2008–09 Celtic F.C. season

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Celtic
2008–09 season
ChairmanJohn Reid
ManagerGordon Strachan
GroundCeltic Park
Glasgow, Scotland
(Capacity: 60,355)
Scottish Premier League2nd
Scottish CupQuarter-finals
Scottish League CupWinners
Champions LeagueGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague:
Scott McDonald (16)

All:
Scott McDonald (19)

The 2008–09 season was the 115th season of competitive

football by Celtic
.

Overview

Celtic went into the 2008–09 season defending their Scottish Premier League title, which they won for the third consecutive time in 2007–08.

They also entered the UEFA Champions League directly at the group stage, as well as taking part in the two domestic cup competitions, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

To prepare for the Season, Celtic took part in two Pre-Season Tournaments; the Algarve Challenge Cup in Faro, Portugal, where they finished bottom, having faced Middlesbrough and Cardiff City, and the Feyenoord Jubilee Tournament in Rotterdam, where they finished second, having faced Tottenham Hotspur and host club Feyenoord.

The campaign

League campaign

The Championship flag was unfurled before Celtic's first League game, against St Mirren at Celtic Park on 10 August by Rosemary Burns, the widow of former Celtic player Tommy Burns, who had died of skin cancer at the end of season 2007–08. Celtic won the game 1–0, through a Barry Robson penalty, getting their Campaign off to a winning start.

Celtic finished second in the

Rangers. This lead was squandered though, Celtic dropping points to Dundee United, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Motherwell, Rangers themselves, and on two occasions to both Hibernian and Hearts
.

One day after the final league game of the season, a 0–0 draw with

respectively.

European campaign

Celtic, as Scottish champions, qualified directly for the UEFA Champions League, where they were the sole Scottish side as Rangers were knocked out in the second qualifying round by FBK Kaunas, meaning Celtic received all the TV money allocated to Scotland.

Celtic were in Pot 3 for the group stage draw, which took place in

Aalborg in Denmark saw Celtic's European aspirations end, despite having taken the lead through Barry Robson
. Nonetheless, Celtic rallied to end their campaign on a high with a 2–0 victory over Villarreal at Celtic Park.

Domestic cups

Celtic entered the

aet at Hampden, with Darren O'Dea and Aiden McGeady
getting the goals.

The fourth round of the Scottish Cup took place on 10 January, with Celtic beating Dundee at Celtic Park. In the fifth round, Celtic hosted Queen's Park on 7 February, beating them 2–1. In the quarter-finals, Celtic lost 1–0 at St Mirren on 7 March.

