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Fullname: Jóhannes Eðvaldsson
aka: Johannes Edvaldsson, Big Shuggy, Shug
Born: 3 September 1950
Died: 24 January 2021
Birthplace: Reykjavík, Iceland
Signed:8 Aug 1975 (from (Holbaek B&I)
Left: 2 Feb 1980 (to Tulsa Roughnecks)
Position: Defence/Midfield/Striker
First game : Aberdeen home 9 August 1975 1-0 league cup
Last game : Celtic 2-1 Raith Rovers, 26 Jan 1980, Scottish Cup
First goal : Hearts home 16 August 1975 3-1 league cup
Last goal : Hibernian home 17 November 1979 3-0 league
Internationals: Iceland
International Caps: 34
International Goals: 2
Biog
Signed in August 1975 after a brief but successful trial Johannes Edvaldsson was one of Celtic’s earliest and most successful European imports (exc Ireland).
The Icelandic international arrived in Glasgow after stints in France with Metz and Denmark with Holbaek B&I, and and was to prove to be an instant success, scoring on his Parkhead debut against English champions Derby County in front of a packed, sunny, Celtic Park as Celtic ran out 1-0 winners.
His versatility was to prove a major asset for the Hoops and although often played in the centre of defence, the man nicknamed ‘Shuggie’ by the Bhoys support played in virtually every outfield position for Celtic. Interestingly, his father was an Estonian international goalkeeper.
After making his domestic debut in a 1-0 League Cup triumph over Aberdeen at Parkhead (9th August 1975) Edvaldsson established himself as a first team regular with solid and determined performances which were to become his trademark, initially as an attacking midfielder, and he reached double figures in the scoring charts although Celtic won nothing that season. He did score an outstanding hat trick in Celtic’s scintillating 7-2 win against Ayr United at Somerset Park on 12th November 1975.
He lost his place in the team for a period after the signing of Pat Stanton and the emergence of the young Roy Aitken but in February he was a splendid replacement for the injured Roddy MacDonald and played his part in the title winning side. Shuggie Edvaldsson was a surprise replacement for the injured Ronnie Glavin in the 1977 Scottish Cup Final, wearing the unusual number 8 shorts, and put in the header which led to Celtic’s penalty which resulted in the winning goal. It was a tactical master stroke by Jock Stein and he often seemed to save his best performance for the blood and thunder of the Rangers games and had a happy knack of scoring in them.
He was joint top scorer during the troublesome 1977/78 season but when Billy McNeill took over in the summer of 1978 Shuggie Edvaldsson was played consistently in central defence (developing a good partnership with Roddy MacDonald) and became one of the ten man heroes in May 1979 when Celtic beat Rangers 4-2 to take the title on a never-to-be-forgotten summer’s night. Shuggie Edvaldsson’s strength and commitment was part of the reason that Celtic came storming through in that game.
The following season Johannes was used sparingly and at the end of 1979 he was tried up front in an effective little and large partnership with Bobby Lennox. He scored a spectacular headed winner at Tannadice on 10th November 1979 and on 27th October he came on as a late substitute and had the Rangers defence in disarray which left Roddy MacDonald unmarked to score the winning goal from a Provan corner. After the New Year he chose to move on after a fall out with manager Billy McNeill which was both a surprise and a disappointment to the Celtic support.
At times Shuggie Edvaldsson did display a lack of mobility and pace but during his five years in the Hoops he was a popular and notable performer. He finally moved on from Glasgow in February 1980 when he crossed the Atlantic to sign for Tulsa Roughnecks. Shuggie Edvaldsson made 188 appearances for Celtic and scored 36 goals. He also won 16 international caps as a Bhoy. He returned to Scottish football with Motherwell in 1982, signed by Jock Wallace who was a huge admirer, and was given a fine reception by the Celtic fans on his visits back to Parkhead.
His connection with Scotland & Celtic didn’t end after he left Celtic. His wife was from Glasgow, and he returned back after a spell in Iceland and was to run a pub in Bridgeton. He suffered a brain haemorrhage in 1995 but thankfully made a full recovery.
Johannes Edvaldsson was a hugely popular character during his time at Celtic Park, fondly remembered by all.
He sadly passed away in January 2021.
Anecdote
1) In one match, Shuggy scored an og from 35yrds or more, and at half-time Jock made the shape of goals with his hands and making a circle shape of the goals at the other end! “Good Jóhannes!”
Johannes turned to him and said in his best accent (remembering his English wasn’t great at the time): “Aye but it was some goal boss!!”
Everyone gasped waiting on Jock’s reply, but Jock just shook his head and walked away.
