Celtic
“I really loved Celtic”, striker reveals no regrets after £4m departure
“I really loved Celtic”, striker reveals no regrets after £4m departure
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 06: Oh Hyeongyu of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Hibernian FC at Celtic Park Stadium on December 06, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Former Celtic striker Oh has revealed that he has no regrets over his summer departure from Paradise. The South Korean forward left Celtic for Belgian side Genk after just a year and a half with Celtic.
Oh scored 12 goals in 47 appearances but after Idah arrived, it was clear that he was out of Brendan’s plans. Speaking to the Glasgow Times, the forward said that he had no regrets but loved the club.
“I had lost my place in my national team because I was no longer playing for Celtic.
“It was then I knew I had to get a transfer.
“Now I am in a good place here.
“I scored 12 goals in total for Celtic, but I hardly played in the last six months.
“They had brought in a new striker, someone with a different profile – a big, strong boy – and they had to find a solution for me.
“I thought that was a shame at first because I really loved Celtic. It’s a great club.
“But when Genk came calling, I didn’t hesitate.
“I had a few options in the English Championship, but I just wanted to come here.
“When you see all the players who came through here – Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Leandro Trossard and more. That’s impressive, isn’t it?”
Oh will look to make a mark in European football in Belgium. It was clear that he had raw attributes that might’ve resulted in him coming good for Celtic. Ange clearly rated the player but Brendan was less than convinced, resulting in the move for Idah from Norwich.
The Belgians paid £2.5m but the deal included add-ons that could take the deal up to £4m. Celtic then went back to Norwich and sealed a permanent move for Idah, which was worth a total of £9m.
Even Kris Boyd believes ‘outstanding’ Celtic hero is the best in Scotland right now
Nobody has shown more improvement at Celtic this season than Nicolas Kuhn, and even Rangers pundits are lining up to dish out the praise.
The German winger has scored six goals and contributed a healthy eight assists in his 11 matches so far.
He is delivering end product well beyond what he managed in the first six months of his Celtic career.
The attacker used the summer pre-season period to strengthen physically and find a devastating role in Brendan Rodgers’ tactical set-up.
Lightning-quick, a battler and unselfish, Kuhn has been a superb threat for the Bhoys and is quickly becoming mega-popular with fans. He now even has his own chant on the terraces.
It’s still very early days in 2024/25, of course, but Kris Boyd reckons he’s actually been the best performer in the entire Scottish Premiership to this point.
Kris Boyd says Nicolas Kuhn is setting the bar at Celtic
Speaking on the SPFL’s Warm-Up YouTube show, Boyd was full of plaudits for the Celtic star despite the pundit’s Rangers leanings.
Asked by host Gordon Duncan who has been the best player in Scotland so far this season, Boyd didn’t hesitate to respond, “Nicolas Kuhn.”
The former striker then added, “He might have started a bit slowly last season, but there were still glimpses there where you thought to yourself, there might be something there. It was just putting it all together, but I mean, this season, I think he’s been outstanding.
“You look at the goals and assists. He’s taking part in the game as well. It’s not as if you’re just hoping to get the ball to him for a bit of magic. He has work rate to get back and help Alistair Johnston.”
Nicolas Kuhn aiming for big numbers this season
The German will be looking to go well into double-figures for goals and assists across the coming campaign.
It’s now all about maintaining his consistency and continuing to exploit defences even as they grow wise to his talents in their second and third meetings with Celtic.
Rodgers needed a player to step up and replace Matt O’Riley’s direct goal contributions last term, who notched 19 goals and 19 assists.
Although from a different position, Kuhn is well on his way to replicating that kind of impact.
James Forrest pulls out of Scotland squad as Celtic left sweating over injury concern
Celtic are in the midst of the international break just now, which always carries a risk of injury concerns to Brendan Rodgers to contend with.
Starting off duties with their respective nations the way they mean to go on, Liam Scales and Adam Idah helped the Republic of Ireland over the line against Finand last night in Helsinki.
Slightly closer to home, Celtic’s homegrown contingent are preparing to face Croatia on Saturday in Zagreb. Nevertheless, Greg Taylor has already pulled out the Scotland squad due to injury.
Anthony Ralston and James Forrest have also been called into the reckoning with two matches for the Tartan Army against Croatia and Portugal over the course of this international fixture instalment.
However, there is now bad news for the latter amid recent developments, so let’s take a look at his current situation.
Celtic wait to hear more on James Forrest injury concern
Per The Scottish Sun, Forrest has been ruled out of the Scotland camp for their Nations League double-header, leaving Ralston the sole survivor in Steve Clarke’s plans for events over the coming days.
The outlet state he missed their final training session before the squad were due to fly out to Zagreb, which was only initially taken as a precautionary step.
Nevertheless, he will now pull out of camp to focus on recovery with the Celtic physio team while his teammates look to solidify Scotland’s position in League A Group 1. It is unclear how long he could be sidelined for at this point in time.
Becoming the latest in a long line of injury-related concerns for Clarke to manoeuvre, Kieran Tierney, John McGinn and Jack Hendry are among the most notable absentees.
Celtic won’t want James Forrest on the sidelines
Hopefully, Brendan Rodgers doesn’t have anything too serious to worry about regarding the experienced winger.
It should be noted that Forrest pulled out of Scotland’s plans last month alongside Taylor, so this isn’t exactly a new scenario and may just be a precaution.
With four assists in his opening ten appearances this term, the 33-year-old has been in fine form for Celtic.
Regardless, the Bhoys will need to patiently wait for an outcome on his fitness while the wait for the international break to conclude ensues.
Celtic Star Suffers Injury Blow on International Duty
James Forrest has been forced to withdraw from the Scotland squad for their upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Portugal due to injury.
Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v Rangers – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – September 1, 2024 Celtic’s James Forrest arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
The 33-year-old Celtic winger adds to a growing list of absentees for Scotland, with key players like Lawrence Shankland, Greg Taylor, Lewis Ferguson, Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson, and John McGinn already sidelined.
Forrest’s injury became apparent after he missed Scotland’s final training session before their clash with Croatia in Zagreb. He will now return to Celtic for treatment, with the Hoops set to face Aberdeen on October 19 following the international break. This marks another challenging period for Forrest, who also missed the previous international camp due to injury.
He’s featured for Celtic seven times this season in the league, grabbing three assists while he’s been at it. After falling out of favour, he impressed Brendan Rodgers towards the back end of last season and found himself playing some consistent minutes.
The injury setback comes at a difficult time for both Forrest and Scotland, as manager Steve Clarke deals with a depleted squad heading into important Nations League fixtures, looking to pick up their first points of the campaign.
For Celtic, the priority will be ensuring Forrest is fit and ready to contribute when domestic action resumes.
James Forrest on the shelf for Nations League double header, Scotland suffer fresh injury woe
The Celtic hero will be missing from the crucial clashes against Croatia and Portugal
Scotland have been dealt another injury blow ahead of their Nations League double header against Croatia and Portugal with James Forrest ruled out of the two matches.
It has been a challenging couple of weeks for national team boss Steve Clarke, who has already lost Lawrence Shankland and Forrest’s club teammate Greg Taylor to injury in the lead-up to the October internationals. Lewis Ferguson, Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson remain unavailable as they continue the road to recovery from their long-term injuries while influential number seven John McGinn was the most notable absentee from the squad to face Croatia and Portugal with a hamstring problem.
