Full name The Celtic Football Club
Nickname(s) The: 'Bhoys', 'Hoops', 'Tic', 'Sellic'
Founded 1888
Ground Celtic Park,
Glasgow, Scotland
Capacity 60,830
Chairman Brian Quinn
Manager Gordon Strachan
League Scottish Premier League
2005-2006 Scottish Premier League, 1st
Celtic Football Club (pronounced as "seltik", /sɛltɪk/ in IPA) is a Scottish football club, competing in the Scottish Premier League, the highest form of competition in Scotland. The club is based in the east end of the city of Glasgow.
The club is officially nicknamed the Bhoys, or unofficially the Hoops. The team plays its home games at Celtic Park, which is currently the second largest club stadium in the United Kingdom. Celtic Park typically attracts 57-60,000 fans to every home game, which means that Celtic are second only to Manchester United [1] in terms of average attendance records in British football.
Together with their rivals, Rangers F.C., they have dominated Scottish football for over 100 years as part of the Old Firm, forming one of the most famous and fiercest rivalries in sport. The club has traditionally been identified with the Catholic community of Glasgow. Celtic's home kit is green and white hooped jerseys, white shorts and white socks.
In 1967, the club became the first British and non-Latin team to win the European Cup, which had previously been in the preserve of Italian, Portuguese and Spanish clubs. Prior to Celtic's historic win, no other club in Northern Europe had won the European tournament. Additionally, Celtic remain the only Scottish club ever to have reached the final, and are the only club ever to win the trophy with a team composed entirely of home-grown talent; all of the players in the side were Scottish, and all were born within a 30-mile radius of Celtic Park in Glasgow. Celtic again reached the European Cup final in 1970, only to be beaten by Feyenoord in extra time.
More recently in 2003 Martin O'Neill led the team to the UEFA Cup final in Seville where they lost 3-2 to F.C. Porto after extra time. The lasting memory of the final was the 'green and white invasion' of Seville. Over 90,000 fans were thought to be there in total including flights to other Spanish and Portuguese airports and fans who were incorporating their summer holiday with this trip. Other fans actually drove from Glasgow to Seville as well. Due to the good nature of both Celtic fans and the locals strong friendships were made, and Celtic's fans were honoured with the 2003 Fair Play Awards from both UEFA and FIFA.
Formation
Main article: History of Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club was formally constituted at a meeting in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church hall on East Rose Street (now Forbes Street), Calton, Glasgow, by an Irish Marist monk named Brother Walfrid on 6 November 1887.
The charity established by Brother Walfrid was named The Poor Children's Dinner Table. Walfrid's move to establish the club as a means of fund raising was largely inspired by the example of Hibernian F.C. who were formed out of the immigrant Irish population a few years earlier in Edinburgh.
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 Old Firm and sectarianism
Celtic have had a historic association with the peoples of Ireland. As a consequence, the club and its supporters have been embroiled in issues surrounding sectarianism. At its worst extreme this sectarianism has manifested itself in sectarian violence; the reproduction of cultural prejudices; and a perceived anti-Celtic bias (see History of Celtic F.C.), which some fans believe to be a part of a wider anti-Catholic bias in Scotland (see Irish-Scots).
In the context of Scottish football, sectarianism is beyond the control of any individual football club. It is a much wider issue, rooted in social, cultural, historical and religious circumstances. Nevertheless, both Celtic and Rangers accept that they have a problem with sectarianism. Both Celtic and Rangers admit that a proportion of their supporters have been, and continue to be, guilty of perpetuating sectarian beliefs and cultural intolerance.
In recent times both Celtic and Rangers 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, for instance, 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
Celtic and the media
Celtic have always attempted to engage directly with the fans and bypass the traditional media outlets as a method of communicating accurate information to the outside world about the inner workings of the club.
When Jock Stein was Celtic manager, he instigated a trend in British football that subsequently became known as the "tracksuit manager", where he trained publicly with the playing staff and hosted media/press conferences.
In 1965 Celtic published the The Celtic View, the UK's first ever regular football club newspaper.
In 2004 Celtic launched its own digital TV channel Celtic TV available in the UK through Setanta Sports on satellite and cable platforms. 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.
Recent seasons
2003-2004
After a draw in the opening game of the season, Celtic notched up a record-setting 25-match winning run, now a British record in top-level football, giving Celtic a healthy lead in the title race. Celtic did not lose a game until after the club's 39th championship was delivered.
The 2003-2004 season also saw Celtic notch up four league wins over Rangers, and one in the Scottish Cup - the first time in either club's history when a five-match "whitewash" had been achieved.
Club hero Henrik Larsson played his final professional match for Celtic in the 2004 Scottish Cup Final victory over Dunfermline, scoring two goals, with Bulgarian Stilian Petrov's goal following Larsson's goals to overturn an early setback, and handing Celtic their second double under Martin O'Neill.
