Larsson, Sutton, Petrov – imagine what Rodgers could achieve if he had this lot at his disposal.
As if you thought Brendan Rodgers’ reign at Celtic could not get any better, Tuesday’s 1-0 win against Hamilton smashed a 16-year record.
The Hoops are now unbeaten in 19 domestic matches, the best start by any manager in the Hoops’ history. Only Martin O’Neill comes close, reaching 18 games undefeated with a 6-1 thrashing of Hearts in 2000.
But what became of this most memorable of sides?
Robert Douglas
While a loyal and mostly consistent servant over a period of five years, 19-time Scotland international Douglas will forever be remembered by some fans for crucial errors in pressure situations, the 2003 UEFA Cup final against Jose Mourinho’s Porto coming to mind.
Now 44, and a regular columnist for The Courier, Douglas still finds the time to pull on the old gloves on occasion, signing up with Abroath in October.
Tom Boyd
Long-serving legend Boyd became the first Celtic captain to lift the SPL title in a decade in 1998, snapping Rangers ten-year stranglehold and ushering in a new era of green-and-white.
Understandably, after spending the final 11 years of his playing career at Celtic Park, 72-time international Boyd grew rather fond of the old place, becoming an official club ambassador this year to further extend his legacy.
Joos Valgaeren
One of the first-names of the team-sheet and a constant pillar of excellent in O’Neill’s favoured three-man defensive line, the Belgian international scored in the infamous 4-3 win against Juventus at Celtic Park in 2001/02 Champions League.
And, eight years after departing, Valgaeren returned to his old stomping ground to take part in a charity game for Stiliyan Petrov in 2013.
Johan Mjallby
Debuting in the 5-1 thrashing of Rangers in 1998, Mjallby’s formative steps for The Hoops were rather fitting. After all, three Scottish League titles, two League Cups and two Scottish Cups are hardly a disappointing return for a player plucked from Swedish football for little more than a million.
After maintaining the glory years as assistant manager to Neil Lennon, the pair endured a rather more testing period at Bolton. They’ve since gone their separate ways; Mjallby is now head coach at Swedish first division outfit Vasteras SK.
Didier Agathe
Making his name with Raith Rovers and Hibernian, O’Neill liked what he saw and snapped up the wing-back on a minimal fee. And, whether on the left or the right, Agathe was a constant menace on the flanks in his early years with the Bhoys.
On a slightly less auspicious note, Agathe also appeared in a cameo for Robert Duvall disaster Shot at Glory where he played for, you guessed it, Rangers.
Stiliyan Petrov
A true cult classic, bleached blonde Petrov arrived at Celtic an unknown teenager and left a legend with a multitude of medals around his neck. He became first ever foreign player to win the SPFA Young Player of the Year award before reuniting with O’Neill at Aston Villa in 2006.
After battling through acute leukaemia, the Bulgarian legend returned to the field earlier this year with Sunday League side Wychall Wanderers. Did we mention he pays for their kits? What a man.
Alan Thompson
The Newcastle-born midfielder’s spectacular goal in the dying seconds of on Old Firm victory over Rangers will forever raise the neck-hairs of the Celtic faithful and remains the possible highlight of a consistently excellent spell at the perennial champions.
After a stint as academy coach with Newcastle, Thompson earned his trade imparting his knowledge onto Birmingham City’s next generation before leaving in 2014.
Lubomir Moravcik
From France to Germany, Scotland to Japan, Moravcik had racked up almost as many flights as appearances in his long career. Fondly remembered for his four seasons at Celtic, one of the most capped players in the history of Czechoslovakia was named in the ‘dream XI’ by former Bhoys teammates Henrik Larsson, Stan Petrov and Chris Sutton.
These days, the two-footed midfielder is vice-president of the Slovakian Football Association and assistant manager at SKF Sered.
Bobby Petta
The term ‘nomadic’ doesn’t quite do Petta’s career justice. Feyenoord, Ipswich, Fulham, Darlington and Paris Hills Knights all emblazon the CV of the Dutch/Indonesian winger. Yet, his career probably peaked in that tie against Juventus, battering the Italians into submission after coming off the bench.
Scottish Junior outfit Rossvale picked up the 42-year-old earlier in the year, with his love of the game still holing strong.
Henrik Larsson
Arguably the greatest foreign player in the history of Scottish football, the fact that Larsson could transition from Celtic to Barcelona with minimal fuss proves just what a special talent he was. A stunning 174 goals in 221 appearances made him the highest goalscorer in SPL history until Kris Boyd epitomised the league’s decline, though Larsson’s career reached its apex when he came off the bench to inspire Barca to the 2006 Champions League title, assisting both goals in a dramatic comeback win against Arsenal.
Things haven’t gone quite so well post-retirement, however, with the Swede taking his first professional club, Helsingborgs, down into the second tier as manager while a fair few fans took issue with Larsson playing his own son up front. Unsurprisingly, he has now departed.
Chris Sutton
Premier League winner with Blackburn in 1995, the unheralded half of the famous ‘SAS’ strikeforce enjoyed the most prolific spell of his career north of the border with Celtic. Sutton holds the record for the fastest goal ever scored in an Old Firm clash, breaching Rangers’ defence after just 18 seconds in 2002.
These days, Mr Marmite has taken to offending everyone in football and guaranteeing good ratings as a pundit for BT and the BBC.
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