How Celtic striker Agnew went from Harvard to the Hoops after trading Ivy League studies for chance to pursue her football dream
From Harvard to the Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie.
Celtic striker Murphy Agnew may be an Ivy League graduate but leading Elena Sadiku’s side into the group stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League would trump getting her environmental engineering degree from America’s most prestigious university, according to the 25-year-old.
Alumni of Harvard include United States presidents such as JFK and Barack Obama, while Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are among its illustrious list of former students.
Agnew’s real education, though, could come through mixing it with an elite of a different kind.
Asked which was the more notable achievement, making it into Harvard or into the last 16 of the Champions League, Agnew said: ‘I think Champions League group stage! I think it would just be incredible for this club.’
Agnew made the decision to leave her field of academic expertise after completing her studies in order to realise an ambition of playing full-time football.
Agnew is living the dream with Celtic and is determined to reach the Champions League
The American striker scored the only goal as Celtic beat Vorskla Poltava in the play-off first leg
The 25-year-old battles with Poltava's Irene Podolska at the Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie
With the last 16 of Europe within touching distance, thanks to her goal on Sunday against Vorskla Poltava, the American is determined to grasp the opportunity that has opened up for Celtic.
‘I studied environmental engineering,’ she said. ‘I haven’t kept up with any of that because I made a decision that I wanted to concentrate on football with the mindset that I will have a lot of years left to work in that field after my body can no longer play.
‘The end of senior year a lot of my classmates were locked in with jobs but I knew that I wanted to go full-time into football and try and make my career here. It was a conscious choice to try and pursue the dream of playing football.
‘I have never had cause to regret it and playing in the group stage of the Champions League is a goal of mine that I would so love to achieve. Hopefully it’s something that we can go and realise as a team now because it would be an incredible moment for us.’
Football, certainly the kind that we know on these shores, does not dominate the sports bulletins in Pennsylvania, where Agnew was raised.
Yet, the distinctive Champions League theme tune was a constant throughout her childhood, with Liverpool’s dramatic win in Istanbul back in 2005 the standout memory for the player whose father, Drew, is a huge fan of the Anfield side.
‘I didn’t grow up watching Celtic, but I did grow up watching Liverpool,’ she said. ‘I remember stories of Istanbul and that was my Champions League wow factor. My dad is from Boston, so the Fenway group connection is where the Liverpool allegiance comes from.’
Scoring in the competition for the first time was also notable for the 25-year-old. Mum Theresa was in attendance on Sunday in Airdrie as Agnew netted inside the opening five minutes, with the goal made all the more special because it came in front of an appreciative audience.
‘I have never scored in the Champions League, so it felt good!’ she smiled. ‘Having my mum there made it extra special too because they do not often get the chance to be here although they always watch our games.’
Her folks are now based in Sweden, with her dad was accompanying her brother back to the States for university at the weekend. As a family, however, they appreciate the magnitude of what it would mean for Agnew to go and feature against the most notable teams on the continent.
The women’s tournament has been revamped in recent seasons with no Scottish team yet making it into the group stage since it underwent a makeover.
Agnew celebrates with Amy Gallacher after her goal edged Celtic closer to the big time
The finances on offer for successful qualification are paltry compared to the riches of the men’s equivalent — should Celtic make it into the last 16 they would bank around £400k. That is for the entirety of the group stage, not a per-game basis.
There could be additions to that in terms of television money should they draw a plum team yet even that would not take the club into any real financial stratosphere. Still, the riches on offer are not only quantifiable through figures.
‘I love the tournament and I love watching the games and I think the women’s Champions League in recent seasons has become especially competitive and interesting,’ said Agnew.
‘It would be amazing for the game to see it develop more and it would, of course, be amazing to be a part of it and to test ourselves against the very best European players, clubs and coaches.
‘It has been the goal to qualify for the last 16 ever since we won the league. As soon as that happened, we talked about the things we want to strive for with this club and making it to the group stage of the Champions League was one of those goals that we shared.
‘It is a very attainable dream right now.’
The second leg of Celtic’s play-off tie is back at Airdrie tomorrow night. With no safe space for Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava to play a home tie, the decision was made to play both legs at the Albert Bartlett stadium.
It is an ideal opportunity for Agnew to celebrate a graduation of a different kind.