Larsson is now widely acknowledged as one of the club's greatest ever players, and ranks amongst the top three goalscorers in the club's history.
2004-2005
Following a close race for the SPL title, with Rangers closely following, the club extended their lead at the top of the SPL table to two points as they lined up for the final game of the season, with a win at Motherwell F.C. required to seal the title. With two minutes remaining on the clock, Celtic were leading 1 – 0 — a result which would have handed them the league.
However, Motherwell's Scott McDonald netted two last-minute goals giving the Fir Park side an unlikely victory. Rangers defeated Hibernian F.C. 1 – 0 at Easter Road, thereby winning the league championship title. Earlier in the season Celtic recorded a record seventh straight win over city rivals Rangers.
Celtic ended the season one week later with a 1–0 win over Dundee United F.C. in the Scottish Cup Final, which was marked by fans as Martin O'Neill's final match as manager.
On 25 May 2005, O'Neill announced he would resign as manager of Celtic at the end of 2004/05 season along with first team coach Steve Walford and assistant manager John Robertson. It was widely reported that O'Neill decided to take time out of football in order to care for his ailing wife Geraldine, who is ill with lymphoma.
Martin O'Neill is now recognised as Celtic's most successful manager since Jock Stein, third greatest after Stein and Willie Maley and is credited with helping to restore some pride in Celtic's ability to compete on the European stage. However, O'Neill was not able to emulate Stein's dominance of the game in Scotland and in Europe.
2005-2006
Former Aberdeen F.C. player and Scotland international Gordon Strachan from Edinburgh took charge of the club on 1 June 2005, on a 12-month rolling contract, similar to O'Neill's arrangement with the club; his contract effectively extending for one calendar year from any current date. Garry Pendrey was appointed as Strachan's assistant manager.
In his first competitive match, against Artmedia Bratislava on 27 July 2005, Celtic lost 5-0 in the first leg of an important Champions League 2nd Round qualifier, suffering the worst European defeat in the club's history and the widest margin of defeat since the 1963-64 season, when the club lost 6-0 to Kilmarnock F.C. at Rugby Park.
In Strachan's first domestic match of the 2005-2006 SPL season, Celtic relinquished a 3-1 half-time lead over Motherwell F.C. at Fir Park on 30 July 2005, the game ending in a 4-4 draw after Celtic managed to equalise through a goal by Craig Beattie.
The nine goals against Celtic in Strachan's first two competitive matches is the biggest goal tally scored against the club in successive matches for 14 years.
In the return leg of the Champions League 2nd Round qualifier against Artmedia at Celtic Park, Strachan's vastly improved side won 4-0 but were eliminated from European competition 5-4 on aggregate.
However, following these setbacks, and a defeat against Rangers in the pair's first match of the season at Ibrox, Celtic recorded a series of victories, including beating Rangers twice, and returned to the top of the SPL - a vast improvement on their form at the start of the season.
Celtic knocked arch rivals Rangers out of the League cup on 19 November 2005. Celtic were knocked out of the Scottish Cup on 8 January 2006 by First Division Clyde F.C.
Celtic beat Rangers again on 12 February to make it 17 wins from the previous 21 Old Firm games. Celtic won the CIS Cup, with a 3-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic F.C. on 19 March. They have already created a new scoring record for the SPL, an 8 - 1 victory against Dunfermline in February 2006.
On 5 April 2006 Celtic clinched their 40th title thanks to a goal from John Hartson in a 1-0 win against Hearts at Celtic Park. The title was Celtic's fourth title in six years. This feat was achieved with six games remaining until the end of the season and before the SPL split. The Bhoys lifted the SPL trophy on Easter Sunday 2006 at home to Hibernian F.C., after a 1-1 draw.
In April 2006, Celtic's reserve and Under-19 teams also won their championships, completing a clean sweep of Scotland's league competitions. It was the fifth consecutive league title for the reserve team.
Club records
The Scottish Cup final win against Aberdeen F.C. in 1938 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 last day of the season). Although this was during the 1st World War years.
Celtic also hold the SPL record for an unbeaten run of home matches (77), spanning from 2001 to 2004 (this run was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen on 21 April 2004), and the record for the longest run of consecutive wins in a single season (25 matches).
Record Victory: 11-0, against Dundee in 1895.
Record defeat: 0-8 against East Stirlingshire F.C. in 1937.
Record Home defeat: 0-5 against Heart of Midlothian F.C. in 1895.
Record post war home defeat 1-5 Aberdeen 1948.
The four Record European victories 9-0 KPV Kokkola (Finland), 1970. 8-1 Suduva (Lithuania), 2003. 7-0 Waterford (Rep.Ireland), 1970, 7-0 Valur Rekjavik, 1975.
