Celtic has an amazing history and is one of just five clubs in the world to have won more than 100 trophies. The Hoops, who have won 12 of the last 13 Scottish league titles, have established themselves as a formidable force in Scotland and Europe. They have accomplished a great deal as a club, but they have also had some amazing, elite players over the years.
The top players to play for Celtic will be examined in this article, along with a ranking based on several criteria.
In football, loyalty is difficult to find, but McStay was incredibly devoted. Celtic supporters adored him because of his skill and ability, but his commitment to the team was the deciding reason.
Stylian Petrov had an incredible run in Glasgow after joining Celtic as a little-known footballer who spoke almost no English. Petrov showed his commitment and desire to achieve right immediately by learning the language by working with his friend in a burger truck. Petrov’s second season at Celtic was outstanding following a sluggish debut season during which he was attempting to establish himself. Petrov was instrumental in Celtic’s treble victory and was voted the league’s Young Player of the Year, becoming him the first foreign player to receive the honor.
Petrov garnered interest from all over Europe and later spent seven years with Celtic. He was a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder who played a key role in his team’s success throughout his time there. Petrov rose from obscurity to become a Celtic legend.
Shunsuke Nakamura, a Japanese midfielder who is regarded as one of the greatest free-kick takers of all time, made an incredible impact for Celtic. Because of his extraordinary potential, Nakamura was nominated for the 2007 Ballon d’Or after spending four years with the Scottish side and becoming as one of the top Asian players in Europe. Nakamura was amazing at Celtic, winning three league titles and winning the Scottish Premiership player of the year award.
Nakamura, who had finished second the year before he signed, changed Celtic with his wand of a left foot and amazing passing range. After leaving the Scottish team, he was hailed as a legend who was able to do things no one else could.
One of the most decorated Celtics players of all time, Scott Brown embodied the qualities of a true leader by always putting his heart on the line. Brown was the kind of player that any supporter would want at their team—a box-to-box midfielder with outstanding defensive skills. He was as passionate as the fans and gave every game his best, which motivated both the crowd and his teammates. His dedication and attitude were major contributors to Celtic’s success while he was a member.
Brown led Celtic through the entire 2020 “quadruple treble” as they won 12 of the 12 trophies that were up for grabs. It is no wonder that Scott Brown is considered a legend at the club, and as its leader, he deserves a great deal of credit for this accomplishment.
Henrick Larsson, a club icon who arrived at Celtic Park largely unknown in 1997, left Celtic seven years later. Larsson was extremely prolific in front of goal and was recognized as a world-class player by everyone who watched him. He went on to become the club’s third-top leading scorer. Larsson was a great player and an even greater goal scorer, supported by his subsequent exploits with Barcelona and the Swedish national team. The Celtic supporters dubbed Larsson the “King of Kings.” He had a tremendous influence in Scotland, and the Swede, who referred to Celtic as “my club,” shared the fans’ affection for him.
Larsson is without a doubt one of the best Celtics players ever, having won the league four times and finished as the team’s top scorer five of his six seasons. When he left Manchester United later in his career, Sir Alex Ferguson was understandably devastated.
Roy Aitken, who made his Celtic debut at the age of sixteen, became a legend after spending fifteen fantastic years with the Scottish team. Aitken had a huge impact on the Celtic team throughout his tenure there, starting out as a strong, tough-tackling midfielder at the age of 16 and moving into defense as he grew older. Although he had many memorable moments and won numerous trophies, Aitken’s greatest accomplishment with the club was captaining Celtic to the double in 1988, the club’s centennial year.
Celtic could always rely on Aitken to support them during difficult times and motivate his teammates to accomplish the seemingly impossible. He is so well-liked at the Scottish club because of both his attitude and his skill.
Kenny Dalglish had an incredible career at the top level and is among the most decorated players of all time. He started his career with Celtic, where he played for eight years before becoming the team’s captain and won several trophies. Dalglish had a great career at Celtic and was regarded as one of the greatest in the league even at a young age. He won four Scottish League crowns, four Scottish Cups, and the League Cup. The Scot was a prolific goal scorer who won many goals for both his clubs and his country, winning over fans everywhere he went.
Celtic supporters were devastated when Dalglish departed the team for Liverpool in 1977, where he would go on to become a club hero.
