I was talking to a socialist friend some time ago when he brought up the International Brigades who fought against Franco's fascists in the viciously brutal Spanish Civil War. The Republicans, for whom the International Brigades fought – many hailing from Scotland – ultimately lost, resulting in Franco's undisputed power to violently oppress dissenters and persecute any expressions of culture that didn't fit with his view of Spain.
I referred to the savagery of the war and the wilful slaughter of approximately 7,000 Catholic priests and nuns. “Could anyone justify that?” I asked. “Of course not.”
“But those killings were carried out by the International Brigades – almost every division of them.”
I never received a satisfactory answer to how someone can give blanket support to the International Brigades and claim to be appalled by deliberate slaughter carried out as part of a process that subordinated humanity to their espoused ideology.
If you're reading this, there's a fair chance that you, too, would consider yourself an intuitive supporter of the Spanish Republicans and almost certainly not a fascist. And, in my experience, the majority of people who hark back to those days of the glorious fight against Franco know very little about the sordid details of what really went on.
Because, frankly, most people who shout from the rooftops about militant causes are too intellectually lazy to really inform themselves about the inconvenient details. As humans, we have a tendency to favour binary choices – you're with us or against us; the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
And in doing so we naturally amplify the horrors of those perceived as our enemies while muting or mitigating the wrongdoings of “our side”.
So people who would castigate Ulster loyalist terrorists for targeting Catholics for murder can praise the International Brigades for far exceeding those crimes without a moment of self-reflection.
But facts matter and so do principles and so do human lives – all of them.
And so we come to what really should – but probably won't – be the final chapter of the Green Brigade Saga – or “How We Took an Esteemed Football Club and Made it all About Us”.
I have already made my feelings known about the Green Brigade's most recent attention-seeking behaviours.
The suspension of approximately 200 tickets has been met with predictable ire amongst fans to whom the Board of Directors can do no right and thus, through the “enemy of my enemy” doctrine, decided that the Green Brigade are being unjustly punished.
Despite the lengthy list of complaints against them – many of them extremely serious – the popular view of that is “TLDR”; “They're being banned for opposing genocide”; “It's cos the Board are Tories!”; “I stand with the Green Brigade”.
So you stand with the violence and intimidation towards other Celtic supporters and people who work at the ground, many of them Celtic fans and mostly doing low-paid, casual work. Could you tell me is that being done in the name of socialism, Irish republicanism or the people of Palestine?
The pyro (yes, it's dangerous as well as illegal and both safety and punishments against Celtic matter); the breaking into Celtic Park, rushing gates, trying to break in through fire exits. You stand with that, too.
The “Pigwatch” whereby this clan of juvenile delinquents publish photographs of police officers, seeking to identify them and put their details online. Of course you stand with that because “ACAB!”
The Green Brigade have drawn much praise for their displays and their charity collections (though the list of groups and individuals that have used charity work to whitewash their reputations is peppered with people with whom decent folk would rather not be associated).
But this is what it's about for them – their own profile and Celtic is just a convenient platform from which to project their logo across the Internet.
And in doing so now, they are not just flying the Palestinian flag but hiding behind it. They are taking the symbol of an oppressed people and using it like a cheap throw to cover some nasty stains.
And, if social media is any guide, most supporters are falling for it hook, line and sinker.
This group, mark you, doesn't see you as its equal. With its secretive membership, and privileged status within the club allowing it to make territorial claims, home and away, has come an elitism to which many fans have become only too willing to doff their bunnets.
Because, wherever there are bullies and self-appointed bad-boys, there are snivelling suck-ups who think they can get some reflected cool points for supporting them. They are the Richard Hammonds to the Jeremy Clarksons of the world.
And then there is the Celtic Trust – another group that sees itself as speaking for Celtic supporters in their own elitist way. They have spoken out in support of the Green Brigade, presumably to emphasise how much better they are than the directors whose positions they covet.
Celtic should – but almost certainly won't – stand firm until the Green Brigade stops becoming a topic. I say they won't because the Board seems to be filled with cowardly stuffed shirts who understand conservative financial policies but nothing at all about strategy.
So it seems inevitable that they'll sit down with the usual suspects who reckon they represent the intelligentsia within the Celtic support.
And they'll thrash out a tentative agreement, again! And the Green Brigade will break it, again! And we'll go through the same process, again.
And we'll be urged to stand with the Green Brigade, again!
Another international break is past, another visit to Tynecastle looms, another Champions League week to whet our appetites - and what, against a backdrop of unspeakable evil on the world stage, are we talking about? The Green Brigade.
I've expressed mixed feelings about them in the past: I've condemned them, criticised them, praised them and defended them.
