Gordon Strachan’s first game in charge of Celtic was a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Artmedia Bratislava.
Slovakia doesn’t seem to be a happy hunting ground for under-fire Scotland manager Gordon Strachan. The former Leeds United midfielder recently lost 3-0 there with the Scottish national team, although that scarcely compares to the humiliating 5-0 defeat he suffered during his first match in charge of Celtic more than a decade ago.
Whilst the Slovakia team Strachan recently lost to boasts the likes of Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik, his opposition back in 2005 had an annual budget of less than £1 million, had never reached the Champions League group stages and now play in a ground with a capacity of 1,500 in Slovakia’s fourth tier.
The Bhoys managed to record a 4-0 win in the return leg, but that wasn’t enough to overturn the first leg disadvantage, and Celtic were dumped out in embarrassing fashion. Despite the early disappointment, Strachan and Celtic went on to win an SPL and League Cup double that season.
Artmedia Bratislava celebrate vs Celtic
More than 11 years on from Strachan’s first game in charge of Celtic, we take a look at where the Bhoys starting XI from that defeat in Bratislava are today:
David Marshall
The only man to start in Celtic’s 5-0 defeat to Artmedia that is currently still playing and under contract at a club is David Marshall. The Scottish international struggled for game time during his 5 years at Parkhead, largely playing second fiddle to Artur Boruc.
Marshall has gone on to have a very good career though, most notably 7 successful years at Cardiff, and following a summer move he is now number 1 at the KCOM Stadium for Premier League new boys Hull City.
Paul Telfer
Right-back Paul Telfer spent a couple of seasons at Celtic Park before a return to England, where he played for the likes of Leeds United and Slough Town. The 45-year-old now works as a first team coach for NASL side Indy Eleven
Stanislav Varga
Stanislav Varga and his daughter during his time at Celtic
It was humiliation on home soil back in 2005 for Stanislav Varga. A Slovakian international who spent 3 years at Celtic, Varga had previously played for Artmedia’s crosstown rivals Slovan Bratislava. Now a manager, the 44-year-old recently left his post as boss of his boyhood club Tatran Presov.
Bobo Balde
Celtic favourite Bobo Balde spent 9 years in Glasgow, both joining from and departing to France’s Ligue 1. A powerful central defender, Balde saw off some big names to win the Bhoys Player of the Year award in 2002/03.
The former Guinean international has had a chaotic time since leaving Celtic. He left Glasgow in 2009 and was declared bankrupt later that year. Balde retired from playing in 2012 and began working as a travel coordinator for the Guinean national team in 2013.
Mo Camara
A versatile left sided player, Mo Camara’s time at Celtic was brief. Bought from Burnley and sold to Derby, he spent just a single season at Paradise, playing 19 league games. Also a Guinean international, Camara retired in 2010, and was made head of European scouting at Derby County in 2014.
Maciej Zurawski
Maciej Zurawski in action for Celtic
Polish marksman Maciej Zurawski scored 30 goals in 72 outings for the Hoops, before heading off for a couple of years in sunny Cyprus. The 40-year-old only fully retired from playing earlier this year, having come out of retirement after 3 years out of the game to play for Poroniec Poronin in 2013.
The 72 time capped Polish international hadn’t lost his touch, scoring 17 goals in 32 games for the minnows, before entering his second retirement. Currently out of work, Zurawski also worked as a scout for former club Wisla Krakow between 2012 and 2014.
Neil Lennon
Celtic legend Neil Lennon played more than 200 league games for the Bhoys in 7 years at the club. He went on to become the Hoops manager a year after Strachan departed, the pair sandwiched only by Tony Mowbray, and there were a number of similarities to be drawn between the duo’s managerial stints at Parkhead.
Shortly after leaving Celtic, Lennon joined Bolton, a club in turmoil, and one which he left in March 2016 with the Trotters stranded at the bottom of the Championship. The former Leicester City man now manages Scottish Championship side Hibernian.
Stan Petrov
Celtic favourite Stiliyan Petrov strikes the ball
An immensely popular figure, not just at Celtic Park but at every club he has played for, Stan Petrov is generally considered one of football’s ‘good guys’. A legend of Celtic, Aston Villa and the Bulgarian national team, the midfielder scored 65 goals in 312 games during his time in Glasgow.
Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukemia in March 2012, but having successfully fought his condition, he spent the summers pre-season training with Aston Villa. Many people were surprised Roberto Di Matteo didn’t offer Petrov a deal, and the Bulgarian is still unattached now.
Alan Thompson
Like Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson joined Celtic in 2000 and left the club in 2007. The one-cap wonder played 227 games for the club in that time, winning 9 trophies. Now aged 42, Thompson is currently out of work, having most recently been the assistant manager at Blackpool.
John Hartson
The second Celtic player from Strachan’s first starting XI to have sadly been diagnosed with cancer, but also happily the second to seemingly have fought it successfully, John Hartson is a Celtic hero, following 5 highly successful years in Glasgow.
A regular scorer in England, Hartson became even more prolific north of the border, scoring a total of 109 goals in 201 games for the Bhoys. The 41-year-old has helped out at Newport County and the Welsh national team since retiring, as well as doing frequent media and punditry work.
Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton during his time managing Lincoln City
Both of Celtic’s iconic strike partnership in the early-mid 2000’s are now doing doing media and punditry work. Chris Sutton is now heavily involved in talking and writing about Scottish football. The retired forward won a Premier League title at Blackburn during his playing days and scored 86 goals in a little over 5 seasons at Celtic Park.
Artur Boruc, Stephen McManus, Craig Beattie, Aiden McGeady, Shaun Maloney, Ross Wallace and Jeremie Aliadiere were the substitutes for Celtic in Bratislava
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