Where are they now? The Celtic XI from the last league Old Firm

9th September 2016

Categories: Celtic, Features, Rangers, Scottish Premiership, Where are They Now?

There is nothing we love more here at Shoot! than a bit of football trivia, that otherwise meaningless information that, come quiz night, suddenly becomes invaluable.

One goldmine of such facts is the archives of teams gone by, whether that be an iconic XI, or a squad of predicted future heroes. As the years go on, however, such sides are confined to the history books, but wouldn’t you love to know where they are now?

On Saturday one of the biggest derbies in world football will reignite as Celtic play hosts to their neighbours from across town and fierce rivals, Rangers.

The Old Firm clash resumes in earnest as Mark Warburton’s side return to the Scottish Premier League this season after a four-year stint in the lower leagues.

The titans of Scottish football, who have over 100 league titles between them, have met during The Gers hiatus from top flight football, in the Cup, however the last time they met in the league was in April 2012 when The Hoops cruised to a 3-0 win over their rivals.

There has been much change at Celtic Park since that fixture, as the blue half of Glasgow watched their side plummet to the fourth-tier of Scottish football, before four years in the wilderness, whilst the Bhoys ran away with the Premiership title for five consecutive years.

But what happened to the Celtic side that won the last league meeting between the Old Firm rivals under former manager Neil Lennon? Well, take a look…

Fraser Forster

The England international, who now has six international caps for his country, left the top-flight of Scottish football for the top-tier in his homeland as he joined Premier League outfit Southampton back in August 2014.

Since then; the 6ft 7in shot stopper has become an integral part of the Saints’ success in the English top-flight, keeping 22 clean sheets in 58 appearances in all competitions for Southampton, and is tipped to snatch England’s number one jersey from Joe Hart during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Adam Matthews

Just a division below his former team-mate is Matthews, who is now plying his trade with Championship outfit Bristol City.

After lifting four successive Scottish Premiership titles at Celtic Park, the right-back followed in Forster’s footsteps and opted for a 2015 summer switch to the Premier League with Sunderland following his £2m move.

However; after just two first-team appearances for the Black Cats, before injuring his ankle, the Wales international defender struggled to regain his starting place and later joined Bristol City on loan in the latter stages of the 2015/16 campaign.

Following the appointment of new manager David Moyes at the Stadium of Light this summer, the former Everton and Manchester United boss deemed Matthews surplus to his requirements, before sending him out on a season-long loan to Lee Johnson’s side this term.

Emilio Izaguirre

The first of three footballers to still be at Celtic Park, left-back Izaguirre may be out of favour under new boss Brendan Rodgers, but he has very much been an important player for the Scottish giants over the years.

The Honduras international, who joined the Bhoys from Motagua for a reported £650,000 back in 2010, has now racked up 236 appearances for Celtic – scoring five goals.

Charlie Mulgrew

Another ex-Celtic star now featuring in the Championship, but unfortunately for Mulgrew, at the very bottom of the division for now.

The Scotland international; 30, only left Celtic Park back on August 30, 2016, for Blackburn Rovers, after more than 200 games for the reigning Scottish Premiership champions.

Having arrived at Ewood Park on a three-year deal, Mulgrew’s short spell at Blackburn hasn’t quite gone to plan so far, with Owen Coyle’s side rock-bottom in the standings – though the defender is yet to make his debut.

Glenn Loovens

Another former Celtic defender out of favour at a Championship club is Loovens, who is finding first-team opportunities hard to come by at Sheffield Wednesday this term.

The 32-year-old, who has two international caps for the Netherlands, joined Spanish outfit Real Zaragoza shortly after the 2011/12 campaign, before arriving at Hillsborough in December 2013 after impressing on trial.

Loovens has made 92 appearances for Wednesday since joining, with the Owls determined to return to the top-flight of English football.

Scott Brown

The second of three stars to remain at Celtic since the last Old Firm league derby, ‘Captain Fantastic’ Brown has now racked up 372 appearances for the defending league champions.

The 31-year-old Scot, who recently announced his retirement from international football earlier this term, has scored 35 goals for the Bhoys since joining from Hibernian back in 2007 and the central midfielder will be a key figurehead in Saturday’s clash against Rangers.

Kris Commons

The final loyal Hoop. But, unfortunately, also another player that has failed to tick the boxes for new Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers – fellow midfielder Commons.

The 33-year-old, who has 12 international caps for Scotland, has been excluded from the club’s Champions League squad for the rest of the 2016/17 campaign, despite scoring nine goals in 33 appearances in all competitions last season under former boss Ronny Deila.

Joe Ledley

Celtic fans would have witnessed Ledley’s presence on the big screen earlier this summer, with the bearded midfielder starring for Chris Coleman’s Wales as the Dragons reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

The 29-year-old, who scored an admirable 30 goals in over 150 games for Celtic between 2010 and 2014, opted for the Premier League with Crystal Palace two years ago and has since racked up 76 games for the Eagles, where he has become a firm fans favourite.

Victor Wanyama

The Kenyan star recently secured a summer switch to Premier League rivals Tottenham from Southampton, where he was reunited with former boss Mauricio Pochettino, the coach that snatched the defensive midfielder from Celtic’s ranks back in July 2013 for a reported £12.5m.

The 25-year-old almost made 100 appearances for the Saints before swapping the South Coast for North London back in June, signing a five-year deal with Spurs following his £11m transfer.

Georgios Samaras

The former Greek God is now plying his trade with American outfit Rayo Oklahoma City, after previous spells with West Bromwich Albion and Al-Hilal.

The 31-year-old, who netted 71 goals for Celtic between 2008 and 2014 after originally arriving on loan from Premier League side Manchester City, scored a rather underwhelming two goals in 16 appearances last term for the NASL Falls Championship club.

Gary Hooper

And finally, striker Hooper is the fourth and final ex-Celtic player featuring in the Championship this season, hoping to fire Sheffield Wednesday to promotion.

Team-mates with fellow former Bhoy; Loovens, the 28-year-old left Celtic Park for Norwich City back in July 2013 for a reported £5m, after scoring a remarkable 82 goals in 138 games for the Scottish Premiership champions.

Despite failing to live up to expectations at Carrow Road, the ex-Grays Athletic forward sealed a permanent move to Hillsborough back in January 2016, after a successful loan spell.