Maciej Zurawski admits his time at Celtic left him depressed.

The Polish international ended a frustrating period at Parkhead with a deadline-day move to Greek minnows Larissa.

Desperate to stake his claim for Euro 2008, the 31-year-old believes the climate in Greece will enhance both his mood and his career after enduring a dire end to his two-and-a-half years in the 'dark land' of Scotland.

"I wouldn't have gone to Euro 2008 if I hadn't left Celtic - that's why in December I said to Gordon Strachan it's time to say goodbye," the striker revealed. "In the weeks before I left I had hardly any stability. I was full of nerves and stress - I even lost weight.

"It was hard to live with the knowledge that I wasn't needed any more. I could have stayed with Celtic and waited until my contract ran out in four months but I wouldn't even have had a sniff of a football pitch.

"No coach would bet on a guy who was about to leave the club. Besides, Strachan had just brought in two new strikers, so I wouldn't even have had a place on the bench."

One of Strachan's first signings in a £2million deal from Wisla Krakow, Zurawski enjoyed a highly successful first season before injury misfortune struck.

An introverted character, the striker remained an enigma to colleagues and fans until the end, yet insisted: "I don't regret a single day I spent in Glasgow - I don't divide my time with Celtic into good moments and bad moments.

"In the Champions League I didn't get the chance to do anything, it's sad but true. But I will fly to Glasgow one more time to say goodbye to everybody, even though I told them all I would be leaving in December."