Celtic

Feeling a bit melancholy on a Monday? Watch the above video and cheer yourself up. 

Young Jay Beatty has Down syndrome and has had to work hard all his young life, but one thing that has always helped him is his love for Scottish champions Celtic. 

On Saturday, Beatty gave Celtic a team talk before their game with Hamilton. He was then allowed on the pitch to score a goal in front of the team's fans, who celebrated louder and more passionately for his goal than perhaps any other goal they've scored this season. 

His father, Martin, put the video up on Facebook and posted the following message:

I have left the best to Last...when Jay was born We hoped and prayed that People would treat him with respect, Because of his love of the greatest club in the world his life has become a Dream come true, we thought 2014 was just amazing but today was something else and to have a whole stadium including the Hamilton fans chanting your sons name will live with me forever. I will never forget it and cannot thank you all enough for making my Sons life...We are a club like no other with Fans like no other and we are so proud of you all...Hail Hail

You would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved.

[YouTube]

Old Firm is one of the most hostile and fierce derbies on the planet. 

Before Rangers' recent financial downturn, the two sides dominated the Scottish Premiership for decades in a rivalry that's divided Glasgow by neighbourhood and religion. 

But both sides recently visited Yorkhill Hospital in order to visit sick children, a fairly normal practice by football clubs, but the images that emerged show a sign of unity of sorts between the clubs. 

Rangers players posing with happy Celtic fans and vice versa? 

It must be Christmastime, but this was a wonderful display nonetheless. 

[Twitter, h/t Project Babb]

Sometimes, Christmas miracles come from strange and, in this case, even hated places. 

Such is the case when avid Hearts fan Michael Wright had his £6,000 Ford Fiesta stolen from his property along with a purse and his wallet with £200 he had saved to buy presents for his five-year-old son, Shane.

"It's completely devastating what they have done," Wright told the Edinburgh Evening News. "We were planning on dropping Shane off at school and doing his Christmas shopping. 

"We were going to buy computer games for his PlayStation." 

In spite of his Hearts loyalty and Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths' controversial history with the club, when hearing of the story, Griffiths reached out to Wright on Facebook and offered to help rectify the situation. 

Santa Griffiths, who knew? 

It's been a good-press holiday week for Celtic all around, as for Christmas, the club is also giving away tickets to out-of-work fans. 

[Michael Wright, h/t Who Ate All The Pies]

Good on you, Celtic. 

The Scottish Premiership leaders announced a very classy gesture that will surely go over very well with supporters of the club (or people who are simply fans of people doing nice things for each other, really). 

For the team's match against Ross County on 27 December, two days after Christmas, Celtic will give away free tickets to unemployed fans (with "relevant documentation") of the club as a late Christmas present. 

As per Celtic's official website: 

The initiative reflects our commitment to stay true to the founding principles of the club by helping those less fortunate and remain a Club open to all. 

In the past year we have been working on improving fan engagement and this offer has been developed on the back of proposals put forward through this process.

[...] 

We hope that by giving unemployed supporters the chance to attend Celtic Park for the match against Ross County will bring some Christmas cheer to fans who may not otherwise have been able to do so. 

Everton's Steven Naismith did a similar act of awesome for out-of-work folk back in August. 

[Celtic FC, h/t Who Ate All The Pies]

Updates from Wednesday, Nov. 5

Sky Sports News HQ reported the latest on Aleksandar Tonev's ban:

Original Text

The Scottish Football Association announced Thursday that it has banned Celtic winger Aleksandar Tonev for seven matches for racially abusing Aberdeen's Shay Logan, per the Scottish FA website.

STV Sport has more:

The Bulgarian winger was found guilty of breaching of disciplinary rule 202: Excessive Misconduct by the use of offensive, insulting and abusive language of a racist nature during September's match. It means Tonev is unlikely to play for the club again with his loan deal set to expire in January.

Celtic responded to the ruling with the following statement on their website:

Racism has no place in football and as a Club for all people, Celtic absolutely abhors racism of any kind.

This was a very unfortunate case, but the Club has accepted Aleksandar's explanation that he did not say the words that were alleged to have been said and that he is not a racist.

We are, therefore, very disappointed by the outcome today and can confirm that Aleksandar will be appealing this decision.

Tonev, 24, has made four Scottish Premiership appearances for Celtic this season and three Europa League appearances but has yet to register a goal or assist in either competition. The former Aston Villa man (he made 17 Premier League appearances for the club last year) and Bulgarian international hasn't exactly made the biggest impression with the club, however, and it appears now his time with Celtic is winding to a close.

