Celtic Legend Opens Up About Addiction Struggles

Artur Boruc built a reputation at Celtic as a goalkeeper who thrived when the stakes were highest. Big games, hostile atmospheres and European nights never seemed to faze him.

But the former Poland international has now opened up about the personal struggles he carried during his playing days and in the years that followed retirement.

Boruc arrived from Legia Warszawa on loan in 2005 with a strong reputation in Poland. Celtic moved quickly to make the deal permanent after seeing enough in those early months.

Very few goalkeepers could match him at his best.

He had the personality to match the ability. Old Firm games, European ties and cup finals brought out the best in him, and supporters quickly warmed to a player who never hid from the moment.

The ‘Holy Goalie’ helped Celtic win three consecutive league titles, two League Cups and a Scottish Cup. He also played a key role in Gordon Strachan’s side reaching the Champions League last 16 in back to back seasons.

His form dipped towards the end of his time in Glasgow and the criticism that comes with that followed.

Now 46, Boruc has spoken candidly about the addiction issues he battled while still playing for Celtic.

He said (Glasgow Times): “Not many people know about this, practically no one. I had my own AA mentor when I was still playing in Scotland.

“My addiction was so serious that I had to seek help, and I was placed under the wing of a support group. I went to the casino to drink. That’s where they had alcohol after 10 pm. It was disturbing. I’m drawn to evil.

“It all started to become too much, even though I knew I could cope. I had the tools in the form of psychologists. But maybe it was my personality that prevented me from seeking help sooner.

“I got used to it, it was getting harder and harder, and only after a while did I begin to realise that my life wasn’t going in the direction I wanted.”

Like many footballers, the transition away from the game also brought its own challenges.

Boruc finished his playing career back in Poland with Legia Warszawa, but the adjustment after stepping away from the dressing room and the weekly routine of football has not been straightforward.

He said: “The last two years in Poland have taken a toll on me physically and probably mentally. And although I don’t miss the game itself, I really miss the whole atmosphere, sometimes the dressing room, the matches, and the friends I’ve had throughout my life. That’s probably what I miss most.

“I’m not a hero, I’m a human being who also has emotions, who, even if there were some weaker moments, I tried not to show them. But I gradually recovered from my addiction, and I believe the most difficult period is behind me, and a brighter future lies ahead.

“I was asked if I would cooperate if they made a movie about my life – I declined.”

Boruc was never a quiet character during his time at Celtic.

He was unpredictable, emotional and fiercely competitive, a goalkeeper who fed off the energy of the crowd and the occasion.

But behind the personality that supporters saw on the pitch, there were battles being fought away from it.

Hearing Boruc speak so openly about that period adds a different layer to a player Celtic supporters remember fondly. It is also a reminder that even the biggest characters in the game face pressures and struggles that most supporters never see.