Competitions

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Premier League

10 August 2008 SPL Celtic 1–0 St Mirren Celtic Park
Robson 62' (pen.) BBC Sport Attendance: 57,441
Referee: Eddie Smith
17 August 2008 SPL Dundee United 1–1 Celtic Tannadice Park
Sandaza 79' BBC Sport Hartley 51' Attendance: 11,648
Referee: Charlie Richmond
23 August 2008 SPL Celtic 3–0 Falkirk Celtic Park
McManus 32'
Samaras 44', 68'
BBC Sport Attendance: 56,031
Referee: Iain Brines
31 August 2008 SPL Celtic 2–4 Rangers Celtic Park
Samaras 39'
Nakamura 90+2'
BBC Sport
Mendes
62'
Attendance: 58,595
Referee: Dougie McDonald
13 September 2008 SPL Motherwell 2–4 Celtic Fir Park
Sutton 55'
Clarkson 57'
BBC Sport Maloney 5'
Samaras 9', 42'
McDonald 24'
Attendance: 11,595
Referee: Craig Thomson
21 September 2008 SPL Kilmarnock 1–3 Celtic Rugby Park
Taouil 89' (pen.) BBC Sport Maloney 26'
Samaras 56', 82' (pen.)
Attendance: 8,111
Referee: Mike McCurry
27 September 2008 SPL Celtic 3–2 Aberdeen Celtic Park
Vennegoor of Hesselink 14', 90+3'
McDonald 78'
BBC Sport Mulgrew 57', 65' Attendance: 57,441
Referee: Eddie Smith
18 October 2008 SPL Inverness CT 1–2 Celtic Caledonian Stadium
Wood 69' BBC Sport Brown 48'
Loovens 65'
Attendance: 7,143
Referee: Iain Brines
25 October 2008 SPL Celtic 4–2 Hibernian Celtic Park
McManus 32'
Sheridan 36'
Loovens 76'
Brown 82'
BBC Sport Nish 41'
Fletcher 50'
Attendance: 58,337
Referee: Calum Murray
2 November 2008
Tynecastle Stadium
BBC Sport Maloney 7'
Caldwell 20'
Attendance: 7,143
Referee: Craig Thomson
8 November 2008 SPL Celtic 2–0 Motherwell Celtic Park
Hartley 45'
McDonald 71'
BBC Sport Attendance: 56,504
Referee: Dougie McDonald
12 November 2008 SPL Celtic 3–0 Kilmarnock Celtic Park
Sheridan 18', 75'
Nakamura 84'
BBC Sport Attendance: 55,347
Referee: Mike Tumilty
22 November 2008 SPL St Mirren 1–3 Celtic Love Street
Hamilton 89' BBC Sport Samaras 64'
Nakamura 66'
Sheridan 80'
Attendance: 7,433
Referee: Willie Collum
29 November 2008 SPL Celtic 1–0 Inverness CT Celtic Park
Maloney 29' BBC Sport Attendance: 55,117
Referee: David Somers
7 December 2008 SPL Hibernian 2–0 Celtic Easter Road
Rankin 55'
Nish 69'
BBC Sport Attendance: 14,289
Referee: Craig Thomson
13 December 2008 SPL Celtic 1–1 Hearts Celtic Park
McManus 79' BBC Sport Driver 23' Attendance: 56,079
Referee: Charlie Richmond
21 December 2008 SPL Falkirk 0–3 Celtic Falkirk Stadium
BBC Sport Samaras 48'
Mizuno 90+1'
McDonald 90+3'
Attendance: 6,543
Referee: Eddie Smith
27 December 2008 SPL Rangers 0–1 Celtic Ibrox Stadium
BBC Sport McDonald 58' Attendance: 50,403
Referee: Craig Thomson
3 January 2009 SPL Celtic 2–2 Dundee United Celtic Park
Samaras 12', 58' BBC Sport
Dixon 60'
Feeney
77'
Attendance: 59,558
Referee: Steve Conroy
18 January 2009 SPL Aberdeen 4–2 Celtic Pittodrie Stadium
G. McDonald 24'
Duff 31'
Diamond
75', 78'
BBC Sport Brown 25'
McDonald 73'
Attendance: 14,289
Referee: Dougie McDonald
24 January 2009 SPL Celtic 3–1 Hibernian Celtic Park
McDonald 3', 76'
McManus 9'
BBC Sport
Jones
17'
Attendance: 58,930
Referee: David Somers
1 February 2009 SPL Inverness CT 0–0 Celtic Caledonian Stadium
BBC Sport Attendance: 7,007
Referee: Charlie Richmond
15 February 2009 SPL Celtic 0–0 Rangers Celtic Park
BBC Sport Attendance: 58,766
Referee: Calum Murray
22 February 2009 SPL Motherwell 1–1 Celtic Fir Park
Quinn 81' BBC Sport McDonald 60' Attendance: 8,593
Referee: Iain Brines
28 February 2009 SPL Celtic 7–0 St Mirren Celtic Park
Nakamura 16', 35', 58'
Crosas 51'
Brown 55', 68'
Potter 76' (o.g.)
BBC Sport Attendance: 58,286
Referee: Crawford Allan
4 March 2009 SPL Kilmarnock 1–2 Celtic Rugby Park
Invincibile 36' BBC Sport McDonald 27', 81' Attendance: 6,712
Referee: Craig Thomson
22 March 2009 SPL Dundee United 2–2 Celtic Tannadice Park
Sandaza 47', 58' BBC Sport McDonald 24'
Naylor 81'
Attendance: 12,043
Referee: Steve Conroy
8 April 2009 SPL Celtic 4–0 Falkirk Celtic Park
Caldwell 29'
Vennegoor of Hesselink 62'
McGeady 78'
O'Dea 90+2'
BBC Sport Attendance: 57,669
Referee: Willie Collum
11 April 2009
Tynecastle Stadium
Aguiar 32' BBC Sport Vennegoor of Hesselink 1' Attendance: 16,514
Referee: Craig Thomson
18 April 2009 SPL Celtic 2–0 Aberdeen Celtic Park
Vennegoor of Hesselink 43'
McDonald 55'
BBC Sport Attendance: 58,581
Referee: Dougie McDonald
2 May 2009 SPL Aberdeen 1–3 Celtic Pittodrie Stadium
Maguire 22' BBC Sport Considine 44' (o.g.)
McDonald 72', 90+2'
Attendance: 14,752
Referee: Dougie McDonald
9 May 2009 SPL Rangers 1–0 Celtic Ibrox Stadium
Davis 37' BBC Sport Attendance: 50,321
Referee: Craig Thomson
12 May 2009 SPL Celtic 2–1 Dundee Utd Celtic Park
Loovens 22'
Samaras 52'
BBC Sport
Robertson
57'
Attendance: 57,407
Referee: Stuart Dougal
17 May 2009 SPL Hibernian 0–0 Celtic Easter Road
BBC Sport Attendance: 14,074
Referee: Iain Brines
24 May 2009 SPL Celtic 0–0 Hearts Celtic Park
BBC Sport Attendance: 59,685
Referee: Craig Thomson