The Scottish FA response seems an appropriate one if Tonev indeed racially abused Logan. Racism continues to be one of the biggest plagues on both European club and international football, and every effort to stamp it out of the game should be taken.

A 5-0 win for Celtic against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership is barely remarkable.  However, for Ronny Deila it was a result which was simply essential.

As attention returned to domestic matters following the international break, the spotlight in Scottish football was firmly on the Celtic manger.

Hamilton Academical's first win at Celtic Park since 1938 before that break left Celtic languishing in sixth position in the Scottish Premiership.  Earning only four wins in their opening eight league games made it their worst start to a league campaign since Dr Jozef Venglos led a trophy-less season in 1998/99.

Early domestic inconsistencies coupled with not one but two Champions League qualifying disasters have seen intense scrutiny of Neil Lennon’s replacement in the Celtic dugout.  Scrutiny has has extended to Deila’s reportedly strict diet, which he implemented on his squad.

Norwegian Deila’s relaxed attitude to the Hamilton defeat also came in for strong criticism, which only served to add to growing pressure.  A defeat to Ross County in Dingwall, a venue were Celtic had only won once in their three previous visits, was therefore unthinkable for Deila.

However on-loan striker John Guidetti’s fourth goal in six games after just 11 minutes put Deila at ease in the early Saturday kickoff.  Callum McGregor, Anthony Stokes and Jason Denayer then all netted before half-time to bury any thoughts of a full-scale crisis at Celtic Park.  Stokes struck again in the second half to complete the rout and leave Deila, as he told BBC Scotland post mactch, "delighted."

Stefan Johansen's display was also be a reason for cheer for the Celtic boss.  The midfielder, fresh from his manager-tackling exploits for Norway, has been a consistent performer since his move to Glasgow, but displayed a wonderful range of passing, which was instrumental in the vital win.

Returning experienced players such Mikael Lustig and Charlie Mulgrew to the first team also provided heightened competition for places and gives Deila increased options with a busy schedule ahead.

New striker Stefan Scepovic’s failure to open his account yet again following his second-half introduction and an injury to Honduran fullback Emilo Izaguirre were the only real negatives in one of the best results of Deila’s fledgling Celtic managerial career.  

It is a result which should now launch Celtic’s season.  With a run of four home games in three different competitions upcoming, there now is a now a great opportunity to find some much-needed consistency.

A Europa League tie against Romanian side Astra offers the first chance to build on the important league win. The Hoops have four points from their opening two fixtures, and victory on Match Day 3 would place them in a strong position to progress from a tricky group which includes Austrian champions Salzburg and Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb.

A turbulent start to life at Celtic for Deila may soon be forgotten should they find that so-far elusive consistency.

Follow @StewartRoss89

In Ronny Deila, Celtic last week appointed a young manager with a growing reputation, a distinct philosophy and an unwavering belief in his own abilities.

Despite being an outsider in the betting stakes, the 38-year-old Norwegian was appointed Neil Lennon's successor on a 12-month rolling contract.

But should anyone really be surprised?

The "Norwegian Jurgen Klopp," as he has been christened, embodies Celtic's overall strategic objectives.

He is young, has the potential to grow even more as a manager and already has experience operating in a somewhat restrictive transfer environment, relying on effective scouting rather than excessive spending.

Background

Over the course of his six-year spell as manager of small Norwegian side Stromsgodset, Deila transformed the club from a bottom-half team striving to stay in the top division to cup winners in 2010 and league winners three years later.

The progress he made is easily traceable. After finishing 11th and 12th—in a league of 16—in his first two campaigns, the young boss led his side to seventh and eighth in the next two. By the final two years of his tenure, Stromsgodset finished second in 2012 and, finally, as champions last season.

Philosophy

On the pitch, Deila has a distinct philosophy: fast, attacking football. 

Favouring a 4-3-3 system with offensive full-backs—ideal for current Celtic defenders Emilio Izaguirre, Adam Matthews and Mikael Lustig—Deila places considerable emphasis on youth and development to carry out his vision successfully, as he told a press conference upon his confirmation as manager (per BBC Sport):

It's about winning trophies, getting into Europe, developing players and creating a culture inside the club. The culture of developing is everything. I have to think about the process and what to do on the pitch. Then results will come. 

Without development, you won't get results. The board will see what I'm doing with the club. If I do well and make people happy, push the right buttons, we'll get results.

Indeed, the average age of his 2013 Stromsgodset squad—which brought home only the second championship in the club's history—was under 23.

Deila used 26 players that campaign—only four of whom were older than 30. Encouragingly for the likes of the returning Tony Watt, he also used no fewer than 13 players aged 21 or under, including six teenagers.

