Celtic F.C.
Scottish football team.
Celtic Football Club is a professional football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play their domestic football in the Scottish Premiership. The club is known as "The Bhoys" or "The Hoops," nicknames that reflect their Irish heritage and distinctive green and white hooped shirts. Celtic play their home games at Celtic Park, often referred to as "Paradise" by fans, which has been their home since 1892 and boasts a capacity of 60,411, making it the largest football stadium in Scotland.
Founded in 1887 by Brother Walfrid, an Irish Marist Brother, Celtic's original purpose was to alleviate poverty in the East End of Glasgow's Irish immigrant population. The club quickly established itself as a dominant force in Scottish football, joining the Scottish Football League in 1890. Since their inception, Celtic have won an impressive 52 Scottish league championships, 40 Scottish Cups, and 20 Scottish League Cups, making them one of the most successful clubs in Scottish football history.
Celtic's first major trophy came in 1892 when they won the Scottish Cup, defeating Queen's Park 5-1 in the final. Their European success reached its pinnacle in 1967 when, under the management of Jock Stein, they became the first British team to win the European Cup (now known as the UEFA Champions League), defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon. This victory was particularly notable as it was achieved with a team composed entirely of players born within 30 miles of Glasgow.
The most famous period in Celtic's history was undoubtedly under Jock Stein's management from 1965 to 1978. During this time, Celtic won nine consecutive league titles from 1966 to 1974, a feat that remained unmatched in Scottish football until 2022. Stein also led the club to multiple Scottish Cup and League Cup victories, cementing Celtic's status as one of Scotland's footballing giants.
Celtic hold numerous records in Scottish football, including the most top-flight titles and the most Scottish Cup wins. They also hold the British record for the most consecutive undefeated domestic matches, going 69 games without defeat between 2016 and 2017 under manager Brendan Rodgers.
The club's biggest rivals are Rangers, with whom they contest the Old Firm derby. This rivalry is one of the oldest and most intense in world football, often extending beyond sport into cultural, political, and religious spheres. Matches between the two Glasgow giants are always highly anticipated events in the Scottish football calendar.
In recent years, Celtic have continued to dominate Scottish football, winning nine consecutive league titles from 2012 to 2020. They have also made regular appearances in European competitions, although replicating their 1967 European Cup success has proved challenging in the modern era of football.