Sheffield Wednesday pulled a blinder by signing ex-Celtic man - He's a Hillsborough icon | OneFootball

How Glenn Loovens’ free transfer in a relegation scrap became the cornerstone of a Premier League push

When Glenn Loovens arrived at Sheffield Wednesday in December 2013, it was without fanfare - just a short-term deal, a training stint converted into something more concrete.

He arrived as a centre-back with continental experience stepping into an Owls side languishing near the bottom of the Championship, but by the time he departed four and a half years later, Loovens had become something far more than just a reliable defender.

In retrospect, the decision to hand a then-30-year-old free agent a short-term deal in the midst of a relegation scrap now looks less like a gamble and more like a masterstroke.

Glenn Loovens’ journey from Celtic defender to Sheffield Wednesday captain

Glenn Loovens had already tasted the pressure of expectation before he pulled on a Wednesday shirt. His time at Celtic - secured in 2008 for around £2.5 million - brought with it the highs of Champions League football and the scrutiny in the Old Firm cauldron.

When his contract with Real Zaragoza expired in 2013, following a season in La Liga, Loovens was clubless. His route to Hillsborough began modestly - an invitation to train under Dave Jones in November.

It wasn’t Jones who would oversee the transformation to come; he was sacked days before Loovens officially signed. Stuart Gray stepped in, and the Dutchman stepped up.

Loovens debuted in a win over table-topping Leicester City, a 2-1 result that would set the tone for his early impact. The club, which had been second-bottom, began to find form.

Loovens lost just one of his first 12 games, a calming influence in a storm of inconsistency. By season’s end, Wednesday had climbed to 16th. Loovens wore the armband during the run-in and was officially named club captain ahead of the following season.

“He’s a top player and a fantastic professional,” said Gray, and few could argue.

Glenn Loovens was the foundation of Sheffield Wednesday’s Premier League push

The true measure of Loovens’ legacy lies not just in the 150 games he played but in the trajectory of the club during his tenure. From stabilisation to ambition, Loovens was the ever-present ballast as Wednesday rose from Championship strugglers to Premier League hopefuls.

His partnership with Tom Lees in central defence became one of the most respected in the division. Under Carlos Carvalhal, Loovens captained the side to back-to-back play-off finishes in 2015/16 and 2016/17.

The first of those campaigns ended in Wembley heartbreak - a narrow 1-0 loss to Hull City in the final. Speaking years later, Loovens admitted it took him a week to emotionally recover.

“It was one of the proudest moments of my career, leading the team out at Wembley,” he told Yorkshire Live in 2022. “It’s something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.”

The following season, Wednesday went again, finishing fourth. They pushed Huddersfield Town all the way in the semi-finals, with Loovens playing every minute of both legs before the agonising penalty shootout defeat at Hillsborough. Again, so near, yet just out of reach.

But even in disappointment, Loovens was never less than exemplary. He was a leader in every sense: fronting up to the media after losses, advocating for teammates behind the scenes, and supporting community initiatives off the pitch. His influence extended beyond 90 minutes.

Loovens’ final season was muted. Carlos Carvalhal departed in December 2017, and under Jos Luhukay, Loovens fell out of favour - making just six Owls appearances before his release was announced ahead of the final game of the 2017/18 season.

It was the quiet end to a tenure that had never relied on volume to begin with. When he said goodbye, there was just an understated Instagram post and a wave to the fans who had taken him into their hearts.

He left Hillsborough with 150 appearances, a captain’s legacy, and a seat at the table of modern Wednesday legends. In an era when the club yearned for stability and belief, he embodied both.