Tom Pietermaat will be in the stands at Parkhead on Friday, and the Belgian midfielder is not trying to hide where his loyalty lies. The 34-year-old, who once shared a dressing room with Lawrence Shankland at Beerschot, said he has supported Celtic for most of his life and will be there with his family for the title showdown.
“It sounds like a crazy story but I’ve been supporting Celtic for most of my life,” Pietermaat said. “My dad took me to a match when a team with Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and other top players beat Anderlecht. He then took me to the UK in 2003 and I watched Man United then followed up with a Celtic game.”
The trip clearly stuck. Pietermaat said Celtic beat Hibs 6-0 and that he has been a fan ever since. This week, though, his attention is split between the team he grew up following and the striker he once knew in Belgium. Pietermaat and Shankland were team-mates at Beerschot in 2021, when the forward spent one season at the club before later moving on to Hearts.
He said Shankland did not make a major impression in Antwerp at the time, but the signs of quality were there. “It was obvious he was a great player and the move turned out to be a very good one for Shank. I think Celtic will be very wary of him and it won’t be a shock if Hearts get a draw or a win,” Pietermaat said. He added that he sent Shankland a text the other day wishing him good luck, and got a nice reply back.
That adds a personal edge to a match that already carries weight for both sides. Celtic are in the stronger position on paper, and Pietermaat said they are worthy favourites because they have sorted out a lot of problems and have a better team on the park. But he does not see the outcome as a foregone conclusion, especially with Shankland involved.
“I’d have to say that Celtic are worthy favourites because they seem to have sorted out a lot of problems and have a better team on the park,” he said. “He will be snowed under with messages just now but if he wins I’ll be very happy to congratulate him on an amazing season.”
The fixture sits at the centre of the title picture, with Hearts looking to spoil Celtic’s day and Shankland carrying much of their threat. For Pietermaat, it is an unusual seat to occupy: lifelong Celtic supporter, former teammate of Hearts’ main man, and a visitor to Parkhead hoping for a result that still leaves room to congratulate a friend.