And according to the Scottish Sun, Forrest, 33, has now pulled out of the squad after missing the side’s final training session ahead of the clash with Croatia in Zagreb on Saturday. They add that the Hoops stalwart will remain in Glasgow and return to Celtic for treatment for his suspected injury with the champions next in action against Aberdeen at Parkhead on Saturday, October 19.
Forrest’s absence leaves his club teammate Anthony Ralston and Aberdeen’s Nicky Devlin – who has been called up by Clarke for the first time – as the two recognised candidates to occupy the right back/right-wing back position. Fellow Dons defender Jack MacKenzie is also in line for a Scotland debut on the opposite side having been drafted into the squad in the wake of Taylor’s injury.
The Scots will be looking to bounce back from agonising defeats to Poland and Portugal in Nations League A in order to keep their hopes alive of remaining in the top tier of the competition. They go to Croatia tomorrow night before welcoming Portugal to Hampden next Tuesday.
Real Madrid icon labels Celtic as ‘second-class’ despite raving about atmosphere
Legendary midfielder Toni Kroos has changed his tune about the Hoops
Toni Kros raved about the Celtic Park atmosphere in 2022/23 (Image: SNS Group)
Real Madrid icon Toni Kroos has used Celtic as a stick to beat Borussia Dortmund after the Germans were brought crashing back down to earth.
Brendan Rodgers’ side suffered a humiliating 7-1 mauling at the hands of the Champions League runners-up last week before bouncing back with a hard-fought victory at Ross County on Sunday. Dortmund, though, crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at Union Berlin, leaving them seventh in the Bundesliga with just three wins from six.
And Kroos – who retired at the end of last season as the most decorated German player of all time having won 34 trophies – aimed a dig at Celtic as he assessed Dortmund’s start to the campaign.
He said: “I think the last week was the classic example of a Borussia Dortmund week. They won 7-1 in the Champions League – even if it has to be said that it was against a second-class opponent.
“And then they went to play a Bundesliga game at the weekend and put in a typically poor performance and lost. In the end, Dortmund will be judged by how they do in the Bundesliga, not in Europe.
“They won’t make it to the Champions League Final every year. They have to finally show some consistency in the league. I think we can say that Dortmund should be doing better in the league for many years now.”
Kroos’ comments may come as a surprise to Celtic fans after the legendary midfielder waxed lyrical about the Parkhead atmosphere two years ago. The 34-year-old was at the heart of Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield as Madrid survived a first-half Celtic onslaught to emerge 3-0 winners.
Speaking after the game, he said: “Celtic Park? The UCL anthem started and I thought the stadium was going to collapse. Incredible, I had never experienced anything like this.”
The three clubs Kasper Schmeichel rejected to sign for Celtic as he tells Danish media why
Kasper Schmeichel has been giving insight into his decision to sign for Celtic during the summer transfer window, explaining why he rejected a return to the English Premier League.
Since arriving to replace his friend and former teammate Joe Hart, Schmeichel has made a very positive impression on the goalkeeping position.
Hart was an influential figure within the Celtic dressing room and amongst the support, so the Danish international always had a tough task to follow in his footsteps.
However, consistent clean sheets domestically have helped him settle in nicely and there’s hope that he can still come up big across the remaining six Champions League games.
Considering he was a free transfer, Celtic’s move for him has received a big thumbs up.
The club did a grand job of getting him into Brendan Rodgers’ squad, fighting off strong interest from elsewhere.
Kasper Schmeichel turned down three Premier League sides for Celtic
Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet reports today that Schmeichel had the chance to join Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and Wolves after his exit from Anderlecht before signing up in Scotland.
Explaining to the outlet his decision to join Celtic, the goalkeeper said: “Playing for the title, as I am now doing at Celtic, and at the same time being at the highest level in the Champions League, motivates me.
“When I look back on my career, the moments I have enjoyed the most have been the few matches I have had in the Champions League.
“Of course, the Premier League has a very special place in my heart, but for me, it was an easy choice to go to Celtic, where I have come to a club that plays in the Champions League, must win every game and have 60,000 fans at the home games. Those are exactly the challenges that really motivate me.
“When it comes to football, money has never been a motivation for me.”
Schmeichel has found a happy home in Scotland
It’s clear that Schmeichel is relishing the early stages of his spell at Celtic. At the tail-end of a long, illustrious career, this is the perfect place for him to stay sharp and motivated.
Even if his father, Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel, has been left buzzing by the experience so far.
The retired shot-stopper recently said: “It’s perfect. It’s perfect. With the manager he knows, the atmosphere around, I mean, Celtic is just a massive, massive club. You know that better than me, but the team they have, it’s amazing.”
Schmeichel is just getting started, too.
Adding more silverware and medals to his collection is now the aim as the Bhoys fly high in the Scottish Premiership and prepare for a Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Achieve that, and then he’ll really feel the power of Celtic
SCALES AND THE WINNING MENTALITY
GOAL HERO Liam Scales is hoping Republic of Ireland adopt Celtic’s winning mentality after their 2-1 UEFA Nations League triumph against Finland in Helsinki.
The international team had gone through a tough and prolonged barren spell until the Hoops defender inspired his country with a brilliant equaliser to steer them towards three crucial points from a difficult fixture.
Now Scales is adamant the Irish are ready to go again when they lock horns with England’s Wembley conquerors Greece in Athens on Sunday.
Robbie Brady got the Irish winner with Adam Idah playing his part after coming off the substitutes’ bench against the Finns.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Liam Scales is congratulated by former Celtic team-mate Mikey Johnston as Adam Idah looks on after the Republic of Ireland’s comeback win in Helsinki.
Scales said: “We knew we had to show character and we also knew the game was there to win or at least get a point. Obviously, though, we wanted a win.
“We want to make that a common occurrence, winning big games, winning games away from home, and obviously winning at home, as well. Hopefully, we can take that mentality into the next few games.
“Greece away is obviously it’s a tough fixture, we have struggled against them in the past, but we are going in on a high now and we need to make this a mentality, a winning mentality, that we can go away to tough places and take wins.
“That’s how you are going to qualify for tournaments. So, that’s the way we need to look at this game.
“We have played them enough to know what they are like and it’s just about going out there, being solid, and, hopefully, winning the game.”
Scales, speaking to the Irish Independent, praised the service from Brady for his leveller and continued: “You know the delivery is going to be brilliant from Robbie, so we are just told to attack the spaces in between the defenders, and that’s what I did.
HEAD BHOY…Liam Scales is a roaring success after his goal against Slovan Bratislava.
“Luckily, it came into my area and it was just a perfect ball. The timing was good and I just managed to get it on target.
“I think it comes with a bit of experience, as well. Sometimes I play against defenders who are heavier and stronger and you need to make use of your timing and speed to win those duels.
“I’m learning as I go along. I might now go on a big drought, you never know. Sometimes the goals can come together and then you don’t get any for a while.
“But if I can make the most of the chances I get, then I’ll be happy.”
The Dubliner added: “I’ve got a few this season and I didn’t get many in the couple of seasons before.
“So, it’s a good thing to add to my game and, hopefully, I can kick on now and get a few more. I work hard in the gym, so I’m stronger, but I think it’s more about timing and delivery, and just getting it right and making sure you take the chance when you get it.
“You don’t get many as a defender and it can be vital in big games, it can be a turning point for us.”
William Boving Celtic transfer link clarified as Sturm Graz attacker has Euro interest
Celtic are busy planning for future transfer windows, and players from around the world are again set to be linked with a move to the Bhoys over the coming weeks and months.
