Over the past quarter-century, since UEFA revamped the Champions League, Celtic have carved out unforgettable moments in the competition. While the club is now struggling to gain traction in the competition, there was times when the bhoys went blow for blow with some of Europe’s biggest names and won!
The eras of Neil Lennon, Martin O’Neill, and Gordon Strachan are particularly noted for producing some of Celtic’s most remarkable European performances. The team triumphed over football behemoths like Juventus, AC Milan, and Barcelona.
Among these great nights, one Champions League memory stands out distinctly for Celtic supporters, a moment so iconic that UEFA itself highlighted it on social media out of the blue. This moment involves Celtic’s Shunsuke Nakamura and his unforgettable performance against Manchester United. A goal that if you saw live, it will be etched in your memory for the rest of your life.
🍀🇯🇵@CelticFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/BNhY3DQa92
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 20, 2024
The significance of Nakamura’s goal in the Champions League cannot be overstated. With the game locked at 0-0 and Celtic’s hopes of advancing to the last 16 hanging in the balance, Nakamura seized a decisive moment at the 81st minute. Celtic was awarded a free kick about 30 yards from the goal, and Nakamura stepped up to deliver a moment of sheer brilliance, something that Celtic fans came to expect from the man from Japan.
Nobody gave Celtic a chance of beating Man Utd, so much so, that there was a brief period after the game where the TV pundits weren’t sure Celtic had qualified for the last 16 with a game to spare. That time, under Strachan’s guidance, they came agonizingly close to the quarter-finals, ultimately bowing out to AC Milan at the San Siro after a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the first leg at home.
Nakamura’s goal etched itself into Celtic folklore that season and he would score so many goals like that during his time at the club.
