Celtic

Celtic is a football (soccer) club from Scotland.

Talk Celtic

Are you a fan of Celtic or want to know more about the club? Then you can discuss Celtic with other fans on the messageboard here.

Celtic News

Want to know more about Celtic? We gather news from various medias about Celtic and you find them in the news section

The Celtic Football Club is a Scotland Association football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since Celtic's formation in 1888, Celtic have won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the Scottish Premier League 2007-08, and the Scottish Cup 34 times. They won the European Cup in 1967, beating Inter Milan 2-1 in the final. Celtic's home stadium is Celtic Park, the biggest football stadium in Scotland, with a capacity of 60,832. Together with their Glasgow rivals, Rangers F.C., they form the Old Firm, one of the most famous and fierce rivalries in sport. The club's traditional playing colours are green and white hooped shirts with white shorts and white socks.

In 1966-67 in Scottish football, Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup and with a team composed entirely of home-grown players. The players, subsequently known as the Lisbon Lions, were all born within a 30-mile radius of Parkhead. Celtic won every competition they entered that season: the 1966–67 in Scottish football, the Scottish Cup 1966-67, the Scottish League Cup, the European Cup and the Glasgow Cup. Celtic also reached the 1970 European Cup Final, but were beaten by Feyenoord 2-1

In 2003 Celtic reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final, where they lost 3–2 to F.C. Porto. Over 80,000 Celtic supporters travelled to Seville, despite many lacking match tickets. Celtic fans received awards from UEFA and FIFA for their behaviour at the match. In April 2008 Celtic was estimated to have a fan base of nine million people, including one million in North America.

Formation and history

Celtic were formally founded in St. Mary's Church Hall on East Rose Street (now Forbes Street), Calton, Glasgow, Glasgow, by Brother Walfrid, an Irish Marist Brothers brother, on 6 November 1888.

Brother Walfrid's move to establish Celtic as a means of fund raising for his charity, The Poor Children's Dinner Table, was largely inspired by the example of Hibernian F.C. who were formed out of the immigrant Irish population thirteen years earlier in Edinburgh, with 7 of Celtic's first eleven players signing from Hibs. Walfrid's own suggestion of the name Celtic was intended to reflect Celtic's Irish and Scottish origins, and was adopted at the same meeting.

On 28 May 1888, Celtic played their first official match against Rangers and won 5–2 in what was described as a "friendly encounter". Celtic had 8 guest players from Hibernian playing that day. The club's first ever goal was scored by Neil McCallum in this match. During these formative years, Celtic played in a white shirt with a green collar and a red Celtic cross on the breast, then switched to green and white vertical stripes around 1890. They made the switch to their iconic green-and-white hoops in 1903.

Recent seasons

2006-07

Such was the good form of Celtic and the lack of a clear rival in the early stages of the Scottish Premier League 2006-07, that bookmakers Paddy Power paid out on Celtic as the winners of the SPL on 6 November 2006, only 13 games into the season. By mid-November Celtic were 11 points clear of their nearest challengers.

Having qualified automatically for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League 2006-07, Celtic were drawn with S.L. Benfica, F.C. Copenhagen, and Manchester United F.C.. Although Celtic lost their 3 away games, a 100% record at home earned them qualification to the knockout stage for the first time since the group format was introduced in 1992/93. Their opponents in the last 16 were A.C. Milan. After both legs of the tie ended 0–0, Celtic's Champions League run was ended by a solitary Milan goal in extra-time by Kaka.

During the January 2007 transfer window Celtic signed Scotland internationals and former Heart of Midlothian F.C. players Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley, full-back Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé from Stade Rennais F.C. on loan and goalkeeper Mark Brown (footballer) from Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C..

On 22 April 2007 Celtic won their second consecutive league championship, and 41st overall. The title was secured by an injury-time free-kick from Shunsuke Nakamura in a 2–1 victory against Kilmarnock. The result left Celtic 13 points clear of Rangers F.C. with four matches remaining. They finished the season 12 points above Rangers.

On 26 May 2007 Celtic won the Scottish Cup for a record 34th time after 2007 Scottish Cup Final. The winner was scored by Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé in the 84th minute.

2007-08

Celtic bolstered their side for the 2007/08 season, signing Scott Brown (Scottish footballer), Chris Killen, Scott McDonald and Massimo Donati. Skipper Neil Lennon left for Nottingham Forest after seven years with the club, with Stephen McManus taking over Celtic captaincy. However Lennon returned to Celtic later in the season as a coach.