And all of that is quite appropriate. Because as for Oscar Wilde, the only thing worse for the Green Brigade than being talked about is not being talked about - and that can't be allowed to go on for long.
The last two weeks have seen yet another division based on whether the Green Brigade do or don't “speak for me”. Has there ever been a precedent for a fan group that quite deliberately sets itself apart from the main, diverse body of Celtic supporters and demanded that everyone pick a side? (Of course there were other fans' groups who either faded away or lost some battle for pre-eminence as the only show in town – but we don't talk about them.)
— Hooligans.cz Official (@hooliganscz1999) May 1, 2022
There have been statements authored by the types we all know. The people who call themselves republican socialists who don't so much believe in those values as they project them like vegans declaring the heinousness of carnivores at dinner parties.
And, all the while, they get the support of mediocre academics and white, middle-class fan media commentators who see their bread being buttered on the side that exalts cosy rebelliousness from people who would have to run to the toilet if they heard a car backfiring.
To the last rebel
Rebels? Really? There's a difference between being rebels and being belligerents; modern-day Wild Ones answering, "What are you rebelling against?" with, "Whaddya got?"
The views the Green Brigade claim to espouse chime with those of fans who see our club as being born of oppression, a reaction against prejudice, racism, religious bigotry and injustice.
Yet it's possible to believe all of those things without feeling that only the Green Brigade can preach the revealed Word; just as it's possible to consider yourself a Labour Party supporter who is neither a blindly loyal adherent of Jeremy Corbyn nor Keir Starmer - and maybe feel that you preferred something about the party in another era.
Their latest show support of the Palestinians would be laudable were it not for the sheer crassness of its timing and the manner in which it was done.
It's no exaggeration to say that when I woke up to the shock of the Hamas attacks, my thoughts were firstly with the people harmed and in terror; followed by a sickening anticipation of just how brutally Israel would inevitably respond and then, “I wonder what the Green Brigade will do to make it about them?”
Centre: Green Brigade banners and (l) Sideshow: Celtic players
They didn't disappoint.
Do people have a right to fly Palestinian flags at games or elsewhere? Yes. Is there a wider context? Also yes - more than one, in fact - but they are not easily conveyed with a spray-can.
But it would be unforgivably dishonest to ignore the fact that the Green Brigade's actions (at Celtic v Kilmarnock!) were justifiably interpreted as an expression of a palpable glee that Hamas had launched such an audacious attack and that many Israelis had been killed, wounded, kidnapped or terrified. There would have been no reasonable room for doubting that even without the “Victory to the Resistance” banners and – as appalling as it was ludicrous – Hamas-ispired flags.
(There have been risible claims that the green flag with white writing in Arabic saying "ultras Celtic" just coincidentally evokes the style of the official Hamas flag. They belong with excuses that the Totenkopf flag with "936", flown at Ibrox, was just an unfortunate choice of clipart for an ICF flag - in the bin.)
Let me make it clear. I can very easily relate to why many Palestinians, abandoned by what purports to be the civilised world, choose to support Hamas or, even if they don't, refuse to be drawn into condemnation of them. Equally, I can relate to the many Palestinians who are opposed to Hamas, tolerate them distrustfully or even suspect them of actively working with the other side. (Despite what some would have you believe, all of those views can be found by both Palestinian and Israeli individuals.)
As if we did not know! Netanyahu: Money to Hamas part of strategy to keep Palestinians divided | The Jerusalem post https://t.co/V1CdsOMBg4
Let's also be clear: there can be no false equivalency between the plights of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. It should also be understood that death, suffering, fear, and grief are universal experiences, felt as keenly by all, regardless of nationality, culture, or beliefs. Decent people should recognize that the victims of war have an equal right to compassion. This is a truth often understood by war survivors but scorned by armchair warriors for whom battle is merely televised entertainment.
And, just as I would never dare to condemn any Palestinians – whose connection to the horrors that are ongoing now, and who have been suffering persecution and injustice since their land was taken from them – for how they see their plight best expressed, neither would I presume that they must share my perspective of the issues that affect them viscerally.
And, yet, with their typical sledgehammer understanding of politics and war, that's just what the Green Brigade did with those Hamas banners.
They conflated Palestinian solidarity with support for a group that is in direct opposition to the Palestinian authority and many of its people. A group that controls Gaza, largely thanks to Israel's blockade.
It's as egregious an error as conflating Judaism with the state of Israel, Protestantism with the Orange Order or Irishness with the Provisional IRA – and we know where the Green Brigade stand on those positions.
But worse – far worse than that – is the irreparable harm that flying those banners will have done to Palestinians themselves. Why? (Perhaps this was being profoundly pondered as the spray cans hissed and the delicious prospect of being shared by Ultras social media channels was being drooled over).
