‘I started punching and shouting’ – Arne Engels Reaction to Celtic’s Club Brugge Draw

It’s not every day that a Celtic player has a chance to face off against the club that rejected them, but that’s exactly what Arne Engels will experience tonight as the Hoops take on Club Brugge in the Champions League at Celtic Park.

Engels’ journey to Glasgow has been far from straightforward, and his return to face Brugge promises to be a deeply personal and emotional night for the Belgian.

Engels was initially spotted by Gent, but it was at the age of 12 that he made the move to Club Brugge, where he began to show his potential.

Over the years, he progressed through Brugge’s youth ranks, steadily making a name for himself.

By the age of 16, he had earned a place in the UEFA Youth League, making substitute appearances for Brugge’s U19s in the 2019/20 season.

His standout performances led to a place on the senior team’s bench for their UEFA Europa League play-off against Dynamo Kyiv, but despite his promise, he was never given the opportunity to play for Brugge’s first team.

Despite his solid displays in the Youth League, Engels’ dream of breaking into Brugge’s top-flight squad never materialised.

However, this disappointment did not define his career.

In January 2023, Engels made the decision to move to Augsburg in the Bundesliga, a choice that would set the stage for his rise.

Upon his arrival, he was quickly integrated into the first team and impressed immediately, featuring in 18 of the final 19 matches of the 2022/23 season.

His performances were so impressive that he earned a nomination for the prestigious Golden Boy award.

In the 2023/24 season, Augsburg’s push for European qualification saw Engels play a pivotal role, appearing in all but two Bundesliga matches, contributing three goals and two assists.

But it was on the final day of the 2024 summer transfer window that Engels made the move to Celtic, signing a four-year deal with the Hoops for a reported £11 million, a club-record fee.

Engels’ debut for Belgium’s national team came soon after, in September 2024, when he played in a Nations League match against Israel.

Fast forward to tonight, and Engels will take to the pitch against his former employers at Celtic Park, and it’s clear that this match means more to him than just another Champions League clash.

In an interview with Voetbalkrant, Engels opened up about the emotional significance of the Game.

He said: “Wednesday, November 27, has been marked in my calendar for two months.

“I’m really looking forward to playing against Club Brugge. I was on my way to sign for Celtic FC when the Champions League draw was taking place. I was on my way to the airport with my agent, and we were following that draw.

“I remember saying that I just wanted to see Club Brugge and Celtic come out of that drum. Suddenly both teams were linked together, I started punching and shouting at my agent in that taxi. The driver didn’t know what was happening!”

It’s clear that this match holds a special place in Engels’ heart, and he’ll be hoping to show Brugge exactly what they missed out on when they failed to give him a chance in their first team.

Celtic supporters will undoubtedly be eager to see Engels take to the pitch and show why Brendan Rodgers was so determined to secure his signature for a club-record fee.

This could be a huge moment for the Belgian to cement his place in Celtic’s midfield with Paulo Bernardo breathing down his neck.