Mjallby looks to extend Celtic stay

Johan Mjallby is desperate for one more year at Celtic – but he fears that he might be packing his bags with countryman Henrik Larsson when they return from Euro 2004.

The Swedish international helped his emotional team-mate come to terms with the trauma of playing his final competitive game at Parkhead against Dundee United on Sunday.

But the 33-year-old does not want to follow Larsson just yet and admits that he, and more so his family, are anxiously hoping for a one-year extension after an injury nightmare.

Mjallby said of his possible exit: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t still possible that that might happen, but I don’t want it to.

“Obviously we’ve been talking – that’s no secret – but it’s still just a case of waiting and seeing for me at the moment.

“I’d love to stay but nothing’s decided yet. It really depends on how the talks progress and how the manager sees things.

“My future needs to be decided soon though and obviously I’ll need to speak to my family about it all because I know that they’d be heartbroken if they have to leave Scotland.

“They love it here and are really settled, which has been a massive help to me so they’re probably even more desperate to stay than I am.

“But we’ll all just have to wait and I totally understand why the club haven’t spoken to me before now.

“With all the uncertainty about my knee I would have been exactly the same in their position.”

Mjallby had confessed recently that he was seriously contemplating quitting the game altogether after this summer.

But unlike Larsson he has had a change of heart and wants to end his career at Parkhead this time next year.

“I’ve decided to go on for another year – I’m 100% sure about that now,” said the defender.

“More than anything I don’t want to finish my career like this.

“I would maybe have been all right about it if I could have finished having felt part of the team’s success but not at the end of a season which I have missed eight months of.

“The World Cup in Japan was a great competition for me personally and it’s just been such a shame that I’ve spent so much of the two years since out injured.

“I’ve missed some great times and great games and that’s been a pity because it’s been over these last two years that Celtic have really shown everyone that we’re a team to be reckoned with.

“But the main thing is that I still believe I can do a good job for this club.

“Obviously there was a bit of doubt about my career but now I’m absolutely sure that I have one more year left in me at a high level.

“Hopefully that can be spent here and even though I know it will be hard to break into the side, I still want to be a Celtic player next season.”

Mjallby is not envious of Larsson’s tear-jerking send-off but if he does leave in the summer he would love to end his Parkhead career with a Tennent’s Scottish Cup winners’ medal.

“I don’t mind that I’ll never get a reception like that,” he told the Celtic View.

“I’m just not that type of player and that’s okay with me.

“I have a good relationship with the fans and whatever happens Celtic will certainly always have a very special place in my heart. That’s another reason I want to stay in fact.

“This club has become special to me and I’ve only played for two teams in my entire career so I’d like it to stay that way.

“But we’ll have to wait and see what develops over the next few days.

“Hopefully I’ll get another year but if I don’t I’d at least like to finish off on a high on Saturday.”