2007–08 Celtic F.C. season

Celtic
2007–08 season
Chairman Brian Quinn, John Reid
Manager Gordon Strachan
Ground Celtic Park
Glasgow, Scotland
(Capacity: 60,355)
Scottish Premier League 1st
Scottish Cup Quarter-finals
Scottish League Cup Quarter-finals
Champions League Round of 16
Top goalscorer League:
Scott McDonald (25)
All:
Scott McDonald (31)
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
The last Old Firm clash of the season resulted in 3-2 victory for Celtic.

Celtic started the 2007–08 season looking to retain the Scottish Premier League title and the Scottish Cup. They also competed in the Scottish League Cup. The team accepted an invitation to take part in the annual Major League Soccer All-Star Game for 2007, as part of a pre-season tour of the United States, Switzerland and England. On 9 October, Celtic opened their new training facilities at Lennoxtown.

Domestic campaign

Celtic started the season with a scoreless draw at Celtic Park against Kilmarnock. They then won their next five league matches scoring 12 goals in 6 consecutive matches and topped the league for most of the first half of the season. At the end of 2007 Celtic were still on top of the SPL standings. The Old Firm derby on 2 January 2008 and a match against Motherwell were postponed due to the death of former Celtic player and Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell, who died on 29 December. During the break in fixtures, the team slipped to second place behind Rangers. Celtic kept in close touch with Rangers until the 2nd Old Firm derby on 31 March 2008 at Ibrox. In contrast to the 1st Old Firm game at Ibrox in September, in which Rangers coasted to a 3-0 win, this was a close game which finished 1-0 to Rangers, courtesy of a Kevin Thomson goal just before half-time. This put Rangers 7 points clear at the top of the SPL. Celtic suffered another set-back when they lost their next game at home to Motherwell by the same scoreline. With their closest rivals 7 points ahead, and with a game in hand, coupled with the success Rangers were enjoying in all competitions, many fans began to doubt Gordon Strachan, a doubt which was clearly expressed throughout Celtic Park during the game against Motherwell, when Starchan decided to take off Scott McDonald, the club's leading goalscorer for Georgios Samaras in the final 15 minutes.

However a dramatic, and seemingly unlikely, turnaround in fortunes began on 16 April, when the third Old Firm clash took place in Celtic Park. This was a highly charged affair from the kick-off, with a re-invigorated Celtic dominating the opening proceedings and making their dominance count when Shunsuke Nakamura scored a spectacular goal from around 35 yards, which later ended up as Celtic's 'Goal of the Season', on the 20 minute mark. Rangers hit back in the second half when Nacho Novo equalised but Celtic got a chance to retake the lead when Nakamura's curling shot was illegally handled off the line by Carlos Cuéllar, who was sent off. However, McDonald's penalty was struck poorly and Allan McGregor, despite having an injured ankle, was able to save it. Celtic pushed in vain for a winner against 10 men but it seemed like Rangers would get the draw they played for, and which would all but seem to secure them the title. However, in the 3rd minute of injury time, a quick throw in led to ball being played outside the box to Samaras who knocked it down to Gary Caldwell. Caldwell hit a diagonal ball into the box where McDonald squared the ball for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to nod the ball home inside the six-yard box past Neil Alexander, who replaced the injured McGregor. However spectacular Nakamura's first half goal was, Vennegoor of Hesselinks proved to be a hugely pivotal moment in the title race. There were jubilant scenes around all the Celtic fans. McDonald was visibly emotional after the final whistle. 2-1 was the final score and even with the small confrontations after the final whistle between the players, Celtic showed that they were not giving up their title without a fight.

On 27 April, the 4th and final Old Firm clash was played at Celtic Park. Picking up from 11 days earlier, the game exploded into life with a 4th-minute strike from McDonald. The goal was later shown by TV replays to have been offside, however Celtic were not going to let this good fortune pass them by. Rangers equalised in the 17th minute with a David Weir header from a corner kick and Celtic's set-piece weakness was exploited again less than 15 minutes later when Daniel Cousin scored from another corner kick. Shortly before half time though, Aiden McGeady found Scott McDonald just inside the Rangers box. He turned Christian Dailly and struck a looping shot past Neil Alexander to make it 2-2. The 2nd half saw both teams have plenty of chances and Celtic were given a penalty after Kirk Broadfoot brought down McDonald. Barry Robson took the responsibility and duly delivered by driving the ball past Alexander. It remained 3-2 and Celtic went 5 points clear in the SPL, however due to fixture congestion, Rangers had played three matches fewer.

Celtic's chances of winning the title improved over the following weeks when Rangers drew consecutive games against Hibernian and Motherwell. Going into the last day of the league season, the clubs were tied on points although Celtic had a superior goal difference. Celtic travelled to Tannadice Park to play Dundee United, knowing that victory would give them the title while Rangers travelled to Pittodrie to play Aberdeen, needing Celtic to fail to win against Dundee United to have any chance at all. The game at Tannadice was a tense affair with chances for both sides. During the second half, Celtic supporters had found out that Aberdeen had taken the lead against Rangers and shortly after that, Vennegoor Of Hesselink connected with a corner to give Celtic the lead that would secure the title. Gordon Strachan became only the third Celtic manager ever to win three league titles in a row. The victory was dedicated to the memory of Tommy Burns, former player and manager, who had died earlier that week. Victory in the league also secured Celtic automatic entry to the group stages of the UEFA Champions League in season 2008/09.