UEFA Champions League

17 September 2008
Aalborg
Celtic Park
BBC Sport Attendance: 57,432
Referee: Matteo Trefoloni
30 September 2008
El Madrigal
Senna 67' BBC Sport Attendance: 21,515
Referee: Viktor Kassai
Celtic Scotland v Spain Villarreal
10 December 2008 Group stage Celtic Scotland 2–0 Spain Villarreal Celtic Park
Maloney 14'
McGeady 45+2'
BBC Sport Attendance: 58,104
Referee: Claudio Circhetta

Scottish League Cup

23 September 2008 Third round Celtic 4–0 Livingston Celtic Park
Loovens 24'
Samaras 64', 85' (pen.)
Brown 81'
BBC Sport Attendance: 23,569
Referee: Willie Collum
29 October 2008 Quarter-finals Kilmarnock 1–3 Celtic Rugby Park
Invincibile 69' BBC Sport McDonald 11'
Nakamura 45+1'
McGeady 72'
Attendance: 6,319
Referee: Craig Thomson
28 January 2009 Semi-finals Dundee United 0–0* Celtic Hampden Park
BBC Sport* Attendance: 19,258
Referee: Calum Murray
15 March 2009 Final Celtic 2–0 Rangers Hampden Park
O'Dea 91'
McGeady 120' (pen.)
BBC Sport Attendance: 51,193
Referee: Dougie McDonald

*Celtic won the match 11–10 on

penalties

Scottish Cup

10 January 2009 Fourth round Celtic 2–1 Dundee Celtic Park
Brown 37'
McGeady 44'
BBC Sport McMenamin 14' Attendance: 23,070
Referee: Calum Murray
10 January 2009 Fifth round Celtic 2–1 Queen's Park Celtic Park
Caldwell 19'
McDonald 45'
BBC Sport Coakley 66' Attendance: 22,223
Referee: Willie Collum
7 March 2009 Quarter-finals St Mirren 1–0 Celtic St Mirren Park
Mehmet 55' (pen.) BBC Sport Attendance: 5,925
Referee: Charlie Richmond