One name doing the rounds in online Celtic circles on Friday is William Boving.
The versatile Sturm Graz attacker has been mentioned as someone who has garnered early interest from the Bhoys after standing out at the Champions League outfit.
Still just 21, Boving has already racked up 125 senior appearances for boyhood club Copenhagen and the Austrian side.
It’s impressive experience for his age, and since making the switch to Sturm Graz, he’s contributed 11 goals and 11 assists.
However, securing his signature would be a major challenge, and a move to Celtic is unlikely.
William Boving garnering European attention amid Celtic interest
67 Hail Hail understands that not only would Sturm Graz be looking for a fee in excess of £7m but that Boving would likely have little interest in a move to Scotland as his next career step.
In addition, clubs from Germany and Italy are showing interest in his services, presenting further hurdles that Celtic would find difficult to clear.
Boving can play in wide attacking areas as well as through the middle as a centre-forward.
With Celtic shelling out significant money for Adam Idah during the summer transfer window and currently possessing wingers who are firing and in form, there’s no grand need to spend big in those positions right now.
Celtic’s potential transfer priorities
There are few question marks about Celtic’s attacking quality so far this season. The Bhoys have scored a stunning 36 goals in just 11 matches.
When considering transfer priorities moving forward, it would make sense to focus on defensive positions or perhaps add an alternative ball-winning option to the midfield area.
The left-back area looks in particular need of care, with Greg Taylor’s contract expiring at the end of the season and Alex Valle only on loan from Barcelona.
Celtic will always be on the hunt for attractive prospects regardless of position, but strengthening the team’s combative core would be welcome.
That’s alongside a continuation of trimming fringe options from the squad who aren’t getting game time currently.
Toni Kroos dramatically changes mind about Celtic as ‘second raters’ not the team he fell in love with.
He slammed Dortmund despite their recent Champions League romp and put the Hoops down the list
Toni Kroos takes a corner at Celtic Park
Straight-shooting Toni Kroos has branded Celtic as ‘second class opponents’ – two years after waxing lyrical about their status in European football.
He slammed Borussia Dortmund despite their recent Champions League romp. Celtic were sent crashing back to earth in their second round of fixtures in the competition when they were crushed 7-1 by the Bundesliga cracks, after hammering Slovan Bratislava in the first game 5-1 at Parkhead. Kroos retired after the summer’s European Championships where he helped his country to a 5-1 win against Scotland in the opening game of the tournament.
And the 34-year-old Real Madrid icon – who is the most decorated German player of all time having won 34 trophies in his 17-year career – took a swipe at Celtic while discussing Dortmund’s poor domestic start to the season on his podcast he co-hosts with his brother Felix. He said: “I think last week was the classic example of a Borussia Dortmund week. They won 7-1 in the Champions League – even if it has to be said that it was against a second-class opponent.
“And then they went to play a Bundesliga game at the weekend and put in a typically poor performance and lost. In the end, Dortmund will be judged by how they do in the Bundesliga, not in Europe. They won’t make it to the Champions League Final every year. They have to finally show some consistency in the league. I think we can say that Dortmund should be doing better in the league for many years now.”
He previously extolled the virtues of Celtic after Madrid’s win at Celtic Park in 2022. He said: “Celtic Park? The UCL anthem started and I thought the stadium was going to collapse. Incredible, I had never experienced anything like this. I told Alaba: ‘We are already losing 2-0!'”
We have developed a genuine star player Celtic, see player
Liam Scales is often judged against his central defensive partner, the impeccable Cameron Carter-Vickers. It is only when Cameron is out and we see Liam as the senior partner in defence that we get to appreciate the gap between him and those aspiring to replace him.
After around a year as first choice at Shamrock Rovers, Liam arrived in Glasgow three years ago and played a handful of games in his first season, before going on loan to Aberdeen.
Jim Goodwin took him there but was sacked after their historic Scottish Cup defeat at Darvel. That game was live on TV and we got to see Liam play right side of a back three; it is no wonder Goodwin didn’t make the cut. Barry Robson got the Aberdeen gig and came close to securing Liam on loan for another season, before an injury crisis at Celtic stopped the move going through.
The pivot which took place in Liam’s career late August 2023 was incredible. Liam was called into the team after Kilmarnock dumped us out of the League Cup for a home game against St Johnstone. Celtic were poor, St Johnstone took a point back to Perth with them, and Liam was repeatedly caught out by the ball over the top. One occasion late in the game almost produced a breakthrough for Saints.
We went to Ibrox the following weekend with some predicting a thrashing. With a weakened side, Celtic lost 3-0 there a few months earlier. It was not just Liam who would pivot that day, the whole of Scottish football did, but Liam was an absolute rock in defence.
He is never going to be Cameron Carter-Vickers, but when you see him alongside others, you know that Brendan will need to bring in an exceptional player to replace him. A month after scoring his first Champions League goal, he scored his first international goal for Ireland in a win in Finland last night.
We have developed a genuine player; credit to all involved.
The verdict on how Liam Scales played vs Finland as Celtic star scores first goal for Ireland
It was a Thursday night to remember for Celtic defender Liam Scales as he scored his first-ever international goal for the Republic of Ireland in a 2-1 victory over Finland.
Scales’ 58th-minute header helped the Irish leave Helsinki with three Nations League points, equalising for his country after Nathan Collins’ horrendous defensive error gifted Finland a first-half lead.
Robbie Brady swung in a pinpoint free-kick for the Celtic defender to guide home under pressure, delighting his teammates and the travelling support.
Brady then turned goal hero himself just a few minutes from time, netting expertly at the back post after Festy Ebosele’s tricky cross caught out the Finland defence.
It’s a strong win for the Irish, which halts a three-game losing streak.
Liam Scales is solid at the back and a set-piece threat for Ireland
In a defensive sense, Scales did little wrong. Finland were restricted to just a handful of chances that, if not for Collins’ first half error of a slack pass back to Caoimhin Kelleher, would have resulted in a barren night.
The Celtic man won a towering 10 of his 11 duels with opponents, showing he was up for the fight.
There were some slack moments in possession, though he completed 84% of his 58 passes to teammates, typically looking to push the play forward from the defensive line.
His match rating from stat-tracks FotMob was a mighty 8.4, more than anyone else on the pitch apart from his goal partner Brady.
His threat from set-pieces was apparent even before his equaliser. Shortly after the interval, he nodded a corner down to the back post, which could have resulted in a goal for Sammie Szmodics.
Wicklow’s finest 💚
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 10, 2024
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Overall, it was decent evidence that Scales has the ability to win many more Ireland caps, and he’ll now be hoping to retain his place in the team for Sunday night’s trip away to Greece.
Incredible rise continues for Celtic defender
The goal and victory is another proud moment for the popular Irishman who has enjoyed a fairytale rise for club and country over the last 18 months.
Scales earned a UEFA Man of the Match award in the Champions League just last month, and now he’s stepping up for Ireland when he’s needed most.
Considering he was on the fringes of the Celtic squad and in danger of being sold on the cheap before Brendan Rodgers’ arrival, his progress has been remarkable.
Long may it continue!
Watch Liam Scales head Ireland on route to victory in Finland
Liam Scales scored his first international goal tonight as Ireland won 1-0 away to Finland in the Nations League.
