There was a little bit of thunder stealing at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon as the return of Henrik Larsson to the East End of Glasgow raised as big a cheer as the three trophies that were paraded in front of the home support.

A gathering of names past and present turned out to honour Scott Brown for the decade of service he has had with Celtic as a Parkhead select drew 2-2 with Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland side.

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The events at Hampden yesterday afternoon ensured that it was always going to be an afternoon of celebration but the return of Larsson and O’Neill to their old stomping ground brought forth significant cheer while the outgoing Patrick Roberts was given the send-off that he had craved at the national stadium.

Coming on for just less than half hour of the game still to play, Larsson almost took the roof off when he replaced former Celt Charlie Mulgrew, with the Swede arriving to much fanfare.

At 46, Larsson physically still looked good enough to get a game, although one ballooned free-kick towards the end of the game perhaps underlined the fact that age catches up with us all.

Roberts got a final goal at Celtic Park too as he bowed out, while Leigh Griffiths also enjoyed his celebrations after a season in which he has never had a proper run in the team through injury and illness.

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Those goals came after an opening strike from Alan Browne before Callum O’Dowda has restored Ireland’s lead after the break.

Roberts left the pitch to a warm send off as he looks to embark on the next chapter of his career after a 2.5 year loan spell at the club, while the arrivals of Hampden goalscorer Olivier Ntcham and the addition of Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele gave the crowd something else to applaud.

In essence, however, it was an afternoon not just to acknowledge Brown’s contribution to Celtic and the impact he has had, particularly in recent seasons, but also to celebrate just what Rodgers has done at the club since his arrival.

“When I first signed for Celtic, my aim was just to get in the team and play,” said Brown. “It was a great team at the time and we always struggled against them when I was at Hibs.

“Celtic had some exceptional players so it was just about trying to play my way in after a pre-season. Luckily enough for me, I am still digging my heels in after 11 years and still playing.

“I have said before that I feel as I fit as I ever have. I don’t think I could have done two games in two days a couple of years ago.

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“It’s about looking after my body now and coming back to pre-season as fit as possible. I want to keep pushing until these legs eventually give up.” It remains to be seen just what lies ahead for Celtic this summer with a number of players expected to move on, while Brendan Rodgers has intimated that he would like to make fresh additions to the squad. The Parkhead side are optimistic of securing a permanent deal for Odsonne Edouard while Roberts is set to pursue pastures new. Whatever comes next, Brown believes that the current crop of players have secured their own place in the history of the club.

“That’s football,” he said. “There is always talk about people leaving and managers going here, there and everywhere. That’s what happens when you are doing so well, players are playing well and you have a great manager. There are always going to be rumours.

“But we have a very strong squad and whatever happens will happen.

“When people come here, they maybe don’t expect the fans to turn out the way they have done for us and to be winning two or three trophies every season.

“People want to be remembered here. They want to go down in the history books and this bunch of lads has.”