Celtic release Agathe

Celtic have confirmed Didier Agathe has left the club by mutual consent.

The 30-year-old wing-back was a mainstay of the first team under former Hoops manager Martin O’Neill.

But the Frenchman has failed to make an impact under current Celtic Park boss Gordon Strachan.

A Celtic spokesman said: “Didier has been a great servant to Celtic and everyone at the club wishes him all the best for the future.”

Agathe joined the Glasgow club in 2000 from Hibernian, after previously playing for Raith.

The former Montpellier man helped Celtic clinch the domestic treble in his first season at the club.

Agathe scored in the Champions League qualifier against Ajax in Amsterdam in August 2001 to propel the Bhoys towards the lucrative group stages for the first time.

He went on to play for Celtic in the UEFA Cup final defeat by Porto in Seville in 2003.

After the departure of O’Neill in May 2005, a groin injury hampered his hopes of impressing Strachan, but on his return to fitness, Agathe could not displace summer signing Paul Telfer in the starting line-up.

The Frenchman publicly voiced his discontent with his lack of first-team action earlier in the season.

However a possible move to Middlesbrough fell through last month after a trial period, and the player has now left the club.

Agathe made 181 appearances for Celtic, scoring 11 goals.