The Celtic defender never played a minute of the September internationals but was in from the start tonight in Helsinki as new coach Heimir Hallgrimson enjoyed his first victory in charge.
Finland took the lead in the 17th minute but just before the hour mark Scales gave the away fans something to cheer about with an equaliser, heading powerfully back across goal from an inswinging free kick from Robbie Brady on the right.
??GOAL | Finland 1-1 Ireland | Liam Scales
— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) October 10, 2024
The match looked to be heading for a draw until the 88th minute when Brady popped up with a winning goal.
Having started his career relatively late this season could hardly be going any better for Scales whose two goals have come in the Champions League and Nations League.
On Sunday Ireland face a huge test in Athens when they take on Greece who followed up last month’s 2-0 win in Dublin with a 2-1 win over England at Wembley.
Adam Idah was an unused substitute in tonight’s match, as was Viljami Sinisalo.
Republic of Ireland fight back to beat Finland with late Robbie Brady winner
damian spellman, pa, helsinki
Robbie Brady and Liam Scales spared Nathan Collins’ blushes as the Republic of Ireland fought back to claim Nations League victory in Finland.
Preston defender Brady smashed home an 88th-minute decider to snatch a 2-1 win at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium after Liam Scales had cancelled out Joel Pohjanpalo’s first-half opener with his first senior international goal.
No-one will have been more relieved at their intervention than Ireland skipper Collins, whose blunder had set up Venezia striker Pohjanpalo.
The lads 🥲
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 10, 2024
For Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, who launched his reign with back-to-back defeats by England and Greece last month, a first win – just a third for the Republic in 19 Nations League fixtures – in what opposite number Markku Kanerva had described as a potential relegation decider in League B2, will have come as a welcome boost.
Scales started in a new-look back-four in which left-sided Dara O’Shea was asked to line up at right-back against a Finland team missing experienced striker Teemu Pukki, who was named only among the substitutes.
Neither side was able to create anything of note until Chiedozie Ogbene combined with Finn Azaz, who whipped in a 10th-minute cross which was hacked away by home defender Adam Stahl.
Collins blocked Robin Lod’s shot on the turn two minutes later and full-back Tomas Galvez delivered a dangerous ball into the Irish box from the left as the Finns responded, and Caoimhin Kelleher had to make the game’s first save, collecting Leo Walta’s dipping effort after it skipped off the turf on its way to goal.
Joel Pohjanpalo put Finland ahead (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
However, the hosts were handed a 17th-minute lead when Collins left his back-pass to Kelleher woefully short and Pohjanpalo pounced to beat the keeper with ease.
The visitors thought they had levelled within four minutes when Evan Ferguson converted Collins’ knock-down from a Brady free-kick, but the flag had gone up in the meantime.
Josh Cullen and Jason Knight were seeing plenty of the ball in the middle of the field, but with the hosts well organised, they were struggling to find a way through the massed ranks of white shirts and their most promising moments came from the link-up between O’Shea, Azaz and Ogbene down the right.
Kelleher was relieved to see Pohjanpalo stab a weak shot straight at him after Topi Keskinen had got the better of O’Shea in a foot race, and Ireland’s mood would not have improved when Brady drilled a free-kick from an inviting position straight into the defensive wall after Azaz had been bundled over by Rasmus Schuller 25 yards out.
Wicklow’s finest 💚
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 10, 2024
Azaz forced keeper Lukas Hradecky into his first save of the game, albeit a regulation one, four minutes before the break and Sammie Szmodics caused consternation in the Finnish penalty area with a speculative cross before Hradecky blocked a Ferguson attempt with his legs in a late, but ultimately futile, flurry.
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However, Knight tested Hradecky from distance within two minutes of the restart and it took Schuller’s well-timed intervention to deny Ferguson after Scales, Brady and Szmodics had linked fluently.
Szmodics stabbed instinctively at the keeper after Scales had headed down the resulting corner with Ireland showing much greater urgency, and they got their reward with 57 minutes gone after Ogbene had been hauled back by Keskinen.
Brady curled the free-kick to the far post where Scales climbed above defender Arttu Hoskonen to head firmly back across Hradecky to level.
Nathan Collins shields blocks Finland striker Joel Pohjanpalo as Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher grabs the ball (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
Finland passed up a glorious opportunity to restore their advantage within six minutes when former Rangers and Leeds midfielder Glen Kamara curled wastefully wide with the goal at his mercy, and Stahl only just failed to get on the end of Galvez’s driven cross 13 minutes from time.
Substitute Benjamin Kallman might have snatched victory for Finland when he headed wide from Lod’s 87th-minute free-kick, but Brady was not so wasteful seconds later when he controlled Festy Ebosele’s cross and blasted into the roof of the net.
Celtic defender Scales scores first international goal for Ireland
Liam Scales levelled the game for Ireland before Robbie Brady scored a late winner (Image: PA)
Many of Celtic’s first team squad are currently away on international duty this week.
Liam Scales capped off his sixth cap for the Republic of Ireland by netting his first goal for his country.
The Hoops defender has been a mainstay at club level since returning from a season-long loan at Aberdeen last year. And now his ever-present form has earned the 26-year-old the trust of the Ireland boss Heimar Hallgrimsson.
He played the full 90 minutes against Finland in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday night, and impressed not only by scoring but also putting in a solid overall defensive showing.
He won the most duels (10) during the match and completed 84 per cent of his passes out from the back.
Meanwhile, it was contrasting fortunes for Celtic’s Japanese representatives.
Daizen Maeda had been an unused substitute and Reo Hatate was left out completely for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying win over Bahrain.
However, Maeda was introduced on the 63rd minute as Japan defeated Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The energetic forward only had 20 touches of the ball though, and failed to complete a successful dribble.
Hatate didn’t get on the pitch again, with manager Hajime Moriyasu persisting on selecting other midfield options.
‘You could sense something was coming’ – Match-winner Robbie Brady hails Ireland team-mates after win over Finland
Robbie Brady celebrates his winning goal against Finland
Ireland’s Robbie Brady admits his late winner away to Finland was up there with his famous strike to beat Italy in Lille at Euro 2016.
The 32-year-old was Ireland’s standout player in their 2-1 Nations League win in Helsinki as, after Nathan Collins’ nightmare error to gift Finland the opener, Brady assisted Liam Scales’ leveller with a pin point cross after the break before his superb strike on 88 minutes secured a big three points on the road, as Heimir Hallgrimsson secured his first win as Irish boss.
Speaking after the victory, Brady was asked how his dramatic late winner in Finland ranked with his famous winner against Italy eight years ago, which secured a Last 16 place for Ireland at their last major tournament appearance.
“It was up there! You can see the hard work the lads are putting in, in every camp when results weren’t going our way. We could sense something was coming,” Brady told RTÉ as he collected the Player of the Match award.
“There is millions of pounds worth of talent in that dressing room. We’re just delighted to get the win tonight.”
Asked about his excellent assist for Scales’ fine header – the Celtic defender bagging his first Irish senior goal – Brady said “I just put the ball in the area. Scalesly did unbelievable to get himself a goal there.
“Then Festy with a bit of magic (to assist the winner) when he came on, he was excellent, pace and power and a great delivery. As soon as it sat up I thought I’d hit it and luckily enough it went in.”
Hallgrimsson paid tribute to his players after a big victory on the road and admitted that mistakes happen in football when asked about Collins’ dreadful first-half error to gift Joel Pohjanpalo a goal on 18 minutes.
