2008–09 Celtic F.C. season

The 200809 season was the 120th season of competitive football by Celtic.

Celtic
200809 season
Chairman John Reid
Manager Gordon Strachan
Ground Celtic Park
Glasgow, Scotland
(Capacity: 60,355)
Scottish Premier League 2nd
Scottish Cup Quarter-finals
Scottish League Cup Winners
Champions League Group stage
Top goalscorer League:
Scott McDonald (16)

All:
Scott McDonald (19)
Home colours
Away colours

Overview

Celtic went into the 2008–09 season defending their Scottish Premier League title, which they won for the third consecutive time in 2007–08.

They also entered the UEFA Champions League directly at the group stage, as well as taking part in the two domestic cup competitions, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

To prepare for the Season, Celtic took part in two Pre-Season Tournaments; the Algarve Challenge Cup in Faro, Portugal, where they finished bottom, having faced Middlesbrough and Cardiff City, and the Feyenoord Jubilee Tournament in Rotterdam, where they finished second, having faced Tottenham Hotspur and host club Feyenoord.

The campaign

League campaign

The Championship flag was unfurled before Celtic's first League game, against St Mirren at Celtic Park on 10 August by Rosemary Burns, the widow of former Celtic player Tommy Burns, who had died of skin cancer at the end of season 2007–08. Celtic won the game 1–0, through a Barry Robson penalty, getting their Campaign off to a winning start.

Celtic finished second in the SPL table at the end of the season, eventually finishing four points behind champions Rangers. This was despite at one point having built up a seven-point lead over Rangers. This lead was squandered though, Celtic dropping points to Dundee United, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Motherwell, Rangers themselves, and on two occasions to both Hibernian and Hearts.

One day after the final league game of the season, a 0–0 draw with Hearts at Celtic Park, it was announced that Gordon Strachan would leave as manager of Celtic with immediate effect. This brought to an end Strachan's four-year spell as manager, during which he guided the club to three SPL titles, one Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups. He also guided the club twice into the last 16 of the Champions League, losing out to A.C. Milan and Barcelona respectively.

European campaign

Celtic, as Scottish champions, qualified directly for the UEFA Champions League, where they were the sole Scottish side as Rangers were knocked out in the second qualifying round by FBK Kaunas, meaning Celtic received all the TV money allocated to Scotland.

Celtic were in Pot 3 for the group stage draw, which took place in Monaco on 28 August. They were drawn with Manchester United, Villarreal and Aalborg. The first game, a home tie against Aalborg, finished in a goalless draw. The next game, away to Villarreal ended in a 1–0 defeat, which was followed by a 3–0 defeat away to Manchester United. Next up, at home, Celtic drew 1–1 with Manchester United, with Scott McDonald putting Celtic in the lead in the 13th minute, only for Ryan Giggs to equalise for Manchester United in the 84th minute. A disappointing 2–1 defeat to Aalborg in Denmark saw Celtic's European aspirations end, despite having taken the lead through Barry Robson. Nonetheless, Celtic rallied to end their campaign on a high with a 2–0 victory over Villarreal at Celtic Park.

Domestic cups

Celtic entered the Scottish League Cup at the third round proper (the last 16 stage) and the Scottish Cup at the fourth round proper (the Round of 32). The club beat Livingston 4–0 in the third round of the League Cup on 23 September, and travelled to Kilmarnock on 28 October, beating them 3–1 and qualifying for the semi-finals, where they faced Dundee United at Hampden Park on 28 January. After a 0–0 draw in extra time, Celtic won a penalty shoot-out 11-10 to set up a final against Rangers on 15 March. The teaam won the 2009 Scottish League Cup Final 2–0 aet at Hampden, with Darren O'Dea and Aiden McGeady getting the goals.

The fourth round of the Scottish Cup took place on 10 January, with Celtic beating Dundee at Celtic Park. In the fifth round, Celtic hosted Queen's Park on 7 February, beating them 2-1. In the quarter-finals, Celtic lost 1–0 at St Mirren on 7 March.

