Celtic on this Day – The Day Martin O’Neill saw off Dick Advocaat

25 November 2001: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates during the Scottish Premier Division match against Rangers played at Celtic Park. Celtic won the match 2-1. Photo: Jamie McDonald /Allsport

Celtic 2-1 Rangers. Despite losing 1-0 with a depleted side at the iconic Mestalla Stadium against Valencia in the first leg in round three of the UEFA Cup, the Hoops bounced back with a derby day victory at Paradise three days later.

Goals via Valgaeren and then Larsson from the penalty spot 10 minutes later after Bert Konterman bundled Henrik down in the box gave Celtic a secure two goal lead. Lovenkrands pulled one back, but it was not enough for Rangers as the reigning Scottish champions went 10 points in front of their rivals.

25 November 2001: Celtic celebrate victory after the Scottish Premier Division match against Rangers played at Celtic Park. Celtic won the match 2-1. Photo: Jamie McDonald /Allsport

The 2-1 victory in Glasgow’s East End also meant that Martin O’Neill had six wins from seven against Rangers since arriving from Leicester City in June 2000. Celtic’s fifth win in a row against Rangers all but spelled the end for Dick Advocaat’s reign at Ibrox.

Rangers drew with Hibs 1-1 at Ibrox a few weeks later subsequently giving Celtic a 12-point lead at the foot of the table. As a result the Dutchman resigned after three years in charge. Famously, the front pages of the papers on 26 November 2001 weren’t of Henrik Larsson celebrating or Martin O’Neill taking the applause of a delirious home support, it was instead of Michael Foot and Advocaat having a domestic in the opposition dugout…

21 years ago today, Celtic 0-0 Bayern Munich. Martin O’Neill’s side’s stalemate with the German champions was the first time in six games in the Champions League that Celtic hadn’t won at home. It also meant that the Hoops would head to Lyon a fortnight later needing to get a result which would prove to be an ominous task given our horrendous away record in Europe’s elite club competition.

Chris Sutton in action for Celtic against Bayern Munich in the Champions League at Celtic Park on 25 November 2003. Photo The Celtic Wiki

In attendance at Paradise was then England manager Sven Goran Eriksson who was up watching Celtic duo Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton. In later years, former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves was asked what his favourite Champions League experience was.

He responded in recollection of that night, “I would have never thought Celtic Park would have been that place but the fans there are incredibly special.” Ultimately, Celtic would harshly exit the competition in the 2003/2004 campaign on seven points after suffering a 3-2 defeat in France on the final match-day.

A year ago today, Celtic 1-1 Motherwell. If ever there is a result that depicts far Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops team have come in a year it is this one. A turgid display from the Scottish champions who despite extending their gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership over theRangers to nine points, the Ibrox side had two games in hand where it looked likely they were coming following an upturn in results following the arrival of a ‘real’ Gers manager – Phillipe Clement [don’t leave us Phillipe].

Celtic v Motherwell – Scottish Premiership – Celtic Park Motherwell’s Jonathan Obika scoring his sides first goal to level the score at 1-1 during the match at Celtic Park on Saturday November 25, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan

Celtic were awarded two penalties in the encounter with Motherwell – Luis Palma missed the first which was saved by Liam Kelly, however David Turnbull would tuck his away against his former teammate in what the current Cardiff midfielder thought was the games winning goal.

A combination of dreadful defending and goalkeeping allowed Jon Obika to head home in stoppage time to give the Steelmen an unlikely equaliser.

Here is how Celtic lined up a year ago today; Hart, Ralston, CCV, Scales, Taylor, O’Riley, McGregor, Holm, Yang, Palma, Kyogo.

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr, Volumes One & Two, Published by Celtic Star Books

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. OUT NOW!

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