“We can be happy with a lot of things in the performance. In the first half one mistake and we were punished, but I thought we played pretty good especially at the end of the first half and we built on that in the second. It was not a perfect match,” said the Irish boss, with Sunday’s clash away to Greece, who beat England on Thursday night, up next.
“Everyone felt we were doing better and better in the training sessions, we were more in sync and I think it showed on the pitch. We didn’t give Finland a lot of goal scoring chances.
“We gave it (goal) to them, it’s not like they played through us. I think overall we should be happy with the performance.
“You can’t do anything about mistakes. It’s something that happens and you have to be ready to exploit when they (opposition) make mistakes. It’s just something that happens in football. We cannot criticise anyone for making a mistake, they happen.”
Video: Celtic defender scores towering header on International duty
RECORD DATE NOT STATED 13th October 2023 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland International Football Group B Euro 2024 Qualifier, Republic of Ireland versus Greece Liam Scales of Ireland after the full time whistle PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ActionPlus12564113 PeterxFitzpatrick
Celtic defender Liam Scales got on the scoresheet as Ireland beat Finland in Helsinki. The centre back rose to connect with a cross from the right wing to equalise in the second half.
— Live stream @FCStreamTV (@IgnaciaSma39875) October 10, 2024
Scales has been excellent in the early stages of the season as he has taken his game to another level. The central defender has likely noted the threat to his place in the team from Austin Trusty. The goal that he scored in the UCL opener against Slovan Bratislava showed his determination to make it on the top stage.
Goal hero Robbie Brady feels ‘something is coming’ with Ireland after Finnish turnaround
Player of the match Robbie Brady says that the squad can “sense something is coming” with the Republic of Ireland team following tonight’s 2-1 victory over Finland in Helsinki.
Brady, who set up Liam Scales’ equaliser, scored the Boys in Green’s late winner, controlling a Festy Ebosele cross superbly at the back post before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
It means a first ever away win for Ireland in the Nations League, but more importantly it lifts the feeling around the squad after a tough international window, with two chastening defeats to England and Greece last month.
“You see the hard work the lads are putting in and the results are not going our way,” he told RTÉ Sport after the game.
“We can sense something is coming. There’s millions of pounds worth of young talent in that dressing room and (we’re) just delighted to get the win.
“Scalesy’s done unbelievable to get himself a goal and Festy was a bit of magic, I thought he did excellently when he came on; pace and power and a great delivery for the second.”
On his winning goal Brady added: “I think I heard someone shouting to try a cross but as soon as it sat up I said I’d hit it, and lucky enough it went in.”
The equaliser for Scales was his first in an Irish shirt, heading home Brady’s cross to give Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky no chance.
For the Wicklow native, who has been getting regular Champions League football with Celtic this season, it’s another notch on his belt five years after he was playing in the League of Ireland with UCD.
“It’s brilliant, it was a great feeling, and the fans just make it that bit better,” he said of his equaliser after the game.
“We’ve been due a win, especially away from home, and to win it like that was brilliant.
“I don’t get many, I’ve had a few this season already. In the last 10 or 15 games I’ve more than I had in the previous two seasons already.
“Droughts come as well as a defender but hopefully I can chip in with a few more.
“It’s always been top of the list for me so to check that off is amazing. I’ll reflect on it tonight and take it all in.”
Scales heaped praise on Brady for his winner, which turned a decent night for Ireland into a great one.
“The ability to take it down and fire it into the roof of the net, he’s got that in abundance. You saw it in the delivery for my goal. He deserves it, as well. He’s had to work hard and get himself back in and playing for us.
“A brilliant feeling, a brilliant goal, and you could see it in our faces when we were celebrating.”
On what the result might mean for the national side, Scales said that he hopes it can be the catalyst for a turnaround in fortunes.
“It’ll give us confidence and I think that’s been missing. We want to make a habit of winning tough games away from home, winning games at the Aviva.
“We don’t want to make it a one-off; we want to make it more regular. That’s the plan, take the confidence into the next few fixtures and hopefully pick up as many points as we can.”
Paul Tisdale transfer plan revealed, Palma branded ‘high risk’ as forgotten £3.5m payday escalates – Celtic news roundup
The Scottish champions are busy during the international break
Paul Tisdale (Image: Getty Images)
Paul Tisdale’s potential Celtic transfer plan has emerged – with an Exeter City ally insiting he would ramp up the player-trading model at the club.
Former City director of football Steve Perryman – who interviewed Tisdale for the St James Park hotseat – worked by his side for 12 years. The 51-year-old – who has branded himself the ‘football doctor’ – has reportedly been selected as the man to revamp the football operations at Celtic Park.
There’s a void to fill within the Scottish Premiership champions after the departures of head of recruitment Mark Lawwell as well as as chief scout Joe Dudgeon last March. And with Celtic managing to snap up a series of big money sales – most recently the record-breaking exit of Matt O’Riley – Perryman has tipped Tisdale to continue the trend.
He told the Daily Mail: “He signed well, even when we were dealing with the lower-league market. When you are at an Exeter, though – and I think this probably applies to everyone now – you have to have a keen eye and a good judgment on young players.
“At Exeter, he was signing players from under-13 to first-team level and, if you had anything about you then, you could be in the first team by 17. As he did with Ollie Watkins, as he did with Matt Grimes, who is now captain of Swansea.
“He found Ethan Ampadu and put him in the team at the age of 15. He just had great judgment. Judgment in the boardroom, judgment in a trial match where you have 30 or 40 players and you only need three to make up your squad.
‘Judgment in football is critical. And ‘Tis’ has the brain to get the best out of whatever job he is doing and just doing things right. He is honest, he is honourable, he is likeable and he just does things right.”
A transfer windfall that could be incoming to Celtic Park in January is the sale of Alexandro Bernabei. Currently on loan in Brazil at Internacional, the left-back is racking up regular minutes for the club.
With his temporary deal set to expire at the end of the year, the Hoops will be given the chance to recoup some of the £3.75m they spent on the Argentine back in 2022. Club president Alessandro Barcellos has confirmed they want to keep the left-back.
Alexandro Bernabei training with Internacional (Image: Alexandro Bernabei / Instagram)
He told Radio Gaucha: “Bernabei is on loan with the club until the end of the year. We still need to work with the club that owns his rights to buy him or extend the loan, whatever the possible strategy.
“We have already started talks with the player’s agent, who has expressed an interest in staying, which is important in the process. We hope to have a favourable outcome, but this will only happen towards the end of the year.
“Our idea is to keep Bernabei, as he increases in value with each game that passes. He is a player who has earned his space, conquered it, and maintained it, and today he is a very important performer for our team.”
Another man who is fighting for his future is Luis Palma – who didn’t do himself any harm with a hat-trick in the friendly against Sligo Rovers likely to catch the eye of Brendan Rodgers. The appearance in Ireland came after Honduras manager Reinaldo Rueda opted against calling him up – with Palma making just three appearance for the Hoops so far this term.
Rueda lifted the lid on the decision, stating to El Gráfico: “Luis Palma has faced difficult times after his injury in February. Although he had a good pre-season and some minutes, in the last month he has had no competition.
“It is a high risk for him to be out of his level, especially with complicated games ahead. In the matches against Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, we gave him minutes to stand out for his club, but he has had no recent activity. We hope he recovers, and we can count on him for the next date [international break].”