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition

No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup League Cup Other
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Poland POL Artur Boruc 47 0 34 0 3 0 4 0 6 0
2 DF Germany GER Andreas Hinkel 42 0 32 0 2 0 4 0 4 0
3 DF England ENG Lee Naylor 30 1 19+4 1 2 0 2 0 3 0
4 DF Scotland SCO Stephen McManus 41 4 31 4 2 0 2 0 6 0
5 DF Scotland SCO Gary Caldwell 47 4 36 3 2 1 3 0 6 0
6 DF Guinea GUI
Dianbobo Balde
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 FW Australia AUS Scott McDonald 47 19 33+1 16 3 1 4 1 4+2 1
8 MF Scotland SCO Scott Brown 48 7 36 5 2 1 3+1 1 6 0
9 FW Greece GRE Georgios Samaras 41 17 19+12 15 0+3 0 1+2 2 4 0
10 FW Netherlands NED Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 32 6 15+10 6 3 0 1+1 0 0+2 0
11 MF Scotland SCO Paul Hartley 33 3 20+5 3 1 0 2+1 0 3+1 0
12 DF Scotland SCO Mark Wilson 25 0 15+3 0 0 0 1+1 0 5 0
13 FW Scotland SCO Shaun Maloney 30 5 14+7 4 1 0 1+1 0 4+2 1
14 MF Northern Ireland NIR Niall McGinn 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 DF Czech Republic CZE Milan Mišůn 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Willo Flood 5 0 2+3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 MF Spain ESP Marc Crosas 22 1 14+4 1 3 0 1 0 0 0
18 MF Italy ITA Massimo Donati 8 0 2+2 0 0+1 0 2 0 0+1 0
19 MF Scotland SCO Barry Robson 24 2 13+4 1 0+1 0 0+1 0 4+1 1
20 MF Northern Ireland NIR Paddy McCourt 5 0 0+4 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
21 GK Scotland SCO Mark Brown 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 DF Netherlands NED Glenn Loovens 23 4 13+4 3 1 0 3 1 2 0
23 FW England ENG Ben Hutchinson 4 0 0+3 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0
24 DF Cameroon CMR Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 MF Japan JPN Shunsuke Nakamura 42 9 30+2 8 2 0 3 1 5 0
26 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Cillian Sheridan 16 4 6+6 4 0 0 0+1 0 1+2 0
29 MF Japan JPN Koki Mizuno 10 1 2+8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
33 FW New Zealand NZL Chris Killen 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
41 DF Scotland SCO John Kennedy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
42 MF New Zealand NZL Michael McGlinchey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
46 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Aiden McGeady 40 7 21+8 3 3 1 4 2 3+1 1
48 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Darren O'Dea 16 2 7+3 1 2 0 2 1 0+2 0
52 DF Scotland SCO Paul Caddis 7 0 0+5 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
54 MF Scotland SCO Ryan Conroy 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
55 MF Scotland SCO Paul McGowan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0

Top scorers

R Player Scottish
Premier
League

Scottish
League
Cup
Scottish
Cup
UEFA
Champions
League
Total
1 Australia Scott McDonald 16 1 1 1 19
2 Greece Georgios Samaras 15 2 0 0 17
3 Japan Shunsuke Nakamura 8 1 0 0 9
4 Scotland Scott Brown 5 1 1 0 7
Republic of Ireland Aiden McGeady 3 2 1 1 7
5 Netherlands Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 6 0 0 0 6
6 Scotland Shaun Maloney 4 0 0 1 5
7 Republic of Ireland Cillian Sheridan 4 0 0 0 4
Scotland Stephen McManus 4 0 0 0 4
Netherlands Glenn Loovens 3 1 0 0 4
8 Scotland Paul Hartley 3 0 0 0 3
Scotland Gary Caldwell 2 0 1 0 3
9 Scotland Barry Robson 1 0 0 1 2
Republic of Ireland Darren O'Dea 1 1 0 0 2
10 Japan Koki Mizuno 1 0 0 0 1
Spain Marc Crosas 1 0 0 0 1
England Lee Naylor 1 0 0 0 1

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 Rangers (C) 38 26 8 4 77 28 +49 86 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Celtic 38 24 10 4 80 33 +47 82 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
3 Heart of Midlothian 38 16 11 11 40 37 +3 59 Qualification for the Europa League play-off round
4 Aberdeen 38 14 11 13 41 40 +1 53 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round
5 Dundee United 38 13 14 11 47 50 −3 53
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.

Technical staff

Position Staff
Manager Gordon Strachan
Assistant Manager Gary Pendrey
First team Coach Neil Lennon
Goalkeeping Coach Jim Blyth
Head of Youth Academy Chris McCart
Head of Recruitment John Park
Physiotherapist Graeme Parsons
Physiotherapist Gavin McCarthy
Doctor Derek McCormack
Head of Sports Science Greg Dupont
Strength & Conditioning Coach Benjamin Mackenzie

Last updated: 12 June 2017
Source: [citation needed]

