Celtic’s Team of the Century So Far (2000-2025)

by Ronnie McCluskey

It’s hard to believe a quarter of a century has passed since Martin O’Neill breenged through the doors of Celtic Park vowing to “do everything I can to bring some success to this football club.” To say his promise was fulfilled is an understatement. Not only did the gaffer’s maiden season deliver a first treble in 32 years, he took us to the brink of European glory a few years later.

In the quarter-century since O’Neill’s arrival, Celtic has become a domestic juggernaut, a winning machine. While the ‘01 treble was the first in over three decades, the last nine years have seen no fewer than five. Needless to say, the backbone of that extraordinary success has been a core of excellent players and an assortment of fine managers since the turn of the century.

Three years ago, following a dismal Champions League group stage in which draws with Shakhtar Donetsk delivered our only two points, I wrote an article for this site contemplating the best XI that could be assembled from the post-Seville era. After a largely heartening campaign this season – capped by an agonising draw in Munich courtesy of a sucker-punch late equaliser – I decided the article was due a sequel.

Rather than wondering which players from the last few seasons would make the cut (Kyogo? Maeda? McGregor?), I thought a better idea would be to broaden the criteria to include O’Neill’s treble winners and UEFA Cup runners-up. If the eligibility pool is all Celtic players since 2000, who gets the nod? 

A reminder of my 2004-2022 elite: 4-4-1–1: Boruc, Tierney, Carter-Vickers, Van Dijk, Lustig, Brown (C), Wanyama, Nakamura, McGeady, Rogic, Dembélé. To make matters more interesting, let’s also pick a manager to lead the Bhoys – something I didn’t do last time, since Rodgers was the obvious choice. Now, with O’Neill and Ange as candidates, it’s more tricky.

GOALKEEPER – Artur Boruc

I’m sticking with the Holy Goalie, and in truth it wasn’t a difficult decision. While widening the eligibility criteria has caused a headache in some departments, goalkeeper isn’t one of them. To my mind, the two standout stoppers we’ve had since the millennium are Boruc and Fraser Forster, even if Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel have done creditable jobs in recent years. With his authority and tenacity, the madcap Pole shades it for me.

LEFT BACK – Kieran Tierney

Damn, another vote for a member of my 04-22 team. Maybe this thought experiment wasn’t worth an article after all… While captain Tom Boyd was our left back in the early 2000s, Emilio Izaguirre a cult hero, and Greg Taylor a solid servant over the course of the Ange and Rodgers II eras, KT is – on his day – a genuinely world-class operator. While he only got to show glimmers of what he can do at Arsenal, Hoops fans everywhere will hope he can return to his best next season.

CENTRE BACK – Virgil van Dijk

Aaand it’s another vote for a player in my last team. Are you still with me? OK, good. There’s no sense in re-litigating my reasoning for putting the colossal Dutchman in the backline given what he did in green and white, and what he’s gone on to achieve. The real question worth asking: will Virgil be in the XI when I update this article in 2050?

CENTRE BACK – Cameron Carter-Vickers

This is the first pick I agonised over. Celtic had some highly capable centre halves in the early part of the century, like Valgaeren, Balde and Mjällby – who O’Neill played as a three – and I wouldn’t be averse to any of them making the line-up. CCV gets in on the basis of his composure and quality of passing, attributes that aren’t at the expense of good old-fashioned defensive work when needed. Am I alone in thinking that if he were a bit taller he’d be playing for a top European side?

RIGHT BACK – Jeremie Frimpong

“Oi, McCluskey, Frimpong was eligible for your last article so why’ve you done Lustig dirty by dropping him?” Good question. In truth, my heart ruled my head a bit last time; the Swede had been such a fantastic servant to the club and he gave us so many great moments. Frimpong, though, is a more dynamic proposition: fast as a hare, agile, attack-minded, the perfect wingback partner of KT on the opposite flank. As with van Dijk, his success post-Hoops has been no surprise. Naturally, I considered Lustig, Josip Juranović and Alistair Johnston, too. But despite his brief spell in Paradise, wee Jezza gets the nod.

