Georgios Samaras has opened up on his time in Scotland – and the heat of the derby day rivalry
Former Celtic hero Georgios Samaras insists there is no game in the world with as much hatred attached to it as an Old Firm derby.
Samaras, now 40, spent six years at Parkhead and won four league titles, two Scottish Cup trophies and a League Cup.
The Greek international played in the Netherlands, England, Saudi Arabia, America and Spain – and retired seven years ago after a final stint at Turkish club Samsunspo.
And looking back at his career in an interview in his homeland Samaras revealed the massive impact the Old Firm rivalry had on him.
The Celtic cult hero explained: “I assure you that the hatred between the fans remains as unquenched as ever.
I’ve experienced derbies in Greece, derbies in England, but the hatred that you encounter in the matches between the two Glasgow teams I doubt exists anywhere else in the world.
“The differences between the teams are not just religious. It is not just a Catholic v Protestant battle. It is something much bigger.
“The religious divide may eventually disappear…the social one is almost impossible. A tradesman, a clerk, a worker who lives and grows up, for example, in the area near Ibrox, there is no way he can get a job on the other side of town.
You go in for an interview there and from your CV or the school you went to, they know which of the two teams you support.”
However, former Manchester City and West Brom star Samaras reckons there are enormous differences between the Scots and the English.
He pointed out: “Anyone who has lived in England knows that if you are a foreigner, no one will help you start your life there. No one will understand you.
“They will expect you to successfully meet their demands. In Scotland, it is not like that.
“They will be genuinely interested in you, they will open their home to you, they will invite you for dinner, they will help you solve any problems you may have.
The environment, the layout of the cities and the cloudy weather may be the same, but the warmth of the people is very different in Scotland.
