Following in the footsteps of Johann Mjallby from AIK to Celtic will be no mean feat for new signing Jos Hooiveld although the Dutch defender has already proved hugely popular at AIK by helping the Stockholm club secure the Swedish championship for the first time since ex-national captain Mjallby led the team to the Allsvenskan title in 1998.
The new bhoy will at least have time to prepare for his debut unlike Mjallby who was plunged straight into one of the most intense matches on the planet when Josef Venglos started him against Rangers just a few days after he'd signed for the club in November 1998. Of course his debut was the stuff of dreams as Dr Jo's team demolished the Huns 5-1 at Celtic Park. There has been a great deal of comment suggesting that Hooiveld is a very similar player to Mjallby and Johann can understand why the comparisons are made.
"The thing I really like about Jos is his will to win." he told the Celtic View. "Every game he wants to get a victory which is always important. He was a great leader for AIK at the back and played a very big part in them winning the double. He is strong and quick for his size and has a good left foot too. During this year he has really developed and is now very strong mentally and you can see how he has matured over the season."
"At the start he was very aggressive and wanted to win the ball all the time." said Mjallby. "Which is good but sometimes you have to stay off a wee bit. But as the season went on he got better and really got to grips with the with game over here in Sweden. I think the only person that gave him problems was Henrik - but there's certainly no shame in that!"
"I guess in a way we are both quite similar, as we're both quite physical and good in the air. He is faster than I was, but maybe I was a better reader of the game, but we were both leaders on the park for AIK and hopefully I was quite successful for Celtic as well."
Well if successful for Celtic means that the fans and the team itself still miss you over five years later then I guess you were a success Johann. If Jos turns out to be anything like Dolph I think it's safe to say there will be much celebrating in the Celtic Park stands.