The club were less successful in the season's domestic cup competitions. They exited the Scottish League Cup at the quarter final stage, after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Hearts. They lost at the same stage of the Scottish Cup, losing to Aberdeen in a replay.

UEFA Champions League campaign

Celtic was drawn against Russian side Spartak Moscow in the third round of qualifying for the Champions League. The first leg was played at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the venue for this year's Champions League final, and ended in a 1–1 draw, with Paul Hartley scoring his first goal for the club after joining from Heart of Midlothian eight months prior. In the return leg, Celtic emerged victorious after a 1–1 draw, with Scott McDonald scoring his first goal for the club. The game ended in a penalty shootout, with Artur Boruc saving twice.

Celtic were drawn alongside Milan, Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League group stages. Celtic lost the first group match, away to Shakhtar in Ukraine, 2–0, but they rebounded with a 2–1 win over defending champions Milan at Celtic Park, leaving them in second in the group after two matches. Following McDonald's match-winning goal, Celtic fan Robert McHendry ran onto the pitch and tapped Milan goalkeeper Dida on the face as he ran past his goal; Dida initially gave chase, then fell to the pitch and was stretchered off. McHendry later surrendered to police and was banned for life from Parkhead, and Dida received a two-game suspension for breaching UEFA's policy of "principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship", which was reduced to one match on appeal. Celtic were found guilty of "lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters" and were issued a £25,000 fine, half of which was suspended for two years.[1]

The third match day saw Celtic drop to bottom in the game against Benfica. Celtic lost 1–0 with the goal coming in the 86th minute. Next up, Celtic again faced Benfica, this time at home. They won this 1–0 with a goal from Aiden McGeady before half-time. In the next game at Celtic Park, they came back from 1–0 down against Shakhtar Donetsk to win 2–1 thanks to a winner from Massimo Donati with the last kick of the game, which moved them up to second in the group, guaranteeing post-Christmas European football, and leaving them needing one point from the last game in Milan to be sure of qualifying for the round of 16. Despite losing 1–0 in Milan, Celtic qualified as Benfica won 2–1 in Donetsk. In the knockout stage, Celtic drew Barcelona, where Celtic lost both the first leg at home (3–2) and the second leg and the second leg (1–0) away at Camp Nou.

Results

Scores are written Celtic first.

Scottish Premier League

UEFA Champions League

*Celtic won the match 4-3 on penalties

Scottish League Cup

Scottish Cup

Player details

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier LeagueScottish CupLeague CupChampions League
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Poland Artur Boruc 450300402090
2 DF Germany Andreas Hinkel 191161300000
3 DF England Lee Naylor 471331302090
4 DF Scotland Adam Virgo 0000000000
5 DF Scotland Gary Caldwell 51235141209+10
6 DF Guinea Dianbobo Balde 4040000000
7 FW Poland Maciej Żurawski 801+4000000+30
8 MF Scotland Scott Brown 48331+33302090
9 FW Scotland Kenny Miller 231+13000000
9 FW Greece Georgios Samaras (from January) 2165+1150+31000+20
10 FW Netherlands Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 462031+11543217+11
11 MF Scotland Paul Hartley 39123+401+101091
12 DF Scotland Mark Wilson 1608+3000004+10
14 FW Scotland Derek Riordan 1112+610+10100+10
16 MF Denmark Thomas Gravesen 0000000000
17 DF Scotland Steven Pressley 705000001+10
18 MF Italy Massimo Donati 41422+333+10207+31
19 MF Scotland Barry Robson 1639+62000011
20 MF Czech Republic Jiří Jarošík 1326+21000051
21 GK Scotland Mark Brown 9080000010
23 FW England Ben Hutchinson 200+20000000
24 DF Cameroon Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé 3020000010
25 MF Japan Shunsuke Nakamura 36724+2641005+10
26 FW Republic of Ireland Cillian Sheridan 100+10000000
27 FW Australia Scott McDonald 523135+12543218+22
29 MF Japan Koki Mizuno 0000000000
33 FW New Zealand Chris Killen 2712+1810+100+101+40
41 DF Scotland John Kennedy 1405+2000204+10
44 DF Scotland Stephen McManus 5353744020101
45 MF Republic of Ireland James O'Brien 200+100+100000
46 MF Republic of Ireland Aiden McGeady 51835+1740108+21
47 GK Northern Ireland Michael McGovern 0000000000
48 DF Republic of Ireland Darren O'Dea 1003+301+10001+10
52 DF Scotland Paul Caddis 400+20100010
54 MF Scotland Ryan Conroy 2020000000
55 MF Scotland Paul McGowan 100+10000000
56 MF Iceland Teddy Bjarnason 0000000000
Position Staff
Manager Gordon Strachan
Assistant Manager Gary Pendrey
First Team Coach Tommy Burns
Goalkeeping Coach Jim Blyth
Head of Youth Academy Chris McCart
Head of Recruitment John Park
Physiotherapist Graeme Parsons
Physiotherapist Gavin McCarthy
Doctor Derek McCormack
Head of Sports Science Greg Dupont