Record European defeat: 0-5 against FC Artmedia Bratislava on 27 July 2005.
Record victory against Rangers: 7-1 1957 Scottish league cup final.
Record points earned in a season: 72 (Premier Division, 1987/88, 2 points for a Win); 103 (Scottish Premier League, 2001/02, 3 points for a win), which is also the SPL points tally record.
Record home attendance: 92,000 against Rangers F.C. in 1938. A 3-0 victory for Celtic.
Most Capped Player: 80, Pat Bonner: Republic of Ireland
Most Scotland Caps: 76, Paul McStay.
Record Appearances: Billy McNeill, 790 from 1957 - 1975.
Most goals in a season: Henrik Larsson, 53.
Record scorer: Jimmy McGrory, 468 (plus 13 whilst on-loan at Clydebank).
First British club to reach the final of the European Cup.
First and only Scottish club to reach the final of the European Cup.
First Scottish, British and northern European team to win the European Cup.
Only club in history to have won the European Cup with a team comprised entirely of home-grown talent (all last four in 1967, in which year Celtic achieved the feat of winning every competition they played in).
Hold the record for the highest score in a domestic cup final: Celtic 7 - 1 Rangers, Scottish League Cup Final 1957.
Hold the record for the highest attendance for a European club competition match: Celtic v Leeds Utd in the European Cup semi-final 1970 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Official attendance 133,961.
Fastest hat-trick in European Club Football - Mark Burchill v Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg in 2000.
Earliest SPL Championship won. Won with 6 six games to go against Hearts on 5 April 2006.
Major honours
European Champions Cup (1): 1967. Runner-up 1970.
UEFA Cup Runner-up 2003.
Scottish League Champions (40): 1893, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1926, 1936, 1938, 1954, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006.
Scottish Cup (33): 1892, 1899, 1900, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1923, 1925, 1927, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1951, 1954, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2005.
Scottish League Cup (13): 1957, 1958, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1983, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006.
Other honours
Glasgow Cup (29): 1891, 1892, 1895, 1896, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1921, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1939, 1941, 1949, 1956, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1975*, 1982 (* 1975 shared with Rangers after 2-2 draw)
Glasgow Merchant's Charity Cup (23)
Glasgow International Exhibition Cup: 1902
Scottish League Commemorative Shield: 1904/05, 1909/10
Ferencvaros Vase: 1914
Empire Exhibition Trophy: 1938
Victory In Europe Cup: 1945
Saint Mungo Cup: 1951
Coronation Cup: 1953.
Alfredo di Stefano Trophy: 1967
Statuette of Samothrace: 1970 (L'Equipe European Team of the Year)
Drybrough Cup: 1974.
Polar Bear Trophy: 1975 (Presented by Valur of Iceland)
Real Madrid Silver Cabin: 1980
Tennents' Sixes: 1992.
Current team
1 GK Artur Boruc
2 DF Paul Telfer
3 DF Mohammed Camara
4 DF Adam Virgo
5 DF Gary Caldwell
6 DF Bobo Balde
7 FW Maciej Żurawski
8 MF Alan Thompson
9 FW Kenny Miller
11 MF Stephen Pearson
12 DF Mark Wilson
14 FW Derek Riordan
15 MF Evander Sno
18 MF Neil Lennon
19 MF Stilian Petrov
20 MF Jiří Jarošík
22 GK David Marshall
23 DF Stanislav Varga
25 MF Shunsuke Nakamura
29 FW Shaun Maloney
33 MF Ross Wallace
35 MF Paul Lawson
37 FW Craig Beattie
38 MF Rocco Quinn
39 DF Charles Mulgrew
41 DF John Kennedy
42 FW Michael McGlinchey
43 FW Diarmuid O'Carroll
44 DF Stephen McManus
46 MF Aiden McGeady
47 GK Michael McGovern
48 DF Darren O'Dea
49 DF Scott Cuthbert
51 FW Nicky Riley
53 MF Simon Ferry
54 MF Ryan Conroy
Transfers
In: Season 2006/07
Kenny Miller - Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. - Free.
Gary Caldwell - Hibernian F.C. - Free.
Jiří Jarošík - Chelsea F.C. - (undisclosed)
Evander Sno - Feyenoord Rotterdam - £250,000.
Derek Riordan - Hibernian F.C. - £150,000.
Out: Season 2006/07
Dion Dublin - Free.
Sandy Wood - Forfar - Free
Roy Keane - Retired.
John Hartson - West Bromwich Albion F.C. - £500,000.
Michael Gardyne - Ross County F.C. - Season long loan
Gary Irvine - Ross County F.C. - Season long loan
Ross Harris - Dundee - Free
Mark Staunton - Charlton - ?
Paul McGowan - Morton - Six month loan