Transfers

In

Date Player From Fee Source
19 June 2008 Northern Ireland Paddy McCourt Republic of Ireland Derry City 08£500,000 [1]
15 July 2008 Greece Georgios Samaras England Manchester City 08£3 million [2]
15 July 2008 England Matty Hughes
Rochdale
08Undisclosed [3]
10 August 2008 Spain Marc Crosas Spain Barcelona 08 £400,000 [4][5]
16 August 2008 Netherlands Glenn Loovens Wales Cardiff City 08£2.5 million [6]
22 August 2008 Scotland Shaun Maloney England Aston Villa 08£2.2 million [7]
16 December 2008 Northern Ireland Niall McGinn Republic of Ireland Derry City 08£300,000 [8]
23 December 2008 Czech Republic Milan Mišůn
FK Příbram
08£500,000 [9]
30 January 2009 Republic of Ireland Willo Flood Wales Cardiff City 08£1.3 million [10]
2 February 2009 Czech Republic Filip Twardzik
Hertha Berlin
08Undisclosed [11]
2 February 2009 Czech Republic Patrik Twardzik
Hertha Berlin
08Undisclosed [11]

Out

Date Player To Fee Source
17 June 2008 Northern Ireland Michael McGovern Scotland Dundee Utd 08Free Transfer [12]
30 June 2008 Scotland Adam Virgo England Brighton & Hove Albion 08 Free Transfer [13]
1 July 2008 Republic of Ireland Diarmuid O'Carroll England Morecambe 08Free Transfer [14]
27 July 2008 Scotland John Kennedy England Norwich City 08 Loan [15]
7 August 2008 Scotland Rocco Quinn Scotland Livingston 08 Loan [16]
8 August 2008
Jim O'Brien
Scotland Motherwell 08 Undisclosed [17]
14 August 2008 Scotland Scott Cuthbert Scotland St Mirren 08 Loan [18]
18 August 2008 Denmark Thomas Gravesen 08Retired [19]
21 August 2008 Netherlands Evander Sno Netherlands Ajax 08£1.2 million [20]
1 September 2008 Scotland Steven Pressley Denmark Randers FC 08Free [21]
1 September 2008 Scotland Derek Riordan Scotland Hibernian 08£500,000 [22]
7 January 2009 Scotland Paul McGowan Scotland Hamilton Accies 08Loan [23]
31 January 2009 New Zealand Chris Killen England Norwich City 08Loan [24]
2 February 2009 Scotland Rocco Quinn Scotland Hamilton Academical 08Free [25]
2 February 2009 Republic of Ireland Cillian Sheridan Scotland Motherwell 08Loan [26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "McCourt seals transfer to Celtic". BBC Sport. 19 June 2008.
  2. ^ "Samaras completes Celtic switch". BBC Sport. 15 July 2008.
  3. ^ "Celtic recruit Rochdale teenager". BBC Sport. 15 July 2008.
  4. ^ "Barça's Crosas wends his way to Celtic". UEFA.com. UEFA. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Celtic new boy, Marc Crosas - Barca no more". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Celtic sign Loovens from Cardiff". BBC Sport. 16 August 2008.
  7. ^ "Shaun Maloney returns to Paradise". Celtic FC. 22 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  8. ^ "McGinn seals transfer to Celtic". BBC Sport. 16 December 2008.
  9. ^ "Misun completes Celtic transfer". BBC Sport. 23 December 2008.
  10. ^ "Celtic complete signing of Flood". BBC Sport. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Transfers registered with the Scottish Football Association over the past three days". Scotsman Sport. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Dundee United make double swoop". BBC Sport. 17 June 2008.
  13. ^ "Brighton re-sign defender Virgo". BBC Sport. 30 June 2008.
  14. ^ "Morecambe snap up Celtic striker". BBC Sport. 1 July 2008.
  15. ^ "Norwich win loan race for Kennedy". BBC Sport. 27 July 2008.
  16. ^ "Livingston announce new signing". Livingston FC. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  17. ^ "'Well unveil double signing". Motherwell FC. 8 August 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  18. ^ "Saints seal Cuthbert loan deal". BBC Sport. 14 August 2008.
  19. ^ "Celtic part company with Thomas Gravesen". Celtic FC. 18 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008.
  20. ^ "Ajax sign Evander Sno". Ajax AFC. 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
  21. ^ "Pressley moves to Danish outfit". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008.
  22. ^ "Riordan opts for Hibernian return". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008.
  23. ^ "Accies sign Old Firm pair on loan". BBC Sport. 7 January 2009.
  24. ^ "Norwich secure Killen loan deal". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009.
  25. ^ "Hamilton complete Quinn signing". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009.
  26. ^ "Motherwell take Sheridan on loan". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009.

External links