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Top 5 Celtic FC Managers of All Time

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Celtic FC epitomizes Scottish football success. The team has 52 Scottish championships and an impressive 38 Cup trophies. Marist Brother Walfrid founded the team in 1887 as part of his efforts to raise funds to alleviate poverty in his city. With such a long and successful run as one of Scotland’s most loved football teams, Celtic has had the good fortune to be led by some of the best managers in history.

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1. Jock Stein

Jock Stein holds a special place in the hearts of Celtic fans. Many football historians believe that he was the driving force behind Celtic’s modern-day success. The sheer volume of trophies that the team brought home after Jock took over is astounding, even by today’s standards. He took over a struggling team in 1965 and led them to 5 league cup victories and 9 league titles, and they became the first Scottish team to win the European Cup in 1967.

2. Willie Maley

This legendary leader was the first and longest-serving Celtic FC manager, guiding the team for an amazing 43 years from 1897 to 1940. There is no exaggeration in saying that he lived and breathed for his team, leading them to wins in all possible aspects of the game. With Maley at the helm, Celtic won 30 trophies, including 16 League championships and 14 Scottish Cups. During his tenure, the team also achieved a six-year streak as League title holders. His passion for the team goes all the way back to their very beginning, playing midfield in the team’s first-ever match in 1888.

3. Martin O’Neill

O’Neill led the team from 2000 to 2005, helping to stage one of the team’s biggest comebacks. The team had underperformed in the previous two seasons, finishing a full 21 points behind the leaders in the last league. However, through the leadership of O’Neill the team clinched Scottish Premier League championships and the League Title. They even managed to reached the UEFA finals in 2003. By 2005, the team had brought home 7 trophies and had completely turned their reputation around thanks mainly to Martin O’Neill.

4. Billy McNeill

This legendary Celtic captain also led the team as a manager for two spells between 1977 and 1991. With Jock Stein’s big shoes to fill, McNeill did an amazing job, leading the team to victory in both the Scottish League and Cup. Their historic century season came down to a final match against the Rangers, pulling it out despite trailing by two goals and being a man down. Over both his tenures, McNeill guided the team to 4 titles.

5. Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers first joined the team in 2016 and led the team to a fourth treble, along with an unbeaten streak of 69 games that many think will never be surpassed. Between 2016 to 2018, Rodgers led the team to their first double treble. Despite his fantastic run, Rodgers left the team for Leiceister in 2019, much to the disappointment of his fans. Thankfully, in 2023, he rejoined the team under a 3-year contract, and supporters are keen to see if he can match his previous performances.

Other Influential Figures in Celtic’s History

Apart from managers, there have been a number of other individuals who have helped shape the team. The most notable of these has to be the Club’s founder, Brother Walfrid, who’s main aim for creating the club was to raise funds to the betterment of the people of Glasgow. We also cannot forget the contribution of the entire 1967 Celitic FC team, affectionately known as the Lisbon Lions.

Image Source: unsplash.com

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