Competitions

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Premier League

UEFA Champions League

Scottish League Cup

*Celtic won the match 11-10 on penalties

Scottish Cup

Player details

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier LeagueFA CupLeague CupOther
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Poland Artur Boruc 470340304060
2 DF Germany Andreas Hinkel 420320204040
3 DF England Lee Naylor 30119+41202030
4 DF Scotland Stephen McManus 414314202060
5 DF Scotland Gary Caldwell 474363213060
6 DF Guinea Dianbobo Balde 0000000000
7 FW Australia Scott McDonald 471933+11631414+21
8 MF Scotland Scott Brown 487365213+1160
9 FW Greece Georgios Samaras 411719+12150+301+2240
10 FW Netherlands Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 32615+106301+100+20
11 MF Scotland Paul Hartley 33320+53102+103+10
12 DF Scotland Mark Wilson 25015+30001+1050
13 FW Scotland Shaun Maloney 30514+74101+104+21
14 MF Northern Ireland Niall McGinn 0000000000
15 DF Czech Republic Milan Mišůn 0000000000
16 MF Republic of Ireland Willo Flood 502+30000000
17 MF Spain Marc Crosas 22114+41301000
18 MF Italy Massimo Donati 802+200+10200+10
19 MF Scotland Barry Robson 24213+410+100+104+11
20 MF Northern Ireland Paddy McCourt 500+400+100000
21 GK Scotland Mark Brown 4040000000
22 DF Netherlands Glenn Loovens 23413+43103120
23 FW England Ben Hutchinson 400+3000000+10
24 DF Cameroon Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé 0000000000
25 MF Japan Shunsuke Nakamura 42930+28203150
26 FW Republic of Ireland Cillian Sheridan 1646+64000+101+20
29 MF Japan Koki Mizuno 1012+81000000
33 FW New Zealand Chris Killen 100+10000000
41 DF Scotland John Kennedy 0000000000
42 MF New Zealand Michael McGlinchey 0000000000
46 MF Republic of Ireland Aiden McGeady 40721+8331423+11
48 DF Republic of Ireland Darren O'Dea 1627+3120210+20
52 DF Scotland Paul Caddis 700+50101000
54 MF Scotland Ryan Conroy 10000+100000
55 MF Scotland Paul McGowan 100000000+10

Top scorers

R Player Scottish
Premier
League

Scottish
League
Cup
Scottish
Cup
UEFA
Champions
League
Total
1 Australia Scott McDonald 16 1 1 1 19
2 Greece Georgios Samaras 15 2 0 0 17
3 Japan Shunsuke Nakamura 8 1 0 0 9
4 Scotland Scott Brown 5 1 1 0 7
Republic of Ireland Aiden McGeady 3 2 1 1 7
5 Netherlands Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 6 0 0 0 6
6 Scotland Shaun Maloney 4 0 0 1 5
7 Republic of Ireland Cillian Sheridan 4 0 0 0 4
Scotland Stephen McManus 4 0 0 0 4
Netherlands Glenn Loovens 3 1 0 0 4
8 Scotland Paul Hartley 3 0 0 0 3
Scotland Gary Caldwell 2 0 1 0 3
9 Scotland Barry Robson 1 0 0 1 2
Republic of Ireland Darren O'Dea 1 1 0 0 2
10 Japan Koki Mizuno 1 0 0 0 1
Spain Marc Crosas 1 0 0 0 1
England Lee Naylor 1 0 0 0 1

Technical staff

Position Staff
Manager Gordon Strachan
Assistant Manager Gary Pendrey
First Team Coach Neil Lennon
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