Kieran Tierney’s Future Takes a New Turn – Report
The ongoing saga surrounding Kieran Tierney’s potential return to Celtic has taken another twist, as recent reports suggest that his next destination could be a return to Spain, with Las Palmas showing interest.
Soccer Football – Europa League Round of 32 First Leg – Celtic vs Zenit Saint Petersburg – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Britain – February 15, 2018 Celtic’s Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney after the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Despite Celtic fans’ hopes for a reunion with their former star, it appears Tierney’s career could be taking him in a different direction.
Tierney, sidelined since suffering an injury at Euro 2024, has reportedly been informed by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta that his time at the club is coming to an end. With his contract at the Emirates Stadium entering its final year next summer, Arsenal are considering loaning him out in January to boost his visibility and market value.
Las Palmas has emerged as a possible suitor, say Grada 3, with the Spanish side already having a Scottish connection in players like Oli McBurnie and Scott McKenna, which could help ease Tierney’s transition to La Liga. A loan move to Spain could offer Tierney the chance to rebuild his fitness and form in a less intense environment than the Premier League, while still playing at a high level.
A return to Celtic could still happen next summer; whether it will or not is another story. No doubt, until his permanent future is sorted, rumours will continue to emerge.
EXCLUSIVE: Celtic’s new recruitment chief Tisdale is one of the most intelligent men in football, says Tottenham legend Perryman
Spurs legend Steve Perryman believes Celtic are snapping up one of the smartest men in football in new recruitment chief Paul Tisdale.
A former director of football at Exeter City, Perryman interviewed Tisdale for the St James Park hotseat and worked by his side for 12 years.
A self-employed football consultant since leaving Stevenage in 2022, the 51-year-old is poised to become Celtic’s new head of recruitment after Mark Lawwell left the post in March.
And ex-England midfielder Perryman claims the Parkhead club have landed an astute judge of a player.
‘Paul is in the top three football people I have met for his intelligence,’ he told Mail Sport.
‘You meet people in football who have come from an education background and you think: “Yeah, but they haven’t played”.
Steve Perryman, above left, with Paul Tisdale during their time at Exeter City
Tisdale cut a fashionable figure on the touchline in his management days
Perryman, left, in action with Tottenham Hotspur during a London derby with Chelsea
‘Then you see people from an education background who look at players and think: “They’re not thinkers, are they”?
‘The hard part is getting the balance between the two, and “Tis” was – and is – a very, very well educated football person.
‘So, in terms of his judgment in situations, such as recruitment, selection, dealing with the board and players, he is excellent.
‘His intelligence saw him through – and his intelligence said to me “he could be chief executive chairman of this club”.
‘He covered every base because he had great character and intelligence.
‘He knows where he fits in, and he concentrates on that. He can wear so many different hats.’
Former Southampton playerTisdale was credited with discovering Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, and Perryman claims the England striker is just one of a number of talented young players who came through during his time as Exeter boss.
He also believes Tisdale’s skill set fits in with the player-trading model at the Parkhead club, who sold Matt O’Riley to Brighton for £25million and brought in Arne Engels on an £11m record deal.
‘He signed well, even when we were dealing with the lower-league market,’ said Perryman.
‘When you are at an Exeter, though – and I think this probably applies to everyone now – you have to have a keen eye and a good judgment on young players.
‘At Exeter, he was signing players from under-13 to first-team level and, if you had anything about you then, you could be in the first team by 17.
‘As he did with Ollie Watkins, as he did with Matt Grimes, who is now captain of Swansea.
‘He found Ethan Ampadu and put him in the team at the age of 15.
‘He just had great judgment. Judgment in the boardroom, judgment in a trial match where you have 30 or 40 players and you only need three to make up your squad.
‘Judgment in football is critical. And “Tis” has the brain to get the best out of whatever job he is doing and just doing things right.
‘He is honest, he is honourable, he is likeable and he just does things right.’
Luis Palma Renaisance; Winger’s Hat-trick Gives Celtic Late Victory in Ireland
Celtic left it late in Ireland tonight as a Luis Palma hat-trick gave the Hoops a narrow 3-2 victory over Sligo Rovers.
25th February 2024; Fir Park, Motherwell, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Motherwell versus Celtic; Goalscorers Luis Palma of Celtic and Adam Idah of Celtic celebrate in front of the fans at the end
The Bhoys travelled across the Irish sea for a mid-season friendly at the Showgrounds this evening, and despite a duo of calamitous errors from Scott Bain, fringe winger Palma saved the day with three goals.
Palma opened the scoring early doors, tapping home at the back post from a teasing Yang Hyun-jun cross:
Así fue el gol de Luis Palma ante Sligo Rovers en partido amistoso.
— Felipe Valencia (@Luiselpipe) October 9, 2024
Sligo then turned the game on its head as strikes from Kailin Barlow and Simon Power put the hosts ahead.
Rodgers made several changes throughout the game, bringing on numerous academy talents.
Going into the dying embers, it looked as though the Scottish Premiership champions were heading for a narrow defeat, but up stepped Palma.
In the dying embers, the 24-year-old struck twice to give the Celts a victory in their spiritual home.
Palma made it 2-2, slamming home at the back post from a teasing delivery from academy midfielder Sean McArdle.
Lightning then struck twice as Palma put his side ahead two minutes into stoppage time. The attacker, once more, popped up at the back post, this time converting from a teasing Samuel Iziguso cross.
Both late goals can be viewed below:
Hatricki de Luis Palma en amistoso con Celtic. El hondureño jugó los 90 minutos y logró anotar el 1-0, 2-2 y 3-2 para ganarlo frente Sligo de Irlanda.
Ritmo y confianza.
Que sea el resurgir, Luis. 🇭🇳 pic.twitter.com/Jd9fNIX7yE— De La Rocha 𝕏 (@AlvaroDLaRocha) October 9, 2024
A match-winning hat-trick might just be what Palma’s confidence needed. The winger has struggled to impress this season, but his contributions tonight could revive his campaign.
Report: Celtic Set to Make Key Footballing Operations Appointment
Celtic are set to appoint Paul Tisdale in a key behind-the-scenes role, according to a report.
Soccer Football – Champions League – Celtic v Slovan Bratislava – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – September 18, 2024
General view inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Stephen McGowan writes in MailSport that the club want to bring Tisdale in to ramp up its footballing operations.
The 51-year-old has previously described himself as a ‘football doctor’ and works as a self-employed consultant.
Tisdale’s managerial career spanned over 1,000 matches, during which time he took charge of Exeter City, MK Dons, Bristol Rovers, and Stevenage.
He is widely known for giving current Aston Villa and England star Ollie Watkins his big break in football while at Exeter.
Tisdale, though, missed Watkins’ biggest moment of his career so far – his goal to send the Three Lions to the Euros final in the summer – as he was attending Celtic’s pre-season friendly with Queen’s Park.
It remains to be seen what the specific title of the role Tisdale will take up might be, but he is expected to oversee functions such as recruitment, data and coaching development.
The proposed appointment comes after recruitment head Mark Lawell departed the club earlier in the year, along with lead scout Joe Dudgeon.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has previously reinstated the need for an overhaul of the footballing operations at Celtic and could kick things off with the appointment of Tisdale.
Report names ‘Football Doctor’ to take over Lawwell role at Celtic
Paul Tisdale is being targeted to overhaul Celtic’s Recruitment and Development set up.
Brendan Rodgers has been measured in his criticism of the set up that he inherited but after a disastrous summer of recruitment in 2023 the hoops boss seemed to take control in January 2024 with Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah proving to be a cut above the previous template of project signings.
