I've broken records at 17 and playing for Celtic is my ultimate dream in football
Aussie sensation Dylan Leonard may live on the opposite side of the world. But the record-breaking 17-year-old has revealed his biggest dream in football is to play for Celtic . The teenage centre-back has enjoyed a meteoric rise at Western United - making history as the club's youngest ever debutant and goalscorer in the A-League. Regarded as one of the hottest prospects in Australian football, Leonard has exploded onto the scene by racking up 24 appearances in his first full season with John Aloisi's high flyers. Leonard was raised in a Celtic-supporting family, with both of his parents born in Scotland, and attended last season's 2-2 Champions League draw with Atletico Madrid. Now, the up-and-coming defender has set his sights on following the likes of Tom Rogic , Aaron Mooy and Scott McDonald by pulling on the famous green and white hoops. In an interview with aleagues.com.au , the rising star opened up on his love for Celtic and said: "It's everything. It's probably part of the reason I started playing and have worked so hard in my football career so far, is watching games with my family, going over with my cousins, watching Celtic play. "I know how much that club means to my family and obviously to me. It's definitely been a big part of why I've wanted to play football." Leonard revealed he models his game on former Hoops heroes Paul McStay and Kristoffer Ajer. He said: 'They were players genuinely based off what my dad had told me. 'I watch a lot of Celtic, certain players like Kristoffer Ajer when he was at Celtic and the way he used to drive in. "That's something I took out of his game, and I wanted to implement that into my own game, like being a centre-back, that when team step back, can step in and can play forward, can change the game. 'He used to talk a lot about Paul McStay as well. He would play forward rather than keeping the ball and playing safe, certain players can change games by their ability to play forward. So that was something, even as a centre-back, I've tried to put into my own game.' It may be early days in Leonard's career, but the youngster is determined to reach for the stars and become the latest A-League export at Parkhead. He added: "That's probably one thing I want to achieve in football is play for Celtic. "Win something with Celtic obviously, but that's definitely the one thing I want to do, the one club I want to play for."
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