Because the major excuse Israel has given for blockading Gaza and intercepting aid on innumerable occasions has been that it may be a front for smuggling weapons.
Aid worker Mohammad El Halabi was alleged to have funnelled $50m to Hamas
Right now – without exaggeration the Mossad will be paying close attention to everyone involved with the Green Brigade's “fund-raising efforts for Palestine”. Of course they are – you have a group that continually sings about the Provos, who were closely affiliated to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, another organisation that Israel and its western allies deemed terrorists. Naturally, the majority of the political sages in the Green Brigade are too young to remember the PLO's iconic leader Yasser Arafat, and most of them weren't born when the Provos officially disbanded.
The facts that Arafat was able to win admirers through his efforts to make peace with Israeli governments that considered him a terrorist or that Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness understood that ultimately peace must be negotiated would be of little consequence to the Green Brigade because cheering on the fight from a safe distance is more fun.
And this “football fans'” organisation which embraces low-level criminality as a cultural tattoo believes it can swirl all these issues into one big pyro sing-song and have their charity to Palestine waved on without a raised eyebrow from the Israeli security services.
Has anyone stopped to ask if the flying of the Hamas flag would be worth one aid package to Palestine being blocked? Of course not.
It's worth noting that while many Palestinians interviewed in the Western media avoided criticizing Hamas, others did distance themselves from the attacks and express sympathy with the victims. Few expressed enthusiasm for the events celebrated so vibrantly by the Green Brigade.
To require the Green Brigade's delinquent expressions as thought-leadership is both intellectually lazy and morally vacuous. (I await the charge of being a “snowflake”.)
In recent years, some fans have rightly complained about outrageous harassment from special units of Police Scotland. It's almost comical to think that some of the very same would be thrilled to be elevated to the status of a security threat by Mossad.
Calling on the Green Brigade to consider their values is a futile exercise; they take such entreaties as personal affronts. But any fan has the right to say the Green Brigade speaks only for themselves, not for the club or its supporters as a body.
Yes, they bring banners; yes, they bring noise and yes, they bring colour. But there are those who believe that should give them carte blanche.
Admittedly, they have done well in the aforementioned charity drives for Palestinians and others. Equally, the Celtic Charity Foundation raised £400,000 from one dinner this month and, across the world, countless fans have and still do raise money for charity - large amounts and small.
Charity is part of Celtic's identity and all of it is to be welcomed but it didn't start with the Green Brigade and it certainly won't end with them.
The Green Brigade have been given privileged status by the club and, with that has come a sense of entitlement. They seem to feel that they, and only they, have the good of the club at heart and that, coincidentally, is always what raises the profile of the Green Brigade themselves.
Many say people don't understand Ultras culture, as if we are all too insular to see how football fans organise in central and eastern Europe. We do – ultras culture is most often associated with the far-right that the Green Brigade so despise. It's also associated with the “not here to take part; we're here to take over” culture more often linked with clubs of a nationalist/imperialist agenda.
Green Brigade's IRA-themed Brendan banner
Several of their banners have been out of order, not least when Brendan Rodgers had to criticise them for attaching his image to political messaging he had good reason to wish to eschew.
Unlike most of the Celtic supporters, they have declared Brendan irredeemable, not so much because he left as because they produced a typically childish banner after his move to Leicester from which they cannot step back. Because they can never step back: they lack the maturity for introspection and self-criticism, never mind accepting any from outsiders.
And outsiders are everyone who doesn't worship at their altar. Many do. Many have come round to the board's idea that Celtic is about atmosphere and being loved abroad before fielding a competitive team.
The sort who constantly post selfies in their latest Adidas kit – and doesn't it go well with the latest Stone Island range? The people who boast about how much they spend on merchandise and join in the modern football selfie culture. “Look at me – I'm at the game – amazing atmosphere – goosebumps!”
The irony shouldn't be lost on anyone that Celtic continually tolerate and try to work things out with the Green Brigade because they're a useful marketing tool, who the club uses like a minstrel show. It's one of those tawdry, unspoken deals that serves the interests of both parties – until it doesn't.
The board of directors have acted, with abysmal timing that appeared tin-eared as Israel's bombardment of Gaza escalated. This can be attributed to a "jobs for the boys and girls" culture within Celtic that often renders their media and PR activities amateurish and counter-productive.
The board was partly motivated by the understandably hurt words of Nir Bitton and concerns for Liel Abada, who found himself in an invidious position. Unlike most Celtic fans, both are directly affected by the Hamas attacks and the ongoing war and they have every right to express their feelings robustly during this emotional time.
