| Match Pictures | Matches: 1963 – 1964 | Pictures : 1963-64 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic lose 4-3 on aggregate.
- Celtic players ond officials were presented with bouquets of flowers by MTK officials at Budapest airport.
- The night before the match there was an official reception for Celtic in the British Embassy – all except John Clark that is, who had a slight stomach upset and was ordered to bed by the Celtic officials.
- Celtic had a training session on the morning of the game and the players were ordered to sleep in the afternoon.
- Match played in the Nep stadium.
- MTK lost the final 1-0 to Sporting Lisbon in a replay in Antwerp after a 3-3 draw in Brussels.
- On the 30th April Billy Price was given a free transfer. Price had joined Celtic from Falkirk in 1961 as cover in the absence of Pat Crerand. His last game with the first team had been in August 1963. He would go on to join Berwick Rangers (who, at this time were one of the teams the Scottish League was trying to 'disappear' from existence).
Review
This was one of the worst nights Celtic have ever experienced in their history. The defeat was a catastrophe and the management were criticised for their naive tactics of playing an open game with a 3-0 lead behind them.
Only 10,000 fans turned out and the game was played on a firm, dry pitch which suited MTK's style. The Hungarian capitaL had been bathing in a heat wave through much of the week.
In 11 minutes Kuti scored and with the experienced winger Sandor looking influential Celtic were under constant pressure.
They rallied later in the half with Johnstone almost creating a chance for Hughes and they then had two goals disallowed to offside through Johnstone and Hughes.
In the second half Celtic continued to attack and Chalmers had a strong shot saved.
In 47 minutes Vasas scored from the penalty spot after Gemmell had punched a shot over the bar on the goal line.
As Celtic faltered MTK went for broke and scored twice more through Sandor and Kuti.
This was a devastating blow as Celtic were expected to reach the final in Brussels against Sporting Lisbon on May 13 1964.
In later years Billy McNeill recalled the disastrous events of Budapest:
'If ever an inexperienced side got to a European semi-final it was the Celtic team of that season.
We took a 3-0 lead in the first leg with one goal by Jimmy Johnstone and two by Stevie Chalmers but then went to Budapest with no idea of what European football was all about and how to defend it.
We played it like a pre-season friendly, lost a goal in 11 minutes and before we knew we were out the tournament by 61 minutes.
There was a suspicion by Celtic officials that the ref had been got at by the home side, but it was no one's fault but our own.
MTK were a competent side but not brilliant and it was a poor and inexperienced display by us. It was only our second season in Europe, and it showed.'
Teams
MTK Budapest:
Kovalik; Keszei, Jenei; Nagy, Danszi, Vasas; Sandor, Takacs, Bodor, Kuti, Halapi.
Scorers: Kuti 2(11, 71),Vasa (47 pen), Sandor (61)
Celtic:
Fallon; Young, Gemmell ; Clark, McNeill, Kennedy; Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers, Gallacher, Hughes.
Scorers:
Referee: D Wlachojanis (Aut)
Attendance: 10,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 30th April 1964
Glasgow Herald 30/4/1964