Celtic were drawn against Russian side FC Spartak Moscow in the third round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League 2007-08. The tie ended in a penalty shootout, with Artur Boruc saving twice to ensure Celtic's passage to the next round. This was Celtic's first European penalty shootout victory. They competed against AC Milan, S.L. Benfica and FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stages, who they beat 2–1, 1–0, and 2–1 respectively at home, but lost all their away matches. They finished second in their group, ensuring qualification to the knockout stage for the second year in succession. Celtic were drawn against FC Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League. The first leg, played at Celtic Park, saw them defeated 3–2, after being ahead 1–0 and 2–1. In the second leg Barcelona grabbed an early goal through Xavi Hernández and held on for a 1–0 win on the night and 4–2 on aggregate.

The club's first signing of the winter transfer window was Andreas Hinkel. They followed up by signing Japanese youngster Koki Mizuno, Barry Robson from Dundee Utd as well as young striker Ben Hutchinson from Middlesbrough F.C. and also Greek striker Georgios Samaras on loan from Manchester City, who signed permanently at the beginning of the following season.

Although leading for the early part of the season, Celtic found themselves 7 points behind Rangers having played a game more with only seven weeks of the season left. However, Celtic made a remarkable comeback, winning their last 7 games, including two victories over rivals Rangers at Celtic Park 2–1 and 3–2, and won the league on 22 May 2008, the last day of the season with a 1–0 win over Dundee United F.C.. Meanwhile Rangers lost to Aberdeen at Pittodrie Stadium. The victory was dedicated to the memory of Celtic's coach Tommy Burns (footballer), who had died the previous Thursday. The result also meant Gordon Strachan became only the third Celtic manager to win three consecutive League Championships.

2008-09

Celtic signed winger Patrick McCourt from Derry City F.C., and Greek international striker Georgios Samaras, who had spent the second half of the 2007/08 season on loan, signed on a permanent basis. Celtic also added the signings of Marc Crosas, Glenn Loovens and the return of Shaun Maloney from Aston Villa F.C. before the closure of the summer transfer window.

As SPL Champions, Celtic gained automatic entry to the UEFA Champions League 2008-09, but after being drawn with Manchester United, Villarreal CF, and AaB Fodbold, they finished fourth in their group.

As the new year of 2009 rolled in, The Hoops found themselves 7 points clear of their Glasgow rivals, just days after they had beaten them 1-0 at Ibrox thanks to a second half strike from Scott McDonald. So far, they had proved formidable at home, the only defeat at Celtic Park being a 4-2 reversal to Glasgow Rangers in August.

In the January transfer window, Celtic signed winger Niall McGinn from Derry City, left back Milan Mišůn from 1. FK Příbram, and midfielder Willo Flood from Cardiff City F.C. while also agreeing a deal to sign Dundee United goalkeeper Łukasz Załuska on 1 June 2009.

Celtic won the Scottish League Cup 2008-09 against Rangers at Hampden Park on 15 March 2009, in extra-time, goals coming from defender Darren O'Dea and a late penalty from Aiden McGeady. This victory marked the end of a 20 year gap since Celtic last defeated Rangers in a domestic cup final. That occasion was the Scottish Cup Final on 1989 Scottish Cup Final.

After a poor run of form in 2009, which saw them record only 2 away wins during the rest of their league campaign, they saw that 7-pont lead slip to just one point in early May. Although Celtic still looked favourites to retain the Championship, this league lead disappeared completely after a 1-0 loss to Glasgow Rangers on 9 May.

On the final day of the season, Celtic failed in their quest for a fourth successive title, with Rangers defeating Dundee United 3-0 at Tannadice to win the Championship and Celtic playing out a 0-0 draw with Hearts. The following day, manager Gordon Strachan resigned from Celtic and was replaced by former Celtic player Tony Mowbray, who had been manager of West Bromwich Albion a few weeks later.

