Scott Brown is the hardest man in football. It is not even a question any more.
Fresh from his trip to St Petersburg with Celtic where he made headlines for wearing a t-shirt in freezing conditions, the 32-year-old is back doing what he does best in the Scottish Premiership - performing like an absolute tank.
During the Bhoys' away victory over Aberdeen on Sunday, the midfielder was floored by two successive bad challenges from Dons players, but despite being on the end of possible leg-breaking tackles, brushed himself off, and flexed his muscles in a style the Incredible Hulk would have been proud of.
Brown's latest display of extreme manliness comes just three days after he was photographed strolling around St Petersburg in short sleeves in -11°С temperatures, causing Zenit to call him "Russia's favourite Scotsman".
Aberdeen forward Sam Cosgrove was sent off for the lunge on Brown, and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was impressed with how Brown reacted to the dangerous tackle.
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"It’s not a great challenge from the boy who got sent off. It was naughty," Rodgers said after the game.
"Logan didn’t set the best example for young players when he twice tried to smash the ball at the player on the floor. Fortunately for Scott, he didn’t hurt him.
"Scott is a big-game player, especially in those moments. When it goes to 10 men he revels in it even more. Browny is a brilliant leader.
"He takes it, shrugs it off and gets back up again to dominate the game. He’s a big-game player."
Scott Brown runs Scottish fitbaw. Many have tried but no one can touch the king. pic.twitter.com/AL1OlR0fWy
— Hoidy (@Hoidy) February 25, 2018
On Monday, Brown confirmed his retirement from international football after 55 appearances for Scotland.
The seven-time Scottish Premiership winner is looking to extend his club career, and decided to call time on international football following a discussion with new Scotland boss Alex McLeish.
"In terms of looking after my own body and in interests of my family, I felt now is the right time," he said.
"I have spoken to Alex McLeish over the weekend. I really wanted to tell Alex first what I was thinking about things.
"As I said to Alex, I felt that, given the demands which are increasing all the time in football and at this stage of my career, I wasn't able to give both my club and country my best and I needed to focus purely on Celtic at this time.
"The football calendar is more and more demanding now."