Date Player From Fee Source
19 June 2008Northern Ireland Paddy McCourtRepublic of Ireland Derry City£500,000[1]
15 July 2008Greece Georgios SamarasEngland Manchester City£1.5 million[2]
15 July 2008England Matty HughesEngland RochdaleUndisclosed[3]
10 August 2008Spain Marc CrosasSpain Barcelona £400,000[4][5]
16 August 2008Netherlands Glenn LoovensWales Cardiff City£2.5 million[6]
22 August 2008Scotland Shaun MaloneyEngland Aston Villa£2.2 million[7]
16 December 2008Northern Ireland Niall McGinnRepublic of Ireland Derry City£300,000[8]
23 December 2008Czech Republic Milan MišůnCzech Republic FK Příbram£500,000[9]
30 January 2009Republic of Ireland Willo FloodWales Cardiff City£1.3 million[10]
2 February 2009Czech Republic Filip TwardzikGermany Hertha BerlinUndisclosed[11]
2 February 2009Czech Republic Patrik TwardzikGermany Hertha BerlinUndisclosed[11]

Out

Date Player To Fee Source
17 June 2008Northern Ireland Michael McGovernScotland Dundee UtdFree Transfer[12]
30 June 2008Scotland Adam VirgoEngland Brighton & Hove Albion Free Transfer[13]
1 July 2008Republic of Ireland Diarmuid O'CarrollEngland MorecambeFree Transfer[14]
27 July 2008Scotland John KennedyEngland Norwich City Loan[15]
7 August 2008Scotland Rocco QuinnScotland Livingston Loan[16]
8 August 2008Republic of Ireland Jim O'BrienScotland Motherwell Undisclosed[17]
14 August 2008Scotland Scott CuthbertScotland St Mirren Loan[18]
18 August 2008Denmark Thomas GravesenRetired[19]
21 August 2008Netherlands Evander SnoNetherlands Ajax£1.2 million[20]
1 September 2008Scotland Steven PressleyDenmark Randers FCFree[21]
1 September 2008Scotland Derek RiordanScotland Hibernian£500,000[22]
7 January 2009Scotland Paul McGowanScotland Hamilton AcciesLoan[23]
31 January 2009New Zealand Chris KillenEngland Norwich CityLoan[24]
2 February 2009Scotland Rocco QuinnScotland Hamilton AcademicalFree[25]
2 February 2009Republic of Ireland Cillian SheridanScotland MotherwellLoan[26]

See also

References

  1. "McCourt seals transfer to Celtic". BBC Sport. 19 June 2008.
  2. "Samaras completes Celtic switch". BBC Sport. 15 July 2008.
  3. "Celtic recruit Rochdale teenager". BBC Sport. 15 July 2008.
  4. "Barça's Crosas wends his way to Celtic". UEFA.com. UEFA. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  5. "Celtic new boy, Marc Crosas - Barca no more". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. "Celtic sign Loovens from Cardiff". BBC Sport. 16 August 2008.
  7. "Shaun Maloney returns to Paradise". Celtic FC. 22 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  8. "McGinn seals transfer to Celtic". BBC Sport. 16 December 2008.
  9. "Misun completes Celtic transfer". BBC Sport. 23 December 2008.
  10. "Celtic complete signing of Flood". BBC Sport. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Transfers registered with the Scottish Football Association over the past three days". Scotsman Sport. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  12. "Dundee United make double swoop". BBC Sport. 17 June 2008.
  13. "Brighton re-sign defender Virgo". BBC Sport. 30 June 2008.
  14. "Morecambe snap up Celtic striker". BBC Sport. 1 July 2008.
  15. "Norwich win loan race for Kennedy". BBC Sport. 27 July 2008.
  16. "Livingston announce new signing". Livingston FC. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  17. "'Well unveil double signing". Motherwell FC. 8 August 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  18. "Saints seal Cuthbert loan deal". BBC Sport. 14 August 2008.
  19. "Celtic part company with Thomas Gravesen". Celtic FC. 18 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008.
  20. "Ajax sign Evander Sno". Ajax AFC. 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
  21. "Pressley moves to Danish outfit". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008.
  22. "Riordan opts for Hibernian return". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008.
  23. "Accies sign Old Firm pair on loan". BBC Sport. 7 January 2009.
  24. "Norwich secure Killen loan deal". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009.
  25. "Hamilton complete Quinn signing". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009.
  26. "Motherwell take Sheridan on loan". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009.
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