SCOTT BROWN celebrated Celtic’s double Treble with a testimonial to mark his 11 years at the club.
But the shattered Hoops skipper joked his biggest achievement was playing two games in the space of 24 hours.
Broony lasted 88 minutes of the 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland – just a day after Celtic’s 2-0 Scottish Cup final win over Motherwell.
Over 50,000 fans turned out to pay tribute to the 32-year-old – who was joined on the pitch by sons Shay, Sonny and Kit.
Broony was knackered after a weekend of celebrating and partying – but insists he still has YEARS left in him.
He said: “I feel as fit I as ever have. I don’t think I could have done two games in two days a couple of years ago! Before anything, I need time to get over that. Two in two days is hard work.
“When I first came to Celtic, I just wanted to get in the team. Luckily enough, I’m still digging my heels in and playing 11 years on.
“It’s about looking after my body now and coming back to pre-season as fit as possible.
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“Is that why I retired from Scotland? Going to Peru…I probably wouldn’t have gone anyway.
“The boys will be going through different time zones but I can get my feet up and watch them on telly.
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“I want to keep pushing for Celtic until these legs eventually give up.
“I want to thank the fans for supporting me over the last 11 years – through good times and hard times.
“The backing has been phenomenal and hopefully we can win more in the coming years.”
Brown and Celtic team-mates paraded the three domestic trophies on his big day – and the skipper is determined to savour these successes.
He said: “It was definitely a perfect season for us. There were always going to be ups and downs.
“But we have always turned up in the big matches and we managed to bring the three trophies back to Celtic Park – where they should be.”
Celtic begin their Champions League qualifiers in early July – and Brown insists their focus is getting to the group stages.
He said: “We need to make sure we get in the Champions League. It will be hard with an extra round.
“I think we have eight games to make the group stages. But we have done it the last two years and we have to do it again.”
The Celtic fans – still in party mode from Saturday’s Treble success – turned out in force to pay tribute to Brown.
The game wasn’t played at the fastest tempo – but Martin O’Neill’s men didn’t hold back in a decent 2-2 draw.
An emotional Patrick Roberts also got a farewell goal on his last Celtic appearance before heading back to Man City.
Heroes of the past were in town too, with O’Neill’s talisman Henrik Larsson pulling on the Hoops again.
The Swede finished the game partnering Moussa Dembele in attack. Imagine that combo in their prime?
And 46-year-old Larsson, still in great nick, could have grabbed a winner – only for his finishing to let him down for once.
Gordon Strachan – the man who signed Brown from Hibs for £4.4million in 2007 – also watched on from the stand.
Several Celtic stars were probably asked to run off hangovers as Brendan Rodgers went for a strong team.
Brown was the only starter from Saturday’s Scottish Cup final win over Motherwell – with Charlie Mulgrew playing as a guest.
O’Neill, meanwhile, fielded an experimental side, with Jon Walters, Seamus Coleman and James McClean the most recognisable names.
Brown has never been one to hold back and that didn’t change, just because it was his testimonial.
He committed a foul inside two seconds but gave the grounded Sean Maguire a HUG instead of the usual glare.
But he wasn’t as happy when Alan Browne’s curling shot put Ireland ahead just 60 seconds later.
The next 20 minutes were like a training session until Leigh Griffiths’ almost grabbed an equaliser after a clever run.
The Scotland striker netted with his next chance though – poking home after a surging run from Eboue Kouassi.
The Ivorian was out to impress on a rare start but it was teenager Mikey Johnston who made the biggest impact.
Quick, tricky and not short of confidence, the Hoops winger looked the part.
With Roberts’ loan ending, Johnston should get more chances to shine next season.
Callum O’Dowda put Ireland back in front after the break – his shot rebounded off the bar and hit Celtic sub keeper Ross Doohan before rolling in.
Yet Roberts quickly got the goal he craved on his last outing for the club and celebrated like it was a cup final winner.
He then went off to a standing ovation before Brown did the same with two minutes remaining.
The Celtic skipper took centre stage again at full-time as Rodgers’ squad paraded their three trophies.
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