Due to Celtic being, as ever, behind the curve, events have brought so much misery to the Palestinian people have worked in favour of the Green Brigade. Most fans are no admirers of the board, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has solidified their support for the Palestinians. So, being asked to pick a side has had predictable results.
Green Brigade banned by Celtic for away games amid rising fine fears @NCCeltic This has been a long time coming. I was bullied out of my seat last year in Madrid. Unacceptable behaviour goes a long way back https://t.co/2CrbCG0Bex
However, reports of fans being bullied out of seats, ticket forgeries, and attempts to rush gates and burst open fire exits, among other transgressions, may leave the club with no choice but to take long-lasting action against the Green Brigade, irrespective of the fall-out for their show of support for Hamas.
It is their very determination to live up to the "last rebel" image that evinces the reality that they will never keep to an agreement. It's against their identity and recidivism is inevitable.
If that happens, and Celtic do draw a line, expect fan anger and a flurry of statements from performative rebel socialists. But the club will survive, fans will sing again, and perhaps energies will be refocused on the team and the football.
Congratulations to Manchester City on becoming the third team from the UK to secure a treble including the European Cup/Champions League.
Of course, the first team to do so were Celtic, who completed a quadruple, also against Inter Milan (or a quintuple, if you include the Glasgow Cup).
The match was a tight, tactical affair, with City winning, 1-0, in contrast to the thrashing many pundits were expecting but Celtic fans had an additional interest due to the involvement of Enzo Maresca, currently hotly tipped as a potential successor to Ange Postecoglou at Celtic.
Maresca, a former midfielder with a playing career, in Italy, Spain, England and Greece, has been catching the eye in the coaching world, with Pep Guardiola the most notable admirer. Maresca's journey in football has seen him play for clubs such as West Bromwich Albion, Sevilla and Juventus, coming on as a late substitute in the famous 4-3 Champions League game at Celtic Park.
After transitioning into coaching, Maresca joined Pep Guardiola's Manchester City backroom staff in July 2022, after coaching the Elite Development Squad to their first-ever Premier League 2 title 2021. That link will surely be of interest to the Celtic board as they seek a manager who can deliver success through player development, rather than the chequebook.
The similarities between Guardiola's and Postecoglou's styles should make for a smooth potential transition to Celtic and there are also obvious parallels with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. Additionally, he would bring elite level performance coaching experience, which should now be a standard qualification for any Celtic Head Coach.
If many are uncomfortable giving the job to someone with no managerial success (his brief spell with Parma ended controversially), it's worth noting that the Celtic manager role has often been a platform for less experienced, but highly promising managers.
Neil Lennon had no coaching experience before first being appointed Celtic manager. Similarly, Ronny Deila – who, like Maresca and Ange Postecoglou, was also nurtured by the City Football Group stable – had only coached with smaller clubs in Norway.
It's also worth remembering that the highest level of coaching includes strong focus on the psychological aspects of the game, which Maresca will certainly be well-versed in, if he has, so far, had few opportunities to lead a top-level group.
While Celtic have a host of interesting candidates, the prospect of Maresca taking the reins at Celtic is an intriguing one.
No appointment is without risk, of course, the “safest” option remaining Brendan Rodgers. Maresca, though, seems to have as strong credentials as it's possible to get, in the absence of a track record of managerial success.
Then again, as the Chinese proverb goes: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
*This article was updated to include the result of the Champions League final.
The feelings left by his exit will not be easily overcome but there were faults on more than one side
Whenever I hear the words, Brendan Rodgers, I get a horribly
distressing feeling of confusion like a boy being held down by a big
brother who's shouting, “Why are you hitting yourself?” as he
pounds the poor lad's fists into his own face.
I was dead against his
appointment before it happened; concluded that I must have been an
idiot not to have seen how great he was and then despised myself for
not listening to my own infallible first instincts after that
infamous exit.
Now, there's talk of
his return and you know it would be something like Combo getting out
of jail in Shane Meadows' This is England – sure, it's possible
he'll be a reformed character but, even if it doesn't end badly, a
lot of people will be upset along the way.
Rodgers, for all his
faults (and there are many), did bring us unprecedented domestic
dominance. European results were disappointing but he played Pep
Guardiola's oil-rich Manchester City twice without losing.
He spoke about football with the authority of an expert in his field, calmly analytical and avoiding the tired clichés that tend to pepper pre and post-match interviews.
But then, when it came
to talking about himself, there were shades of Walter Mitty and a lot
of “Did he actually say that?” moments.
As for the way he left
- it looked cowardly, self-serving and disrespectful to the fans
and players. The feelings of shock, disappointment, betrayal and even
humiliation have not been easily overcome.