2009-10

In the summer transfer window, Celtic signed Marc-Antoine Fortune for £3.8 million along with AS Nancy team mate Landry N'Guemo on a season-long loan and Daniel Fox (footballer) from Coventry City F.C. for an undisclosed fee.
First-team players Shunsuke Nakamura left to join Espanyol, as well as Paul Hartley joining Bristol City. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Bobo Balde also left Celtic as their contracts had not been renewed.
Celtic won their first game, and silverware, Translink Cup under Tony Mowbray, 3-0 against Brisbane Roar in Australia. On Sunday 26 July, they added their second piece of silverware, lifting the Wembley Cup; after beating Egyptian and African Champions Al-Ahly 5-0 and Tottenham Hotspur 2-0, to top the group. In the third round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League 2009-10, Celtic will face Dinamo Moscow at Celtic Park on 29 July and then the return leg in Moscow on 5 August.

Celtic media

In 1965 Celtic began publishing The Celtic View, the oldest club magazine in football .

In 2004 Celtic launched its own digital TV channel Celtic TV available in the UK through Setanta Sports on satellite and cable platforms. Due to the collapse of Setanta in the UK in June 2009, Celtic TV is no longer broadcasting, although Celtic are hoping to find a new broadcast partner soon. Since 2002 Celtic's Internet TV channel, Channel67 (previously known as Celtic Replay), has broadcast Celtic's own content worldwide, offers live match coverage to subscribers outside the UK, and now provides 3 online channels.

Old Firm and sectarianism

Celtic have a historic association with the people of Ireland and Scots of Irish extraction, who are both mainly Catholic. Traditionally fans of rivals Rangers only came from Scottish Protestant backgrounds and were supporters of British Unionism. As a result both clubs attracted the support of opposing factions in the The Troubles, which intensified the rivalry in Scotland.

In recent times both clubs have taken measures to combat sectarianism. Working alongside the Scottish Parliament, church groups and community organisations, the Old Firm has clamped down on sectarian songs, inflammatory flag-waving and troublesome supporters, using increased levels of policing and surveillance. In 1996 Celtic launched their Bhoys Against Bigotry campaign, later followed by Youth Against Bigotry to "educate the young on having ... respect for all aspects of the community - all races, all colours, all creeds", according to then chief executive Ian McLeod. In 2002 McLeod then wrote to all season ticket holders concerning chants at the clubs matches.

Records

- The Scottish Cup final win against Aberdeen in 1937 was attended by a crowd of 146,433 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, which remains a record for a club match in European football.
- Celtic currently hold the UK record for an unbeaten run in professional football: 62 games (49 won, 13 drawn), from 13 November 1915 until 21 April 1917 - a total of 17 months and four days in all (they lost at home to Kilmarnock F.C. on the penultimate day of the season).
- Celtic hold the SPL record for an unbeaten run of home matches (77), from 2001 to 2004.
- Record home Scottish football attendance records: 92,000 against Rangers on 1 January 1938. A 3–0 victory for Celtic.
- Most capped current player: 41, Artur Boruc
- Most capped player (Scotland): 102, Kenny Dalglish
- Record appearances: Billy McNeill, 790 from 1957–1975
- Most goals in a season (all competitions): Jimmy McGrory, 59 (1926/1927) (49 League/10 Scottish Cup)
- Most goals in a season (league only): Jimmy McGrory, 50 (1935/36)
- Record scorer: Jimmy McGrory, 468 (1922/23 - 1937/38)
- Most goals scored in one Scottish top-flight league match by one player: 8 goals by Jimmy McGrory against Dunfermline Athletic F.C. in 9–0 win on 14 January 1928
- First British club to reach the final of the European Cup
- Only Scottish, and first British team to win the European Cup
- The highest score in a domestic cup final: Celtic 7–1 Rangers, Hampden in the sun
- The highest attendance for a European club competition match: Celtic v Leeds United A.F.C. in the European Cup 1969–70 Semi finals, 15 April 1970 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Official attendance 136,505
- Fastest hat-trick in European Club Football - Mark Burchill vs Jeunesse Esch in 2000; 3 minutes (between 12th minute and 15th minute), a record at the time.
- Earliest SPL Championship won. Twice won with 6 games remaining, against Kilmarnock on 18 April 2004 and Hearts on 5 April 2006.
- First weekly club publication in the UK, The Celtic View
- Biggest margin of victory in the SPL. 8–1 against Dunfermline Athletic, February 2006 and 7-0 against St Mirren on 28 February 2009.
- Celtic and Hibernian hold the record for the biggest transfer fee between two Scottish clubs. Celtic bought Scott Brown from Hibernian on 16 May 2007 for £4.4m
- First European club to sign a player from the Indian sub-continent.
- Appeared in 14 consecutive League Cup finals, from season 1964/65 to 1977/78 inclusive, a world record for successive appearances in the final of a major football competition.