Last updated: 12 June 2017
Source:

Transfers

In

Player From Fee
Australia Scott McDonaldScotland Motherwell£700,000
Bulgaria Tomislav PavlovBulgaria CSKA SofiaFree
Scotland Scott BrownScotland Hibernian£4.4 million
New Zealand Chris KillenScotland HibernianFree
Italy Massimo DonatiItaly AC Milan£2.5 million
Republic of Ireland Laurence GaughanEngland LiverpoolFree
Cameroon Jean-Joël Perrier-DoumbéFrance RennesFree
Italy Luca SantonocitoItaly Inter MilanFree [2]
Germany Andreas HinkelSpain Sevilla£1.9 million [3]
Japan Koki MizunoJapan JEF United Ichihara Chiba£300,000 [4]
England Ben HutchinsonEngland Middlesbrough£500,000[5]
Greece Georgios SamarasEngland Manchester CityLoan [6]
Scotland Barry RobsonScotland Dundee United£1.2 million[7]

Out

Player To Fee
Northern Ireland Neil LennonEngland Nottingham ForestFree
England Alan ThompsonEngland Leeds UnitedFree
Iceland Kjartan FinnbogasonIceland ÅtvidabergsLoan
Scotland Craig BeattieEngland West Bromwich Albion£1.25 million [8]
Scotland David MarshallEngland Norwich City£1 million[9]
Scotland Andrew TraubScotland ClydeFree [10]
Scotland Adam VirgoEngland Colchester UnitedLoan [11]
Scotland Gary IrvineScotland St JohnstoneUndisclosed[12]
Scotland Dean RichardsonRepublic of Ireland BohemiansUndisclosed
Denmark Thomas GravesenEngland EvertonLoan [13]
Scotland Kenny MillerEngland Derby County£3 million [14]
Scotland Michael GardyneScotland Greenock MortonUndisclosed [15]
Scotland Paul LawsonScotland Ross CountyUndisclosed
Scotland Craig ReidScotland Stirling AlbionLoan
Scotland Rocco QuinnScotland St JohnstoneLoan
Republic of Ireland Mark NolanRepublic of Ireland BohemianFree
Scotland Scott FoxScotland Ayr UnitedLoan [16]
Iceland Teddy BjarnasonNorway Lyn Oslo£300,000 [17]
Scotland Craig ReidScotland Queen of the SouthUndisclosed [18]
Republic of Ireland James O'BrienScotland Dundee UnitedLoan [19]
Czech Republic Jiří JarošíkRussia Krylia Sovetov Samara£750,000 [20]
Poland Maciej ŻurawskiGreece Larissa£500,000 [21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dida banned, Celtic fined, UEFA.com, 12 October 2007
  2. ↑ Celtic sign teenager from Inter, BBC News, 28 August 2007
  3. ↑ Celtic complete signing of Hinkel, BBC News, 4 January 2008
  4. ↑ Japanese star Koki Mizuno signs for Celtic Archived 1 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine., Celtic FC, 29 January 2008
  5. ↑ Hutchinson joins the Champions tonight Archived 3 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine., Celtic FC, 31 January 2008
  6. ↑ Celtic seal loan deal for Geoggios Samaras Archived 1 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Celtic FC, 29 January 2008
  7. ↑ Barry Robson signs for Celtic Archived 3 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine., Celtic FC, 31 January 2008
  8. ↑ West Brom complete Beattie deal, BBC News, 3 July 2007
  9. ↑ Marshall completes Norwich move, BBC News, 4 July 2007
  10. ↑ Clyde's Hendry snaps up quartet, BBC News, 2 August 2007
  11. ↑ Virgo seals Colchester loan move, BBC News, 17 August 2007
  12. ↑ Gary Irvine leaves Celtic Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine., Celtic FC
  13. ↑ Everton re-sign Gravesen on loan, BBC News, 30 August 2007
  14. ↑ Jewell demands fair Miller price, BBC News, 6 March 2008
  15. ↑ Celtic transfer latest Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine., Celtic FC, 31 August 2007
  16. ↑ Ayr Utd take keeper Fox on loan, BBC, 15 January 2008
  17. ↑ Teddy Bjarnason moves to Norway Archived 18 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine., Celtic FC, 15 January 2008
  18. ↑ Reid joins Queens from Celtic, BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2008
  19. ↑ Celtic complete capture of Robson, BBC Sport, 31 January 2008
  20. ↑ Jarosik makes Russian return, Sky Sports, 31 January 2008
  21. ↑ Maciej Zurawski leaves Celtic Archived 6 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine., Celtic FC, 1 February 2008
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