lucky enough to be selected by Nashville in the end.

“My fiancee Peyton is from North Carolina so she had already taught me in the southern ways. Nashville is just west so I was open to the idea of embracing the southern charm.

“It took me a while to embrace country music but after a while I got hooked! That was great for myself and my family on a personal level – and it helped me get here.”

Johnston’s career has featured more twists than a western ballad, starring in the States, proving to be a smash hit at the World Cup with the Canucks and now being a hero with the Hoops. He’s looking forward to making his home in Scotland for the next few years at least.

The full back said: “It’s definitely been nice in terms of having clarity and just structure. That’s definitely something that you need. It’s not easy when you’re moving around every year, I know a lot of players who’ve done that before, and I couldn’t do it.

“Again, to think that Celtic wanted to offer me a five-year deal and truly value me – even when I still have three years left on my deal – that’s something that they didn’t have to do. That’s a sign of good faith, that they truly care for me and, again, a lot has happened to me since I moved to Scotland.

“We got engaged at Turnberry, getting a dog, that’s like starting a family in some ways, so we’ve set up a few roots here now and we’ve really enjoyed our time. That’s something that wasn’t lost on myself or my fiancee in terms of making this decision.

“It’s a place where we feel really comfortable. I’ve started saying ‘Aye’ all the time and multiple family members have brought it up!

“I haven’t picked up haggis or black pudding, I’ve tried Irn Bru, which was okay, but the colour of it, you think that should be getting poured into an engine!

“Golf is another one. I’ve played some courses that are way better than my skill level. I hacked it around Troon and Turnberry was a disaster – I think I lost 30 balls on the back nine! But that’s definitely something I’ve enjoyed.”

Johnston’s arm didn’t need much twisting when discussions came up, despite a couple of years left on his previous deal. He said: “Once the talks got going, I made it pretty clear to my agent that is what I wanted to do.

“The club made it clear that they valued me and they wanted to get it done as a priority. That was from the get-go for them and it’s what you want to hear from your employer.

“It was nice to see that and the fans seem happy too. They were clamouring for it and I kept getting asked about it for the last three months.

“It was a good day when that all transpired. Could I finish my career here? That is a great question. I am not that far-sighted but if you could stand the test of time and the demands at Celtic, that would be unbelievably special.

“Only really a handful of guys can go out and do that – Callum McGregor and James Forrest are among the most
decorated and legendary players here at this club.

“It’s not often that happens but we will see. I have five more years and hopefully I can do well enough that I can think of an extension down the line again.”