HE’s one of Celtic’s most decorated players having won as many as 18 trophies in Scotland.
But back in his homeland, this former Celtic player is just grateful he has the chance to stay in the top division.
Nir Bitton celebrating one of his many trophy wins at Celtic with Hatem Abd Elhamed[/caption]
Nir Bitton, 33, was at the centre of wild celebrations over in Israel last night as his team SC Ashdod produced a massive result away from home to avoid dropping down to the bottom of the league table.
It was the final fixture before the Israeli Premier League split and just 10 games remain before the campaign officially draws to a close.
Bitton’s side are currently in the relegation zone as the bottom two teams drop down each season but there is is still plenty of football left to be played.
Ashdod are only one point behind 12th placed Bnei Sakhnin and two points behind Maccabi Petah Tikva who occupy 11th.
But should they have lost last night in Haifa then they would’ve fallen into last place after Hapoel Hadera also won away from home to keep the gap at just two points between the bottom two.
Bitton and his team-mates were well aware of just how important the victory could be for their season.
They were in full party mode at the Sammy Ofer Stadium after Shlomi Azulay netted the winner in the dying moments.
The late goal sparked wild celebrations both on the pitch at full-time and in the dressing room.
Videos posted by the club on social media show the moment the managers and coaches went crazy on the touchline after their shock win was confirmed following the final whistle.
Bitton then led the celebrations on the pitch shortly after as they danced around and chanted before heading into the dressing room.
Then they enjoyed a celebratory feast while still inside the stadium as Domino’s boxes could be seen scattered around a table while the players and staff posed for a picture.
Bitton has never been relegated in his career to date.
The veteran has spent his full career in the Israeli and Scottish top flight, playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv as well as Celtic and Ashdod.
Ashdod is his boyhood club and that’s where the Hoops signed him from in 2013.
He rejoined the club in January on a free transfer after agreeing a one-and-a-half year deal.
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