National honours

-
-
-

International club honours

Minor honours

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 1975 trophy shared with Rangers after a 2–2 draw

Ferencvaros Vase

The Ferencvaros Vase (also known as The Budapest Cup) is a football (soccer) trophy won by Celtic on a European tour in 1914.

Celtic arrived in Budapest and played Burnley F.C. in what evolved into a bad tempered affair. Ferencvárosi TC had agreed to award a trophy to the winner but the match ended in a draw and both teams refused to play extra time. A replay couldn't be organised in Budapest as Celtic were travelling back to Glasgow. After winning the coin toss to play the game at home, Burnley played host to Celtic. The visitors won 2-0 and part of the gate money was sent to the Hungary Charity Fund, however Celtic were not presented with the trophy, which had been sold to raise funds for the war effort.

Seventy four years later, in 1988, Celtic were celebrating their centenary and Ferencváros remembered they owed Celtic a trophy. In the absence of the original trophy they brought a decorative white porcelain vase, fashioned in the traditional shape of a football cup, to Glasgow. It was presented at Celtic's centenary championship winning match against Dundee F.C. in April 1988.

Victory In Europe Cup

The Victory In Europe Cup was a one-off football (soccer) tournament won by Celtic on 9 May 1945.

To celebrate Victory in Europe Day in 1945, the Glasgow Charity Cup committee presented the Victory in Europe Cup to be awarded to the winners of a charity cup final. Rangers F.C. were invited to participate but declined as they had a forthcoming cup tie against Motherwell F.C.. This allowed Queen's Park F.C. to step in and play Celtic. The game was well contested in front of a large crowd and Celtic won only by the margin of a corner kick after the teams could not be separated by goals.

The winning Celtic team was:Miller, Hogg, P. McDonald, Lynch, Mallan, John McPhail, Paton, M. McDonald, Gallacher, Evans,McLaughlin and Dey.

After this win Celtic were to endure one of the worst periods in their history only avoiding relegation on the last day of the season in the 1947/48 campaign.

Special honours

-
-
-
-
-
-

Individual

Managers

Players out on loan

Reserve team and youth squad

For Celtic's reserve and youth squads, see Celtic F.C. Reserve and Youth squads

2009/10 transfers

Non-playing staff

Board of Directors

Management

Notable former players

See List of Celtic F.C. players for players with over 100 appearances, List of Celtic F.C. international footballers and :Category:Celtic F.C. players

- William Angus - A World War I hero who was awarded the Victoria Cross
- Neil Clarke - First foreigner (outside UK & Republic of Ireland) to play for Celtic
- Mohammed Salim (footballer) - First Asian player to play in Europe
- John Thomson (footballer) - Died in a collision while playing against Rangers
- Gil Heron - Jamaican footballer, an early black player in British football and father of noted poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron

Scotland Football Hall of Fame

So far 13 Celtic players and managers have entered the Scottish Football Hall of Fame:

- Kenny Dalglish MBE
- Bobby Evans
- Tommy Gemmell
- Jimmy Johnstone
- Henrik Larsson
- Bobby Lennox
- Danny McGrain
- Jimmy McGrory
- Billy McNeill
- Bobby Murdoch
- Jock Stein CBE
- Gordon Strachan
- John Thomson (footballer)

Scottish Sports Hall of Fame

In the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame 5 Celtic players have been selected, they are:

- Kenny Dalglish MBE
- Jimmy Johnstone
- Jimmy McGrory
- Billy McNeill MBE
- Jock Stein CBE

Greatest ever team

Greatest ever Celtic team

The following team was voted the greatest ever Celtic team by supporters in 2002.

- Ronnie Simpson
- Danny McGrain
- Tommy Gemmell
- Bobby Murdoch
- Paul McStay MBE
- Billy McNeill MBE, - Voted Celtic's greatest ever Captain
- Bertie Auld
- Jimmy Johnstone - Voted Celtic's greatest ever player
- Bobby Lennox MBE
- Kenny Dalglish MBE
- Henrik Larsson MBE - Voted Celtic's greatest ever foreign player

Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Falkirk, Hamilton Academical, Hearts, Hibernian, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Rangers, St. Mirren