MIDFIELD -Stiliyan Petrov

This is where it gets interesting, because none of the midfielders I chose in the last piece make the cut this time. Partly that’s because the formation’s changed to a 4-3-3, partly it’s because there’s a wider range of players at my disposal. Another interesting fact is that neither Scott Brown nor Calum McGregor are in the starting XI. Why Petrov, then? He was just class, wasn’t he? A cultured internationalist, he came to prominence in O’Neill’s treble season, winning Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Year, and he went on to play a major role in our European foray that ended in Seville. Stan could pick a pass, he could shoot, he drove forward with vision and quality, and he was also a marvellous team player who rolled up his sleeves when required. It’s hard to pick just three central midfielders but Petrov deserves the spot.

MIDFIELD – Paul Lambert

Brown, McGregor or Lennon could have been appointed master of the engine-room but it’s difficult to overlook a Champions League winner. Our captain for the Seville run, Lambert was an immense reader of the game and an outstanding all rounder who led by example. Like the best captains, he elevated those around him by being that reliable conduit, the figure of authority who dictates play through clever organisation, decision making, and ball control. While the same can be said for Brown and McGregor, Lambert really was of a different calibre.

MIDFIELD – Matt O’Reilly

O’Riley was one of those players for whom the term ‘baller’ applies. Slick, confident and energetic, he became a real driving force of that brilliant Ange side of a few years ago – little wonder Atlético Madrid showed interest after his European displays. Part of me wonders if the inclusion of O’Riley is coloured by nostalgia for the Postecoglou era as well as the £25m fee he commanded from Brighton, but then I remember the supreme technique of his goal at Tynecastle from Palma’s lofted ball, or the ease with which he’d pick up dangerous positions on the edge of the box, and he’s got to be in this team. 

LEFT WING – Daizen Maida

He turned into the quintessential centre forward this season but Maeda’s antics on the left wing are what made his name at Celtic and, with the CF position picking itself, this is where he ought to be, blazing up the wing like Roadrunner, terrifying defenders and keepers, relentlessly tracking back to regain possession, and just generally menacing the opposition. Although Jota’s delivery is superior, Maeda is a wholly unique player who just brings so much fierceness and firepower to the XI.

CENTRE FORWARD – Henrik Larsson

I don’t think there’s a single Celtic fan who would omit the King from a fantasy eleven, even if they could select players from any era (imagine a front two of Larsson and McGrory). A prolific talisman who scored 242 in 313 games, including many vital goals in derbies and in Europe, the incomparable Swede was also an assist machine, a galvanising force to those around him, and someone who embodied the phrase ‘winning mentality.’ The fact that he went on to win a Champions League with Barcelona (making him the third CL winner in this team) says it all. We’ve had many great strikers since the turn of the century, from Sutton, Hartson and Griffiths to Dembélé, Édouard and Kyogo, but Larsson is head and shoulders above the rest; he really could do everything.

RIGHT WING – Aiden McGeady

McGeady retains his place from the 04-22 team, although the most decorated Celt of all – James Forrest – deserves to be in contention. So, too, Didier Agathe (imagine him and Maeda occupying opposite wings). I just feel McGeady had something a bit different to offer: a blend of natural ability, arrogance and inventiveness: and I like the idea of him and Frimpong combining on that right channel.

MANAGER – Martin O’Neill

Martin, Brendan or Ange is what it comes down to, really; and it’s got to be Martin, hasn’t it? He was the one responsible for ending Rangers’ domestic dominance, the one who led us to an almost unthinkable treble and a European final. O’Neill was appointed at a time of great uncertainty and systematically raised the level of expectation for our club, in the process getting the very best out of his players. He also spoke well, wore his heart on his sleeve, and he just got it.

While we’re at it, let’s name seven substitutes: Forster, Mjällby, Valgaeren, Brown, Forrest, Moravčík, Sutton.

Well, that’s my tuppence worth. What team, formation and manager would you deploy for your Celtic team of the century?