One of those young league winners was current Celtic midfielder Stefan Johansen, whom Deila transformed from a winger to the central midfield playmaker Lennon purchased in January. The 23-year-old made public the admiration he has for his former boss as he was confirmed in his new role:

Of course, the deeply cynical will ask questions based on the practicality of trying to implement that particular philosophy in a Scottish football environment.

They may even point to Tony Mowbray—the last footballing idealist to take over at Parkhead—as evidence of someone who endeavoured to place philosophy ahead of practicality and failed.

And, unlike Norway's Tippeligaen, where around half the teams play on artificial turf conducive to passing football, the SPFL is not noted for the standard of its pitches. This could make some away fixtures inherently tricky for a manager intent on showcasing an attacking, possession-orientated brand of football.

However, Deila told the press conference on his first day as Celtic manager that home matches are the time to entertain the fans, suggesting he is willing to adopt a slightly more cynical method—such as counter-attacking—when the situation calls for it.

This could prove ideal for the club in European competition, where matches against bigger sides with far more technically-adept players have necessitated an ultra-defensive approach in the past.

Indeed, Deila's decision to bring 6'6" target man Peter Kovacs back to Stromsgodset at the age of 33 in 2012 surely points to an intellect in identifying the shortcomings of his own overarching philosophy.

Kovacs provided a different option to what Deila otherwise had at his disposal and paid his manager back nicely—netting 22 times in his first season working under him.

Transfers

The big Hungarian has proved the exception rather than the rule for Deila's transfer dealings.

While transfer business remains somewhat of an unknown quantity due to the stark difference in size between Celtic and Stromsgodset, there is plenty of evidence that hints Deila will keep with Celtic's recent policies.

He seems to prefer spending only when he loses key players, for instance. And, even then, he tends to buy replacements younger than those who have left.

In season 2009, for instance, he shipped out eight players with an average age of just over 28. In return, he brought in eight with an average age of 23.

This trend continued until his move to Glasgow last week. In each of the past five seasons, Deila has acquired no more than he has lost and always the average age of his new recruits has been lower than those who left.

While candidates such as Henrik Larsson, Owen Coyle and Malky Mackay may have been altogether safer choices where the fans are concerned, the appointment of Deila represents no real surprises in terms of the club's recent signing philosophy.

Given he has the unique gift of time in his favour—with no real challengers domestically—the comparisons with Mowbray may just be rendered obsolete.

Of course, as he takes his first job in a foreign country, the Celtic fans and board alike will have to allow him time to both adapt to his new surroundings and implement his philosophy.

If they—and, perhaps more importantly, the players—buy into his methods, then Scottish football as a whole may benefit from the example.

All statistics referenced in this article are taken from TransferMarkt.co.uk

Twitter: @smarti51

On Monday, despite overwhelming expectation to the contrary, Roy Keane essentially turned down the chance to manage Celtic.

Even as late as yesterday afternoon, the Scotsman published an article stating the appointment of the 42-year-old was imminent—yet by the evening news it had emerged that was, in fact, not the case.

Several outlets reported Keane had asked not to be considered for the job in order to stay on as assistant manager to former Celts boss Martin O'Neill with the Irish national side.

The Irish Independent suggested the idea of job sharing (something he already does with his work as a television pundit for ITV) had been floated and, presumably, rejected by Celtic. The Independent did, however, assume that would lead to Keane leaving Ireland rather than declining the Parkhead hotseat.

Pundits, commentators and ex-pros all took to Twitter in reaction, with former Celtic striker John Hartson perhaps summing it up best from Celtic's point of view:

Similarly, many of Keane's critics pointed to a so-far mediocre managerial career as evidence that, however big his name, success outside of the league was not guaranteed.

Spiers's Herald Scotland colleague, Graeme Macpherson, referenced Keane's long-time boss Alex Ferguson as a lofty critic of the Irishman's coaching credentials.

Ferguson wrote in his recent autobiography that Keane's "impatience" meant he was likely to always look for a quick-fix and spend money, rather than try to build a team—an option which would have been fairly limited to him at Celtic.

Of course that is simply an opinion and comes from a manager who had funds at his disposal Keane could only dream of when he was boss at Sunderland and Ipswich, as Macpherson pointed out in his article.

However, the real question just may be this: Would taking the Celtic job have furthered his career prospects? 

For, surely, Keane wants a return to the Premier League when he does decide to take on a full-time managerial role. Indeed, The Guardian report today that he is in talks to become assistant to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa.

And the track record of previous Celtic managers tells a damning story.