In March it was announced that Mark Lawwell, son of Chairman Peter, was leaving his recruitment role but there has been no word from inside the club of a successor or revamped Recruitment set up.
It took Celtic until the final week of the summer 2024 transfer window to get serious over recruitment with Rodgers insisting on a quality threshold.
Plans for January should be well underway with the well connected Stephen McGowan of the Daily Mail reporting:
Celtic are set to bring in former Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale to revamp the club’s football operations.
Describing himself as a ‘football doctor’, 51-year-old Tisdale has been working as a self-employed consultant.
The former Southampton midfielder also coached MK Dons, Bristol Rovers and Stevenage in a managerial career which spanned over 1,000 games in the dug-out.
With head of recruitment Mark Lawwell and chief scout Joe Dudgeon having left Celtic in March, Tisdale has been targeted for a senior role at the Scottish champions, overseeing functions such as recruitment, data and coaching development.
The summer transfer of Matt O’Riley created a trading profit but just as significantly were the moves out of the club of Sead Haksabanovic, Ben Siegrist, Yuki Kobayashi and Oh Hyeon-gyu with loan deals arranged for others recruited by Mark Lawwell such as Kwon Hyeoko-kyu and Gus Lagerbielke with earlier deals completed for Alexandro Bernabei and Marco Tilio to move out the club.
Why Celtic’s youth players must improve their ‘physicality’
Brendan Rodgers (Image: NQ)
Everything Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said to Celtic TV after his side’s 3-2 win over Sligo Rovers at The Showground…
Brendan, a fantastic occasion here in Sligo. The fans were treated to an entertaining game here – what did you make of it?
It was a really good exercise for us. A lot of our senior players got 90 minutes in their legs which was great. It was much better in the second half than the first, we had better tempo, better rhythm and more speed in our game, so we were very good in the second half. It was excellent to come out here to Ireland against Sligo – it was a great little test for us with how they played and worked, overall, I’m really pleased.
Sligo Rovers played some pretty good football. What did you make of them?
Yeah, very good! You can see why they’re a top-six team in the League of Ireland. They’re fighting for European football and are at a good level of fitness. They passed the ball well and with confidence. It was a really good test, especially for some of our boys who haven’t played for a little bit of time. As the game went on, we were just more aggressive in the game and pushed into a higher starting position and that allowed us to attack a lot more. You saw that a lot more in the second half.
What lessons will the young players take from this game?
I think it’s physicality, and a lot of them need to improve on that aspect. They need to have more running power and get into contention more. They have talent with the ball, but it’s nowhere near enough. That physicality will allow them to play at a higher tempo, but it’s nice for them to feel that and play out there in front of a crowd and play with that personality that you need to play for Celtic. Some of them did really well.
What is the plan between now and next Saturday?
We’ve got a couple of free days. I’ve got a foundation event down in London with the club, so I’m looking forward to that. A little bit of rest, but then planning ahead for that really exciting game against Aberdeen. I’m really looking forward to that, we will have a couple of days to recover. It’s been a long period of games – seven games in 23 days – so some recovery time then we’ll look forward to having everyone back for the Aberdeen game.
Celtic set to make Football Operations appointment
Paul Tisdale, manager of Exeter City prior to the Emirates FA Cup Second Round Replay between Exeter City and Forest Green at St James Park on December 12, 2017. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Celtic expected to appoint former Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale who will oversee football operations at the club…
Paul Tisdale the manager of Bristol Rovers looks on during the Emirates FA Cup match between Bristol Rovers and Darlington FC at the Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2020 (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Following the departures of both Joe Dudgeon and Mark Lawwell in March, Celtic have been on the lookout for a new Head of Recruitment. Tisdale, who since his departure from EFL League 2 club Stevenage in 2022, has been working as a self-employed football consultant.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, the Englishman is being targeted for a role which will see him be at the forefront of recruitment, coaching development and data.
A self-confessed ‘football doctor’ Tisdale has previously managed in the lower leagues of English Football. He racked up more than 1000 games as a manager between 2001-2022 with Team Bath, Exeter City, MK Dons, Bristol Rovers and Stevenage.
Paul Tisdale manager of Milton Keynes Dons during the Sky Bet League One match between Milton Keynes Dons and AFC Wimbledon at Stadium mk on September 07, 2019 (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
The Hoops have failed to get this vacancy right in recent seasons. Lee Congerton, Gordon Strachan (for a three-month period in 2021), Nick Hammond, Mark Lawwell and Joe Dudgeon have all made little impact in organising a modern football structure off the pitch.
Tisdsle also has experience in a similar type of role with Dutch side Ado Den Haag building a sustainable model and clean up in their football operational side.
READ THIS…
Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson at Dingwall on Sunday . Photo Vagelis Georgariou
An exciting appointment, and one that can relieve the pressures of CEO Michael Nicholson and manager Brendan Rodgers who shared transfer responsibilities this summer. A dedicated person in a sporting director job is required and, Tisdale looks set to become that man.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Football doctor’ Tisdale set for senior role at Celtic
Former Exeter boss is being targeted by Scottish champions as they seek to improve recruitment, data, and player and coach development
Tisdale previously advised Fulham and Crystal Palace, and gave Ollie Watkins his big break at Exeter
The 51-year-old self-employed consultant has been described as ‘the most stylish man in football’
Celtic are set to bring in former Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale to revamp the club’s football operations.
Describing himself as a ‘football doctor’, 51-year-old Tisdale has been working as a self-employed consultant.
The former Southampton midfielder also coached MK Dons, Bristol Rovers and Stevenage in a managerial career which spanned over 1,000 games in the dug-out.
With head of recruitment Mark Lawwell and chief scout Joe Dudgeon having left Celtic in March, Tisdale will be charged with overseeing a review of functions such as recruitment, data and player and coach development.
‘I work as what I call a football doctor,’ he recently told a scouting podcast. ‘I go into football clubs and I try to find performance-improvement solutions using data and also my experience as a coach.
‘I can translate very well from the boardroom to the pitch, and from the pitch to the boardroom, and also deliver CPD (continuous professional development) or coach mentoring.
Described as ‘the most stylish man in football’, Tisdale looks to be on his way to Celtic
Paul Tisdale cut quite a dash on the sidelines in his time as a manager
The Parkhead club want Tisdale to advise on key areas including recruitment
‘I’m currently into a period where I am doing a bit of a lot of things, waiting for one thing really to take off. (It’s) keeping me busy and I am self employed with my own business and really enjoying it.’
Once described as ‘the most stylish man in football’, Tisdale has previously advised Fulham and Crystal Palace. As a coach, he gave Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins his first-team break at Exeter, but missed the striker’s winning goal for England against the Netherlands at Euro 2024 because he was taking in a match between Queen’s Park and Celtic.
Consultant Tisdale has also given advice to clubs like Fulham and Crystal Palace
Tisdale was a manager at Exeter, MK Dons, Bristol Rovers and Stevenage
Speaking to talkSPORT the morning after, he said: ‘I was delighted but I was actually at Queen’s Park last night for the pre-season game against Celtic and I was in the boardroom afterwards. When Ollie came on the pitch as a substitute I had a feeling he would score. But I didn’t want to start screaming if he did, so I ran out to the car. I actually missed it because of that.’
Celtic have gone down a similar route before, drafting in former manager Gordon Strachan on a three-month consultancy basis in 2021.
