A familiar name has reappeared in the headlines as former Celtic striker John Guidetti makes a surprise return to football, with his new club officially confirming the move.
The 33 year old had stepped away from the game earlier this year and spoke openly about enjoying life away from the pitch, even joking about finally being able to relax without scrutiny. It seemed like his playing days were behind him.
He said: “Now I can eat kebabs without criticism.
“It’s a bit like Picasso. He’s okay at painting, so why shouldn’t he paint? It feels like I’m pretty good at this, and I want to do something I’m good at.”
But in a twist few expected, Guidetti has now come out of retirement to sign for Swedish fourth tier side Rinkeby United, who confirmed the deal with an official statement welcoming him to the club.
They stated: “We are delighted to confirm we have signed an international player who has played for some of Europe‘s top clubs like Manchester City, Feyenoord, Celtic and Celta Vigo.
“John Guidetti will play for us at our Knutby ground.”
For Celtic supporters, the move brings back memories of his time in Glasgow. The former Manchester City forward made a strong impression during his loan spell in 2014, quickly becoming a fan favourite with his early goal return.
However, his momentum slowed later in that campaign, and he eventually turned down the opportunity to stay at the club on a permanent basis.
There were also moments of frustration, including a well known incident in the League Cup Final win over Dundee United when he reacted poorly after not being allowed to take a late penalty. He later had to be encouraged to join in the celebrations after the match.
After leaving Celtic, Guidetti went on to play for Celta Vigo, as well as spells with Alaves and Hannover, before returning to Sweden with AIK.
He has also previously spoken about his exit from Celtic, suggesting it did not end in the best way.
He said: “In my loan spell at Celtic, the club played a nasty game with me.
“In the winter, the club management offered me a contract, but I declined that.
“The Scottish league was good for me to get fully fit, but my goal was always to play in England or Spain because I consider those two competitions to be the best in the world.
“Because of that, at Celtic I ended up in the stands.
“It was a real pity because Celtic are a terrific club and their fans deserved a better farewell from me.”
Now, after time away and a brief move into punditry, Guidetti is back on the pitch once again, proving that his story in football is not quite finished just yet.