Sport nationIt’s not often that a trialist earns the full 90 minutes to win a contract, but that was the opportunity presented to Charles-Édouard Coridon 20 years ago. The French playmaker, sporting unmistakable dreadlocks, was hardly likely to fly under the radar during his big audition against Tottenham in 2004.
Celtic were the masters of putting English opposition to the sword under Martin O’Neill, and Jacques Santini’s side came unstuck in the glamour friendly thanks to goals from Craig Beattie and newly acquired Henri Camara. Camara, the most expensive British loan signing in history at the time, attempted to replace Henrik Larsson in a £1.5m one-year deal from Wolves. However, it didn’t work out, and Camara was eventually sent back in January when O’Neill landed Craig Bellamy.
But back to Coridon, and his dancing feet, which belied someone of his stature, as he failed to make the most of his big audition at Parkhead. Everton manager David Moyes was in attendance that night, looking to beat Celtic to Coridon’s signature. Coridon was still under contract at Lens, but the Ligue 1 side were happy to allow him a shot to audition in Glasgow.
So, what went wrong? Nothing egregious, but there was a sense Coridon let the game pass him by, and O’Neill conjured up the politest terms possible to describe a player blowing out his a*** at the final whistle. He opined, “He did okay. Obviously, I will have to speak to him, but I don’t know the exact position with his club. It’s difficult to make an assessment after 90 minutes. Match fitness is another issue, and he looked to be blowing quite hard at the end.”
His agent, Willie McKay, was more upbeat, insisting, “I spoke to Martin O’Neill this morning, and negotiations are ongoing. He wants to see what he would cost in transfer fees, because he is still contracted to the club.” The man himself, perhaps, could see the writing on the wall, as he praised Celtic while hinting a mega-money move to England was in the offing, stating, “I’ve enjoyed my time with Celtic, and I want to thank the manager and the players. If Celtic decide not to take me, then I have the opportunity to play in the English Premier League, but my first priority is to play for Celtic.”
Camara and Juninho – two Celtic misfits (Image: Press Association) So, what happened next? Big Charles didn’t earn a move to Glasgow, or Liverpool, for that matter, as Paris Saint-Germain came calling. This wasn’t the Qatari-backed billionaires which modern football fans now know. However, that PSG team was strong, and Coridon was a key part of the side that competed in the 2004/05 Champions League.
He scored an iconic scorpion kick against Porto – a goal which was named as the best of the tournament by a fan poll on the UEFA website. Celtic did sign an attacking midfielder a fortnight after Coridon’s sliding doors moment, as Juninho failed to recreate the magic that had been missing since Lubo Moravcik’s departure two years earlier.
Coridon technically wore the Hoops, but he never earned a chance to become a bonafide Parkhead star. The French Eddy who might have been. The question remains, what if Coridon had earned a move to Celtic? Would he have become a fan favorite, or would he have been another misfit like Camara and Juninho? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – Coridon’s audition at Parkhead will always be remembered as a sliding doors moment in Celtic’s history.
In the years that followed, Coridon went on to have a successful career, playing for several clubs in France and abroad. However, he never forgot about his audition at Celtic and the opportunity that slipped through his fingers. In a recent interview, Coridon reflected on his time at Celtic, saying, “It was a great experience, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to play for such a big club. However, I’m also disappointed that it didn’t work out. I felt like I had a lot to offer, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Coridon’s story serves as a reminder that, in football, opportunities can come and go in an instant. One moment, you’re on top of the world, and the next, you’re wondering what could have been. However, Coridon’s legacy lives on, and his audition at Celtic will always be remembered as a fascinating footnote in the club’s history.
As for Celtic, they continued to dominate Scottish football, winning several league titles and domestic cups. However, the club has also experienced its fair share of ups and downs over the years, including a few disappointing seasons and some high-profile departures.
Despite this, Celtic remains one of the biggest and most beloved clubs
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