Ex-Champions League star dubbed ‘world class’ joins non-league club at age of 35
A former Celtic ace once lauded for his "world class" performances in the Champions League has signed for a non-league club.
Gary Hooper, who scored 82 goals in a 138 games for the Glasgow team, has been country-hopping ever since leaving the UK back in 2019. Following stints in New Zealand, India, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates, the 35-year-old returned to English football after signing a short-term deal with National League side Barnet.
The move was announced last week though the Bees are still waiting for official confirmation with the deal subject to international clearance. Hooper hasn't kicked a ball since turning out for UAE outfit Gulf United in late 2022, and his last action in the UK came in the Championship with Sheffield United four years ago.
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The London-born forward began his career in non-league before bursting onto the scene with Scunthorpe in 2008. His impressive form there saw him earn a move to Celtic in 2010, and he average 27 goals-a-season over the next three years.
Celtic boss at the time Neil Lennon labelled Hooper "world class" after he stole the show in a 3-2 Champions League win over Spartak Moscow in 2012 and tipped him to cause Barcelona (who were their next opponents in the competition) trouble. Hooper didn't score, but gave the Barca defenders a good run around as Lionel Messi and Co. ran out 2-1 winners. Two weeks later Celtic returned the favour on a unforgettable night at Celtic Park which memorably brought Rod Stewart to tears.
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Hooper secured a well-deserved move to the Premier League in 2013, with Norwich snapping him up for a cool £5million, but he failed to make the same sort of impact south of the border that he'd made in three blistering years in Scotland. He scored six league goals as Norwich were relegated to the Championship in his first season at Carrow Road, and when the club earned passage back to the big time 12 months later he left for Sheffield Wednesday.
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The veteran striker has scored more than 250 goals over the course of his career, but was never considered for an England call-up, even during his peak goalscoring years. While at Celtic there were hopes he'd be able to represent Scotland, particularly as his grandfather was raised on the Scottish side of the border, though his eligibility was never confirmed.
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