HE won two league titles and one Scottish Cup with Celtic after becoming one of Scotland’s biggest prospects.
But his career could have been very different as he at one point looked set to join Rangers instead.
Derek Riordan was Hibs’ top scorer before his exit[/caption]
He never managed to hit the same heights in Glasgow[/caption]
Derek Riordan, now 42, had many clubs on his trail when he started making a name for himself at Hibs just over two decades ago.
The pacy forward was one of the several prospects breaking through at Easter Road, and he was up there with the very best.
And not just in Leith, but in Scotland too.
He ended up joining Celtic in June 2006 for a low fee of around £170,000 after running down his contract at Hibs – one year after being crowned both the SFWA and PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year.
The boyhood Hibee had reportedly rejected offers from Cardiff City and the likes of Lokomotiv Moscow and Kaiserslautern.
But with his contract at Easter Road set to expire in October 2006, Riordan had a decision to make that summer.
Speaking to Si Ferry on the Open Goal podcast in 2018, Riordan was asked why he decided to leave Hibs.
“Celtic came in, that’s what it was,” he said.
“I think it was for a wee while (that they were interested).
“I think the deal went over a window and they left it to the next one to get it cheaper.
“Half of my family are Celtic fans and it was only an hour along the road so it just seemed perfect. Obviously with Celtic playing in Europe and the Champions League as well.
“There was more of a chance of getting in the Scotland setup too.
“Celtic and Rangers are absolutely massive clubs.”
Just months earlier Riordan had the chance to join the other “massive” Glasgow club.
It’s believed Rangers swooped in with a bid of around £400,000 on January but it was booted out by Hibs.
And the offer was tabled just weeks before the two sides went head-to-head in the Scottish Cup.
Riordan was dropped by manager Tony Mowabray for that game amid all the transfer talk and he came off the bench in the second half as Hibs stunned the Light Blues at Ibrox to win 3-0.
Derek Riordan and Hibs stars react after Ibrox rout[/caption]
Quizzed on why the move to Gers fell through, he replied: “To be fair, I didn’t have to make the choice because Rangers didn’t pay enough money to Hibs.
“I think I got left on the bench for Hibs when we beat Rangers because they tried to put a bid in.
“The bid came in basically before the cup game, before we beat them 3-0.”
Riordan admitted he never would have left Hibs if it wasn’t for the massive pay rise he got at Parkhead.
Ferry went on to ask what his decision would have been if Hibs offered him the same salary.
He replied: “I would have stayed here (Hibs).”
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