That said, it's also
worth noting that he had the support of Scott Brown and, apparently
Callum McGregor, who revealed that he immediately texted Rodgers on
signing a long-term deal, presumably because there was interest in
taking Callum to Leicester.
There's no doubting
that Rodgers is a coach of the highest calibre, who won the FA Cup
and the Community Shield in his time with Leicester. His last season
at Leicester should be taken in the context of being under Financial
Fair Play restrictions, albeit he had benefited from financial
imprudence in previous seasons.
Among the negatives from his time at Celtic,
were the matter of his incendiary fall-out with Moussa Dembele and
Mikael Lustig's pointed comments about fans not walking out in
February. And then there's the story about Danny McGrain, which needs
to be addressed in a way that preserves Danny's dignity and place of
honour within Celtic.
But, if many will find
it hard to forgive Rodgers, let's not kid ourselves – Peter Lawwell
was only too happy to let him go.
By running off into the
night, Rodgers allowed Lawwell & co. to spin the nonsense that
the club couldn't stop any of the staff leaving without even giving a
normal notice period.
The fans were so angry
that most forgot the term, “gardening leave,” and the fact that a
coach under contract can't just take up another job the next day
without the permission of the club he's contracted to.
I'm sure the reported
£11million compensation salved the wound somewhat.
I must also be
remembered that, while some of Rodgers's signings were bad, he was
clearly having other players signed behind his back – like Lewis
Morgan and Marian Shved – as well as the unexpected arrival of
Peter's protege, Shaun Maloney, to the technical staff.
Reading between the
lines, it's not hard to conclude that an undignified deal suited both
Rodgers and Lawwell, some of whose interference could have amounted
to constructive dismissal.
If Rodgers is to come
back, let him come and the fans should support him. Hopefully, he'll
have settled down enough to spare us the saccharine waffle and get on
with preparing a team that can sweep all before it in Scotland while
making us a club to be feared in Europe.
And if he bumps into
some club legends “in their normal clothes”, let's hope he lets
his coaching brain take charge of his mouth.
There is no shortage of interest in being Ange's successor and the board must show ambition to keep progressing
As the dust settles on Ange's departure to Tottenham, the usual ill-informed speculation about who will be the next to take the helm at Celtic Park. In this spirit and tradition of ignorance, here's my take on some of the likely candidates.
First up, we have Brendan Rodgers. Now, we all remember how he left us in a moonlight flit (with the collusion of the board) but he knows his football. He's got a proven track record and could potentially bring some stability back to the club.
However, his past actions have left a sour taste, and it's hard to forget the Danny McGrain debacle. Rodgers' return would certainly be a talking point, as it would reopen old wounds but whether it's a realistic prospect remains to be seen.
Jesse Marsch is another name that's been thrown into the hat. The American coach has a high-intensity approach an impressive CV, having led Red Bull Salzburg to consecutive league and cup doubles. His high-intensity approach could fit well with the current squad, but rumours suggest he's holding out for the USMNT job.
John Kennedy is both linked again and said to be wanted at Spurs to help bring Ange's brand of football to a new squad. Consistently admired by the coaches he has supported and reportedly well-liked and respected by the players, it feels like, if John was ever going to be our head coach, it would have happened by now.
Scott Brown, our legendary former captain, is also being touted as a potential successor. His decision to start his managerial career in the lower leagues shows wisdom and a willingness to learn. His dedication to the club is unquestionable and, if he pushes on from an impressive start with Fleetwood Town, could be destined to occupy the manager's office in the future.
David Moyes, a former Celtic player and a well-respected manager, could bring stability. Despite rumours of his potential dismissal at West Ham, Moyes has expressed a desire to stay put. However, the allure of a return to Celtic Park would be tempting if things change at the Hammers.
Kjetil Knutsen, the man who led Bodo/Glimt to their first-ever title win, is an intriguing prospect. His exciting, attacking style of football would be welcomed if he could adapt to the high demands of the job. His limited experience could draw comparisons to Ronny Deila's tenure and he would need strong support from the dressing room and the boardroom. However, we should be wary of dismissing him the way fans and pundits have done with Ange.
Enzo Maresca, with his Manchester City pedigree, could be an interesting choice if he could translate his coaching experience into managerial success. His understanding of Celtic's playing style is a plus, but his lack of managerial experience raises questions about his ability to handle the pressures of the job.
Graham Potter, despite his impressive stint at Brighton, left the club under questionable circumstances. His style of play could be a good fit for Celtic, but his departure from Brighton while they were top of the Premier League raises eyebrows.
Rafa Benitez, a name that always seems to pop up when there's a vacancy at Celtic, is another potential candidate. However, his repeated use of Celtic as leverage for other job opportunities has left many fans feeling sceptical.
