By Padraig Walsh
Celtic clinched the first of what would become nine consecutive league titles in style at Rugby Park in April 2012 defeating Killie by 6 goals to nil. Where are the starting 11 that started the 9 today?
Fraser Forster: Forster at the time was in his second loan spell at Celtic and was invaluable in securing the title. He would go onto sign a permanent deal in June and made over 100 additional appearances before signing for Southampton in the summer of 2014 for £10 million. After 5 years at the Saints, he fell out of favour and returned to Celtic on a one-year deal and has been crucial to our success. Fans will be hoping La Gran Muralla’s stay becomes permanent
Adam Matthews: Matthews was in his first season at Celtic and was the main right back in the team. He would go on to make 150 appearances for the Hoops before moving to Sunderland. After two relegations with the Wearsiders and a loan spell at Bristol City, he moved Charlton Athletic.
Glenn Loovens: This would be Loovens final season at Celtic Park. Over a 4 year spell, he made 90 appearances scoring 9 times including in the title clincher at Rugby Park. He would go on to join Real Zaragoza in La Liga before joining Sheffield Wednesday in 2013. He stayed in Sheffield for 5 seasons before joining Sunderland in 2018. Loovens hasn’t played for anyone since having his contract terminated early and has his eyes on becoming a scout.
Kelvin Wilson: Wilson was in his first season for the Hoops and would go on to make 76 appearances. He was a solid centre back and would go on to sign for his old club Nottingham Forest in 2013 before finishing his career at Rotherham in 2017
Charlie Mulgrew: Mulgrew was immense this season winning PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year, SFWA Footballer of the Year, Celtic Players’ Player of the Year and SPL Player of the Year. He would spend 4 more seasons at Celtic racking up 207 appearances and 28 goals before joining Blackburn in 2016. A brief spell on loan at Wigan followed in 2019. Mulgrew scored 2 in the title clincher at Rugby Park to clinch the first of the nine in a row.
Scott Brown: El Capitano. There isn’t much more to be said about one of the legends of the club. He has racked up 575 appearances for the club and is adored by the fans. Even at the age of 34 he still puts a shift in week-in-week-out for the Bhoys and there is a major absence in the team when he’s not included.
Ki Sung-Yeung: Ki was an important player for us this season playing in 30 league games. He would make 87 appearances for the club. Ki signed for Swansea for £6 million that summer before moving to Newcastle and then to Mallorca in 2020.
Joe Ledley: Ledley was another vital player this season. He scored the winner in the December Glasgow Derby to give the Celts a lead in the table. He also scored in the title clincher with a chip over Cammy Bell late on. He spent 4 seasons at Celtic making 157 appearances scoring 30 goals. He moved to Crystal Palace in 2014 before moving to Derby then Charlton and currently plays for Newcastle Jets in Australia. He was also in the Wales squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
Kris Commons: Commons enjoyed a very successful period at Paradise scoring 91 goals in 227 games. He won PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year and SFWA Footballer of the Year in 2013/14. He had a loan spell at Hibs under his friend Neil Lennon in 2016/17 before announcing his retirement in 2018
Georgios Samaras: Big Sammy was somewhat of a cult hero at Celtic, he’s well known for his friendship with Jay Beattie. Over 7 years at the club he amassed just under 250 appearances scoring 74 goals followed by spells with West Brom, Al-Hilal, Rayo Oklahoma City, Real Zaragoza and Samsunspor before retiring in 2018
Gary Hooper: Hoops was a fan favourite for his goal-scoring prowess netting 82 goals in 138 games including 2 at Rugby Park in the title game. Unfortunately, Hooper didn’t stick around long enough to become a legend as he joined Norwich in 2013, spending 3 seasons with the Canaries before joining Sheffield Wednesday. He currently turns out for Wellington Phoenix of New Zealand but what could’ve been if he stuck around.
Who was your favourite player that started that day?