Working as Dundee technical director at the time, Strachan reviewed the club academy, women’s team and B team operations, providing recommendations to former chief executive Dom McKay.
Palma hat-trick bails out Bain as Celtic snatch victory in Sligo
Celtic staged a trademark late rally to come from behind to defeat Sligo Rovers 3-2 tonight in a friendly at The Showgrounds.
Luis Palma had opened the scoring in the ninth minute but left it late with goals in the 89th and 92nd minutes to deny the League of Ireland side a famous victory.
Palma, Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan, Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki provided the experience in the Celtic side but Scott Bain was the fall guy with two badly conceded goals to give Sligo a half-time lead.
90+2′ – Another Goal for Celtic!
Palma grabs his hat-trick late on! ?
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 9, 2024
The home side dominated the first half after going behind to Palma’s back post opener- a move that he would repeat in the closing stages.
Kailin Barlow equalised in the 13th minute with a high effort that Bain flapped at as it fell over his head into the net.
Four minutes later Simon Power tried his luck with a low 25 yard shot that Bain lost low to his right hand post.
After the break Celtic dominated the match, substitute Sean McArdle caught the eye with neat touches and vision in the centre of the park but it was Honduran internationalist Palma that snatched the win in front of a relaxed and appreciative crowd.
Sligo Rovers: McGinty, Morahan, Denham, Wiggett, Hutchinson, Henry-Francis, Malley, Barlow, Fitzgerald, Pearce, Power.
Subs: Brush, Mooney, McElroy, Mahon, Radosaljevic, Malone, Muldoon, McDonagh, Reynolds.
Celtic: Bain, Agbaire (Bonetig 61), Welsh, Nawrocki, Valle (Robertson 45), McCowan, Turley, Bonnar (McArdle 61), Yang, Palma, Dobbie (Isiguzo 61).
Subs: Morrison, Rice, Dargie, Davidson, Cannon, Haddow.
Aberdeen’s Celtic Park Allocation
Aberdeen fans are set to descend on Celtic Park for the crucial top-of-the-table clash on October 19. It’s now been confirmed that 1,150 Dons supporters will be in attendance, with Aberdeen selling out their full away allocation for what promises to be one of the most significant encounters between the two clubs in recent years.
The travelling fans will add extra spice to an already electric atmosphere, with Celtic also selling out their home tickets for this high-stakes fixture.
While Celtic sit at the top of the table on goal difference, Aberdeen’s resurgence has caught the eye, and their fans will no doubt believe their side can pull off an upset.
Soccer Football – Champions League – Celtic v Slovan Bratislava – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – September 18, 2024
General view of a corner flag inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
The packed Celtic Park crowd of nearly 60,000, including the loud Aberdeen contingent, will create an unforgettable setting for what’s shaping up to be the game of the season so far.
Given the form of both teams and their position in the league, this encounter feels bigger than your average fixture. With a healthy rivalry between the clubs, the presence of over a thousand Dons fans in the corner of Celtic Park will only add to the tension.
There could have been an argument for giving Aberdeen more briefs, but Celtic put out the last of their tickets late last week, so there’s no room to accommodate them now. Celtic will go into the game as favourites, but Aberdeen have shown so far that they never quite go away. Even when they looked like they might drop points they find the win.
Watch: Duo of Calamitous Scott Bain Errors Against Sligo
Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain was suspect for two goals this evening as the Hoops beat Sligo Rovers 3-2.
Soccer Football – Champions League – Group E – Atletico Madrid v Celtic – Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain – November 7, 2023 Celtic’s Scott Bain reacts before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina
The Bhoys headed across the Irish Sea to take on the Rovers in a mid-season friendly at the Showgrounds tonight.
Manager Brendan Rodgers fielded a team mixed with senior fringe players and exciting academy prospects.
Although Luis Palma put the visitors ahead early doors with a back-post-tap-in, strikes from Kailin Barlow and Simon Power turned the game on its head. Palma, though, scored twice late on to give the Celts a dramatic win.
The Honduran winger will undoubtedly take acclaim for tonight, but focus will surround stopper Bain, who was at fault for two goals.
Barlow’s shot from inside the box, which looked like a simple effort for Bain to deal with, ended up in the back of the net to draw Sligo level in the first half.
The third-choice Celtic ‘keeper fumbled the ball in, much to the delight of the home fans:
Scott Bain hahahahahaha
— Barry McCann (@Bazzinho9) October 9, 2024
Soon after they drew themselves level, Sligo took the lead. Power’s strike from a distance beat Bain at his near post:
Is Scott Bain actually serious
— Barry McCann (@Bazzinho9) October 9, 2024
If the 32-year-old’s position as a fringe player wasn’t already coherent, his performance this evening only reinstated it.
Granted, Bain hasn’t played much football recently, but he should have been doing much better with the two goals he conceded tonight.
Rodgers forced to dig very deep for Sligo squad
Brendan Rodgers will need to dig very deep into the payroll for tonight’s match against Sligo Rovers.
Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kuhn, Luis Palma and Luke McCowan are available for the friendly match but beyond that there won’t be many familiar faces.
Goalkeepers Kasper Schemeichel and Viljami Sinisalo are both away with their countries, Tony Ralston and James Forrest are with Scotland, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda with Japan with Liam Scales and Adam Idah in the Irish squad.
Stephen Welsh, Maik Nawrocki and Odin Thiago Holm can step up with the B team the next port of call even if they are smarting from losing three goals in the last 10 minutes of Saturday’s match at Bo’ness United.
Three players from the B squad- Mitchell Frame, Josh Dede and Colby Donovan are in the Scotland u-19 squad for friendlies away to Hungary today and on Sunday.
Rodgers will lead the Celtic squad which flies out this morning to face Sligo who are sitting in sixth place in the LOI table, seven points behind leaders Shelbourne but with a game in hand, Sligo drew 0-0 away to Shelbourne in their last match, on September 27.
? Team news! ??
Here is how the young Hoops line-up to face Bo’ness United this afternoon ???#BONCEL | #CelticFC? pic.twitter.com/TarzoikrYU
— Celtic FC B (@CelticFCB) October 5, 2024
Celtic could blow Rangers out of the water after ‘huge’ reveal – Stefan Borson
Celtic could start to outspend Rangers by a “huge” amount if they can consistently secure their place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider a place in the knockout rounds could be worth up to £100million to the Scottish champions.
Celtic lost 7-1 against Borussia Dortmund in their second group stage game on the back of their 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava in their opening fixture.
The Glasgow giants still have to make the trips to Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb and Aston Villa in the competition, while they will face RB Leipzig, Club Brugge and Young Boys at home.
But they are already likely to make significantly more than Rangers from their European exploits due to the difference in prize money on offer in the Champions League compared to the Europa League.
Celtic will increase financial gap to Rangers with European success
Borson insisted Celtic will continue to increase the financial gap between the two Old Firm sides if they can qualify for the knockout rounds of the competition.
He told Football Insider: “Their focus will be ‘Can we win our home games, become a regular in the second phase of the Champions League, start to get £100million per annum and, if we can, then we can start to spend more money on the wage bill’.
“Their key focus then can continually be Champions League, and Rangers will find it very hard to keep up if they manage to do that.
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“That’s the other side to the equation of course.
“If they are outspending Rangers by a huge amount because they have got Champions League, that clearly will give Rangers a problem.
“That won’t be Celtic’s concern, but it will be Scottish football’s concern.”
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