John Hartson etched his name into Celtic folklore during five successful years at the club – but he very nearly joined their arch rivals Rangers.
In 2000, the striker agreed terms to sign for the Gers in a £6.5million deal from Coventry.
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However, the deal dramatically collapsed due to a problem with Hartson’s medical.
The following year he joined Celtic, where he formed a formidable strike partnership with Henrik Larsson and helped to end Rangers’ dominance in Scotland, which had occurred for much of the previous decade.
You could argue that Hartson’s switch swung the tide of recent success in Celtic’s favour, especially given what has happened since.
And an exclusive interview with talkSPORT host Jim White, the Hoops legend reveals just how close things came to being very different if it wasn’t for a problem with his left knee.
“I failed four medicals before joining Celtic,” Hartson began. “It was the trust that Martin [O’Neill] put in me that made me excel at Celtic because I had so much respect for him after he decided to take that chance on me after my failed medicals.
“I had already failed a medical at Spurs under George Graham and Alan Sugar. They were going to take me.
“I had previously worked with George at Arsenal but also failed a medical there, Charlton and the one we’re going to talk about now – Rangers.
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“It was my knee. I had a small arthroscopy operation on my left knee when I was at Wimbledon.
“It kept me out for about four games. It was laser and my knee wasn’t cut open but it was enabling me to fail medicals.
“There was something showing up on my knee and it prevented me from getting all these moves before I eventually joined Celtic.
“I was thinking to myself: ‘I can’t pass a medical and I am 26 years of age!’
“Certain managers and doctors will be very, very thorough, but other managers will take a chance.”
Rangers travel to their fierce rivals Celtic on Saturday in a 12.30pm kick-off at Parkhead.
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