Source: PA
McManus agonised over Celtic exit
Stephen McManus has admitted his decision to leave Celtic after 12 years was the most difficult of his career to date.
The 27-year-old central defender this week signed a three-year contract at Middlesbrough after a successful loan spell on Teesside last season rather than see out the final year of his existing deal under new Bhoys boss Neil Lennon.
McManus' move south brought an end to a long-term association with his only previous professional club, and he has revealed he thought long and hard before opting to play under Gordon Strachan at the Riverside Stadium.
He told Boro's official website, www.mfc.co.uk: "It was something I thought long and hard about over the summer with the new manager coming in as well.
"I had a year left on my contract at Celtic, I had been there for 12 years and coming down here really opened my eyes to different things, not just on the football side of it, but the way you can live your life as well.
"It's the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my career, leaving Celtic. I had 12 wonderful years there from a kid when I left school. But I am coming down here, it's a fresh challenge and I am really looking forward to it."