Never has a Celtic boss, however successful they were with the club, gone on and directly won themselves a job at an elite English club.

Keane's ITV colleague and former Celts boss Gordon Strachan is testament to that himself.

Having left Glasgow after four years with three consecutive league titles, two League Cups, a Scottish Cup and two trips to the last 16 of the Champions League on his CV, his next job was with Middlesbrough in the English Championship.

It remains to be seen which club Neil Lennon will opt for, but it is highly unlikely to be a club anywhere near the size or stature of the one he has just departed.

Moreover, Keane has expressed his contentment with his current role as an assistant—something which often evolves into a full manager's job in the future:

People keep asking me about other jobs. In my quiet moments, I obviously want to go back to being a manager. But I have got a job and I am very happy in my job. I am really appreciating the opportunity I have at the moment.

Former West Bromwhich Albion boss Steve Clarke has assumed Keane's position as favourite to land the Hoops job, with Malky Mackay and Owen Coyle further back in the field, according to Oddschecker.

Despite this, chief executive Peter Lawwell told STV only last week that the club had drawn up a shortlist of "between five and 10" candidates to replace Lennon, so it is possible people like Jackie McNamara, Henrik Larsson and David Moyes are still in the running as well.

Whoever is chosen, time is of the essence for Celtic. 

The club simply cannot afford to procrastinate before appointing Lennon's successor. So much of their 2014-15 season hinges on qualifying for the Champions League group stages—the quest for which begins in the second qualifying round on 15 July.

With the fortunes of the club of paramount importance, Keane's decision, whether right or wrong, must take a back seat as soon as possible.

Twitter: @smarti51

Updates from Monday, June 2

Roy Keane will not become the next manager of Celtic, confirmed by the FAI on Monday.

Ian Mallon of Independent.ie had earlier reported:

Roy Keane will not be going to Glasgow Celtic, Independent.ie can exclusively reveal.

[...]

It is understood Celtic had made Keane a formal offer but in the end, the 42-year-old decided to see out his commitment with the national team. Keane made his decision known to Ireland manager Martin O’Neill and FAI Chief Executive John Delaney earlier today, it is believed.

Sky Sports' Pete O'Rourke reports Steve Clarke is now the favourite for the post: 

Original Text

Roy Keane leads the running for the vacant Celtic manager's job, according to reports.

The former Manchester United legend—who spent six months in the Scottish club's midfield at the end of his playing career—is among the candidates being considered to replace Neil Lennon. MailOnline Sport confirmed "informal" talks for the current Republic of Ireland assistant manager:

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell acknowledged Keane is among a shortlist of "between five and 10 at the moment," as reported by Sky Sports. Lawwell suggested the board will take their time before selecting a new candidate to take the club forward:

Clearly we want to do it as soon as we possibly can, but with these things you can't put a timescale on it. You just have to do your work properly and hopefully we'll get there as soon as we can, but as soon as we do that we'll let our supporters know.

Lawwell also indicated he is looking to reveal the new boss "as soon as possible," but he is wary of progressing "too fast" through the selection process.

Martin O'Neill, the manager Keane answers to in his Ireland role, confirmed Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has made contact. O'Neill, who won seven trophies during a five-year spell in charge of the Bhoys, indicated Keane may find it difficult to turn an offer down. Sky Sports reported the details:

Roy has a lot to consider. I had a call the other day from Dermot Desmond wanting to speak to Roy if it was at all possible, and I mentioned it to Roy, of course.

I am sure he was wanting to have a chat anyway, because a club like Celtic might not come around too often.

Kevin Palmer of the Sunday World confirmed Keane isn't ducking away from his international duties at this potentially busy time:

Away from Keane, a number of other candidates are being reported throughout the press. Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail believes Uwe Rosler is in the running after his impressive impact at Wigan, while he also suggests Malky Mackay and Owen Coyle are being considered.

Richard Wilson of BBC Sport believes "Celtic could benefit from an influence that reaches beyond the confines of British football." He notes how previous decisions have seen managers such as Guus Hiddink and Roberto Martinez missed out on, suggesting Celtic may expand as a brand if a professional with new ideas is hired.

Wilson also suggested Henrik Larsson, a striking legend and fan favourite at the club, may be in the running.

The likes of Keane, Mackay and Coyle fall in line with previous bosses who take a hard-line approach to leading. Celtic are more than likely to win trophies no matter who grabs the job—such is the state of Scottish football after Rangers' forced relegation—meaning it may be the right time to progress under continental influence.

With Rangers rising through Scotland's league structure, there may never be a better opportunity for Celtic to break away from the norm.