Frank Lampard, despite my expectation that he would be one to watch, has struggled to replicate his playing success as a manager. That's a euphemistic way of saying he's been utterly garbage while managing Chelsea and Everton and he would be unlikely to endear himself to the fans.
Steve Clarke, while a knowledgeable manager, is likely content with his current position. His defensive style of play may not be to everyone's taste, but his experience could be valuable.
Neil Lennon, despite his previous success at Celtic, his most recent experience as Celtic manager should definitely be his last.
Shaun Maloney, an ex-Celtic player with impressive coaching credentials, would once have been a realistic candidate. However, his short tenure at Hibs and relegation from the Championship with Wigan suggests he may never be a number one but could possibly feature in a future backroom staff.
And finally, we come to Roy Keane because someone always mentions him and he's billionaire Dermot Desmond's good pal. His inclusion in the list of potential candidates is more comedic than realistic. The idea of Keane as Celtic manager is likely to be met with more laughter than serious consideration – but always underpinned by a Karmic dread that it might actually happen one day.
As ever, Celtic have a range of options and it is to be hoped that the appointment of Ange's successor with show some ambition to progress from the solid platform we now have in the squad.
That has to come quickly with the new manager committed in plenty of time to work with the squad and manage changes in playing personnel.
Managers who perform exceptionally will always be targets for clubs in wealthier leagues
As the Celtic family comes to terms with the confirmed departure of Ange, it's essential to remember the man for what he truly is - a leader of integrity and excellence. His exit from Celtic Park is not a tale of betrayal or deceit, but rather a testament to his success and the high demand for his managerial prowess.
Ange has been nothing short of outstanding during his tenure at Celtic. He has not only fulfilled his contract but also laid a solid foundation for future success. His departure is not a case of a manager leaving like a thief in the night but a professional making a career move after achieving significant success.
The notion that the board was blindsided by this development is either a product of delusion or dishonesty. The signs of Ange's potential departure have been apparent for several months. It's beyond belief to suggest that those within Celtic were unaware of the situation.
Celtic's current reality is clear – if we secure a top manager who achieves success, it's almost inevitable that he will leave within three years for a bigger league. This reality underscores the importance of Celtic's focus on becoming a force in Europe. Regular participation in the Champions League is within our grasp, provided we strategise effectively.
The alternative of joining another league, such as the English Premier League, is not appealing. Celtic should not become a target for wealthy states with questionable human rights records. Unless an Atlantic League becomes a reality, Celtic must remain a Europe-focused club. After all, we are superior to the teams competing in the Europa League and Conference League finals this season.
Achieving this goal doesn't necessitate reckless spending but does require investment at a level that gives coaches confidence they can compete. Coaches like Xavi and Roberto Mancini have stated that Celtic would be an attractive proposition under these circumstances.
We should always aspire to have a coach who is lured away due to the excellence of his performance. Ange has done nothing wrong. His departure is disappointing, but it's because he did such an outstanding job. He leaves us with an excellent springboard for further success, and for that, we should be grateful.
He also sets a mark for a successor to match or better. Let's hope he's up to the task.
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Let me know if you need any changes or additions!--
Celtic must make sure the achievements under Ange are the foundation of an enduring legacy
As we brace ourselves for the seemingly inevitable departure of Ange Postecoglou from Celtic, what matter next is not about the clichéd passing of the baton, but rather the enduring legacy he leaves in his wake. The squad's vitality and youthfulness, the equilibrium of power with our noisy neighbours, these are the true measures of his impact.
Unlike the aftermath of Tony Mowbray's reign, where we were left picking up the pieces of a
WALKING AWAY? What happens next is vital
disheartened, subpar squad, or the tumultuous times following Ronny Deila's departure, where a fractious, undisciplined dressing room overshadowed our championship status, Ange's exit paints a different picture. (And let's not even get started on the calamitous situation Neil Lennon left us in, with a squad of talented players we couldn't retain and others we couldn't shift even with a power washer.)
If, as seems almost certain, Ange's departure is confirmed, his successor will be stepping into a club that's in a robust position by every metric that counts. This isn't a case of a team simply resting on the laurels of a treble win. Even champion teams can age together or reach the end of a cycle. But this Celtic squad? It doesn't feel like that. None of our key players are nearing the end of their contracts this summer.
Players like Kyogo, Greg Taylor, and Carl Starfelt all have two years remaining on their contracts, while others like Callum McGregor, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, Daizen Maeda, and Liel Abada have three, and Jota and Alistair Johnston have four. It's also a youthful group. Among the first eleven's outfield players, the “ridiculously successful” McGregor is the oldest at 29.
