Fourteen years ago today Celtic took on Jose Mourinho and came so close to coming away victorious.
Sutton and Larsson celebrate for Celtic
Today (May 21) marks the 14th anniversary of the last time Celtic made a major European final, when they took on Porto in Seville in the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League).
The Bhoys have enjoyed special nights in Europe since then – beating Barcelona 2-1 at Parkhead in the Champions League in 2012 will bring back particularly fond memories – but they have never come close to silverware since.
Once a European superpower, lifting the European Cup (now Champions League) in 1967 and finishing as runners-up three years later, their influence on the biggest stage waned as the years progressed.
Yet on that night in 2003, up against a side managed by the up-and-coming Jose Mourinho, Celtic came so close to ending a 36-year wait and lifting the trophy.
Twice Martin O’Neill’s men came from behind in Andalusia through headers from the powerhouse that was Henrik Larsson (the first of which was his 200th goal for the club), taking the game into extra-time.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho gestures to Porto fans as they chant his name
A second yellow card and resultant red for centre-back Bobo Balde left Celtic up against it in a match where the green and white fans were becoming increasingly frustrated with the apparent diving from the Portuguese – something which defender Paulo Ferreira later admitted to.
In the end the extra man told and Derlei scored an 115th-minute winner and his second of the game. Porto and Mourinho would go on to win the Champions League a year later, but that Celtic team – with the likes of Larsson, Stiliyan Petrov and Neil Lennon – was widely praised and will always be remembered with great fondness.
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