Everything that Nir Bitton said to Celtic TV as he bade an emotional farewell to the club after nine years of service...

Nir, you arrived as a 21-year-old you are now leaving as one of the club's most decorated players how emotional was the decision for you to leave Celtic?

I never thought this day would come and now that it has it is a sad day for me. Basically this is all I know - this club - I have been here for nine years as a foreigner and as a boy and if you told me when I signed I would stay here for nine years and win 18 trophies and make 270 appearances I would have bitten your hand. It is a great achievement for my family and me. I am glad that I had the opportunity to play for this club to be part of such a successful decade in the club's history, I am very sad to leave.

Take us back to the Nir that arrived in 2013 and how much have you developed as a person, family and a footballer during that time?

A lot has happened and a lot of things have changed in nine years. I have two Scottish kids. This club gave me a lot and they trusted me and they turned me into a player and the person I am today. I am just glad that I got the opportunity to play for this club and to share a lot of memories and win as many trophies as I did. I made memories for life and this will stay with me forever and I feel very fortunate.

What memories and moments stand out for you the most when you reflect on your nine years at Celtic?

I think every trophy I won with this club was very emotional as I was part of a very successful Celtic team in a very successful decade for the club. We basically controlled Scottish football since I arrived here and we had a lot of ups and downs but they were mostly ups and mostly good times. The most important thing for me was to bring success to this club and pay them back for the faith they gave me every time I stepped onto the pitch and pulled on this shirt I tried to give my best and make the fans, the manager and everyone involved with the club happy. To the managers that gave me the opportunity to represent this club, I hope I did it.

You showed an eye for goal during your time at the club is there an individual moment that stands out for you?

Some of the goals were good goals and some of them were lucky. For me it was never about myself it was all about the success of the team and what the manager asked me to do at that time. Every time I stepped onto the pitch I tried to give my best for him and for everyone that trusted me to do it and for my teammates and that was all that really mattered alongside the success of this football club. I won as many trophies as I could and I had an amazing nine years and it has come to an end now. It is better to leave on that high as we had an amazing year. We had a new manager and nobody gave us a chance at the beginning of the season we showed everybody that we were built differently and I was so happy to be a part of it.

You were part of a team that was dominant domestically and you played at the highest European level as well how special is it for you to reflect on being part of that team which had such a dominant period in Scottish football?

It is amazing for me. I was part of an amazing team, a very successful team with different managers. When you play for Celtic is all about winning trophies and bringing this winning mentality to the new boys at the club. I was part of a very successful team that controlled Scottish football for a decade. I am really fortunate to be part of it. It is something I will take with me forever.

You had a bond with the teammates that you have had over those nine years and this year you took Liel Abada under your wing, are you going to ask someone else to look after him when you go away?

To be honest this is the only thing I am happy about as I leave Celtic. I don't need to take care of this boy (Liel Abada) anymore. When I looked at him when he arrived I just saw myself in his position and I just tried to give him everything he needed to make his life easier and to help him settle into the city, the culture, the football, the language.

You leave as a league champion and you will lift that trophy against Motherwell and then get to walk around Celtic Park for the final time what will your emotions be like at that moment?

I am not sure I think I will just cry. It has been a hell of a journey for me and there have been a lot of ups and downs, injuries, winning trophies and making so many memories that will stay with me forever. It is just very emotional for me. I have spent most of my career at this club and to play for such a big club is a privilege for me. It is always good to finish this journey with a championship and bring this club back to the Champions League where it belongs. I really hope they smash the Champions League next season. I am going to be their No.1 fan for sure.