That said, Ange would surely be eyeing a few of those players for his next project and one challenge will be to retain players and keep them happy and motivated for next season's endeavours. (Memories of Olivier Ntcham's lengthy dummy-spitting exercise after being denied a move to Porto have not yet faded.)
McGregor has emerged as a pivotal figure – the captain we all hoped and believed he could be after replacing Scott Brown and any new manager will have a captain they can rely on to keep driving the team forward.
CalMac resisted the lure of the English Premier League before, after the departure of Brendan Rodgers, and we can only hope he would do so again.
Under Ange, our players have improved technically, tactically and in terms of the amazing resilience that seemed to take even the manager by surprise.
For me, it was telling to hear so many players refer to “hard work” at the end of our treble-winning cup victory. Yes, it's normal to refer to graft and sacrifices at such times but the fact it came to so many players minds – with Greg Taylor referring to his predominant feeling being one of tiredness – says something about the professionalism and application that has marked the past two season.
Equally significant was Callum's reference to enjoying the treble for a short time but immediately emphasising that the team starts next season with “zero credit in the bank”. This is the sort of elite mentality that should give us real confidence that we can push on next season, with the right boss at the helm.
For Celtic, it is vitally important that the next manager has modern ideas and methods, has a support structure in place to enable him to achieve success on his own terms and, preferably, favours the style of play that the squad and coaches have been working on for the past two season.
That means more of the approach that Michael Nicholson has been able to adopt since he took over as Chief Executive and steering the club away from the instincts that guided Peter Lawwell in the role, now that he has returned as Chairman.
There are still issues, all the same. Last week Ange warned that this may be the most challenging window they have faced for two years because of the prospect of attractive bids which could tempt some of their key men. How many of these offers may come from Spurs, we'll have to see.
But we will also need either increased investment in the squad or a specialist in unearthing diamonds, as Ange has been, if we are to move forward, not backwards, next season.
If this is it, the end of the road for the man from Down Under, he has been an outstanding Celtic manager who leaves us riding high.
But, until we actually reach the top, we must - as a wise man said - never stop!
For Celtic supporters, it's always a buzz to see our club getting recognition from unexpected quarters.
Right now, it's none other than long-standing Celtic man, Jay Baruchel, the star of the critically acclaimed film "BlackBerry," who's been proudly waving the green and white flag.
Actor and comedian Baruchel, has been a Celtic supporter for many years, a fact that he is celebrates with pride.
His passion for the Hoops is so profound that he even starred in a documentary titled "Celtic Soul," where he embarked on a journey to explore his Celtic roots alongside US-based Irish sports journalist, Eoin O'Callaghan.
Celtic Soul is a touching and often very funny tribute to our club and our Irish heritage as O'Callaghan takes the proudly Jewish-Irish-Canadian Baruchel on a geographical, historical and emotional pilgrimage, showcasing the deep connection and camaraderie that binds supporters across the globe as the Celtic family, however they find their way to paradise.
Baruchel is very much a heart-on-sleeve Celtic fan and was visibly moved when presented with a Hoops shirt by Canon White on a visit to St Mary's in the Calton.
Jay and Eoin also get to go behind the scenes at Lennoxtown (in the Ronny Deila era), evening taking part in a cross-bar challenge with Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew.
If anything took the gloss off the feelgood factor of the film, it's Baruchel's disconcerting habit of encouraging our players with cries of "AttaBhoy!" (O'Callaghan fails to correct him on this.)
Presumably in the seven years since Celtic Soul was released Baruchel has learned the more acceptable, "Gaun yirsel, big man!"
The BlackBerry film, in which Baruchel stars, has been receiving rave reviews - currently Rotten Tomatoes has a 92%-positive viewers rating with 98% of critics giving it a positive reception.
Baruchel's own performance has been widely acclaimed and looks set to propel Jay to new heights in his career.
As we gear up for the Scottish Cup final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and a possible record-breaking eighth domestic treble - which would be our fifth in seven years - no doubt Baruchel will be chanting, "Come on you Bhoys in Green," in unison with Celtic fans across the world.
Speaking of "BlackBerry," it's worth noting that Baruchel's co-star in the film, best known for his role in the hit comedy series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". (UK and Ireland viewers will know the Sunny star, Danny De Vito better.)
Howerton's "It's Always Sunny" co-star, Rob McElhenney, along with Ryan Reynolds are, of course, the owners of Wrexham FC.
We don't know if Baruchel has been evangelising the Good Word of Celtic to Howerton or if they may some day decide to follow McIlhenny and Reynolds into the world of football.
But maybe an appeal from Hollywood's most happening Celtic fan might persuade Ange Postecoglou to stay for another season?
Baruchel and BlackBerry look destined for next year's Oscars ceremony in Hollywood.
It's not in quite the same league as collecting a treble-winning Scottish Cup at Hampden - but it's not bad!
On the sombre anniversary of Billy McNeill's passing in 2019, it is only fitting that we cast our minds back to the days when his towering presence commanded the heart of Celtic's defence As the iconic captain of the legendary Lisbon Lions, the first British side to lift the European Cup, Billy McNeill left an indelible mark on the beautiful game, not just in Glasgow, but across the continent.
Affectionately known as 'Cesar' for his resemblance to Cesar Romero in Ocean's Eleven, Billy was a symbol of unwavering loyalty and dedication. He was a player whose commitment to the green and white hoops of Celtic was absolute. In an era when the notion of a one-club man was far from a rarity, McNeill's 18-year playing career at Celtic Park, encompassing 790 appearances, still stands as a shining example of unwavering devotion to the cause.
In the shadows of the shipyards and tenements of Glasgow's East End, a Bellshill colossus strode forth, his granite-like determination and unyielding spirit making him a natural leader of men. Billy's physical presence belied the astute footballing brain that lay beneath, and his calm, composed demeanour in the face of adversity gave his teammates the fortitude to march on, even when the odds seemed insurmountable.
Under the guidance of the great Jock Stein, Billy flourished, his talent and work ethic recognized and nurtured by the genius that was Stein. Together, they forged a side that would forever etch its name into the annals of footballing history. The storied day in Lisbon, when Celtic defeated the formidable Inter Milan to clinch the European Cup, would define Billy's legacy. As he hoisted that trophy aloft, the pride and joy of an entire nation swelled within him, his broad shoulders carrying the hopes and dreams of countless Celtic supporters.
The bond between Billy and the Celtic faithful was one forged in the fires of countless battles, both domestic and international. As a player and later as a manager, he guided his beloved club through the tumultuous landscape of Scottish football, where the rivalry with Rangers threatened to overshadow the beautiful game. Yet, amidst the chaos, Billy's stoic leadership and unwavering moral compass ensured that the sport's essence was never lost.
Beyond the field, Billy's affable nature endeared him to fans and foes alike. His humility and grace in victory or defeat showcased the true spirit of sportsmanship. His rapport with the fans was legendary, and Billy understood the importance of their unwavering support. In return, he gave them his all, every time he donned the Celtic jersey.
As a manager, Billy's success mirrored his playing career, and his tactical acumen was evident as he led Celtic to numerous domestic titles.
It is no exaggeration to say that Billy McNeill was a central figure in the golden era of Scottish football. Alongside the Lisbon Lions, he set the benchmark for future generations of players, instilling in them a burning desire to succeed and an unwavering commitment to the club's values. His impact on the Scottish game, both as a player and manager, is a testament to his enduring passion for football.
As we remember Billy, we are reminded of a man who transcended the sport, a figure of towering stature whose impact on the world of football was immeasurable. For many, Billy embodied the very spirit of Celtic, and his memory continues to inspire generations of players and supporters alike
A we stand in quiet contemplation, we remember a man who was more than just a footballer. We remember a leader, a symbol, and a true legend of the game. Billy McNeill may be gone, but his legacy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the Celtic family. Hail Cesar, and may you rest in eternal peace.
They said about Billy McNeill
Jock Stein: "Billy McNeill is a born leader. He has an inborn ability to command and lead men."
Sir Alex Ferguson: "Billy McNeill was a giant in Scottish football, a man with an incredible presence, and I'll always cherish the fact that we entered professional football at the same time."
Sir Kenny Dalglish:"Celtic meant everything to Billy McNeill. He was a fantastic servant, a great captain, and a great manager."
Pat Bonner: "Billy McNeill was a man of great stature, great presence, and great leadership. He was an icon in the world of football."
Willie Wallace: "Billy McNeill was the type of man you'd want beside you in the trenches. He was a true leader and a great friend."
Graeme Souness: "I respected Billy McNeill immensely. He was a great competitor, a great football man, and a great man off the pitch."
Bertie Auld, former Celtic teammate: "Billy McNeill was a born leader, a captain on and off the park. He was a great man to have beside you."
Roy Aitken: "Billy McNeill was a colossus in the game. His stature, presence, and leadership qualities were second to none."
Brendan Rodgers: "Billy McNeill was a man of great integrity, a fantastic leader and someone regarded as Celtic royalty."
Neil Lennon: "Billy McNeill was a huge influence on me when I was at Celtic. He had a presence that you can't buy, and he's left a legacy that will never be forgotten."