2) Ellen Edvaldsson @EdvaldssonEllen on twitter (Jan 2021):
“This is Johannes’ daughter, on behalf of my mum & family I want to say thank you for all the lovely posts about my dad, both today & in the years past. I want to thank all your followers & the amazing Celtic fans for sharing stories & showing us how loved my dad was.”
“He was a real character at Celtic”
Tommy Burns
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1975-80 | 127 | 13 | 35 | 13 | 188 |
| Goals: | 24 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 36 |
Honours with Celtic
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UNSUNG HERO – SHUGGIE EDVALDSSON
Celtic were in a state of disarray when Johannes Edvaldsson arrived in Glasgow to sign for them in July 1975.
Jock Stein had just been seriously injured in a car crash and was to miss the entire 1975-76 season with Sean Fallon taking control of team affairs. Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone and Jim Brogan had also departed, leaving a huge void to be filled in their absence.
Celtic needed players urgently and Edvaldsson was a most welcome arrival. He was an Icelandic international who had been playing in Denmark and initially came on a short term contract to see if he could settle.
He was an exciting signing as Celtic had not regularly fielded a non British/Irish player for decades. Upon his arrival, the Celtic fans christened Johannes with the nickname, ‘Big Shuggie’, which was a popular nickname in Glasgow.
This was a moniker which would stay with Edvadsson throughout his time at Parkhead and remains with him until this day. Shuggie made his debut against Derby County on a warm summer’s afternoon in August 1975. Derby were the reigning English champions and arrived with a host of international players such as Roy McFarland, Colin Todd, Charlie George and Bruce Rioch.
Celtic won 1-0 with Edvaldsson making a fine impression by scoring the winning goal in front of a 44,000 crowd. Season 1975-76 was a transitional period for Celtic and was ultimately a disappointment.
Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain were Celtic’s two truly class players but Shuggie had made a great impression by playing mainly in midfield and scoring 12 goals.
The highlight of the season was the spectacular 7-2 win against Ayr at Somerset Park when the big Icelander scored a hat trick. Although he was a tall, imposing individual, he had a delicate touch for a big man and had more skill than he was sometimes given credit for.
When Jock Stein returned in the summer of 1976, Shuggie found himself on the periphery of the team. A young Roy Aitken was given the midfield enforcer role that Edvaldsson had previously filled with Roddy MacDonald and Pat Stanton forging a magnificent partnership in central defence.
Because of this Shuggie’s opportunities were limited but he did have a fine end to the season. In the 1977 Scottish Cup final, Stein changed tactics after an injury to Ronnie Glavin and employed Edvaldsson and Roddy MacDonald as twin centre halves with Pat Stanton deployed as sweeper. The new line up worked perfectly with Celtic emerging victorious by 1-0.
Season 1977-78 was a complete disaster for Celtic.
After Kenny Dalglish departed to Liverpool, Danny McGrain, Pat Stanton and Alfie Conn all suffered long term injuries. No trophies were won and the Celts could not even manage a place in Europe.
Despite these setbacks Shuggie had a fine season. He proved to be a versatile player, performing well in defence, midfield and attack at different stages of the season.
He also finished second top scorer with 14 goals, behind Joe Craig with 16, which was a terrific effort from a player not noted for scoring goals.
When Billy McNeill took over in the summer of 1978 he settled on a central defensive partnership of Edvaldsson and Roddy MacDonald for that season.
Things looked bleak at the new year but after Danny McGrain returned to the team after a long absence, a magnificent run of form culminated in Celtic sensationally winning the league, by beating Rangers 4-2 in their final game. They also won it by playing a large chunk of the game a man shot after John Doyle was sent off.
Shuggie can be rightly proud that he was part of the ‘ten men won the league’ side which has now become part of Celtic legend.
Shuggie lost his place at the start of the 1979-80 although he still made sporadic appearances. In October Rangers were holding Celtic at 0-0, with time running out on Celtic’s increasingly frantic attacks. Billy McNeill brought the big man on as a substitute and he almost scored immediately.
From the resulting corner, Davie Provan swung over a perfect cross for Roddy MacDonald to score the winner, as Rangers’ defenders were all too busy marking Edvaldsson.
Shuggie moved on in early 1980 to continue his football in the United States with Tulsa Roughnecks.
He remains an enduring and popular character who will always be held in high regard by those who saw him play in the hoops.
Ex-Celtic star Edvaldsson in hospital after haemorrhage
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12097603.ex-celtic-star-edvaldsson-in-hospital-after-haemorrhage/
FORMER Celtic footballer Johannes Edvaldsson was seriously ill in hospital yesterday following a brain haemorrhage, less than four months
after former Rangers player Davie Cooper died from a similar condition. The Icelandic-born player was shopping with his fiancee and baby daughter in Inverness when he collapsed. The incident, which happened at the town’s Eastgate shopping centre on Tuesday, was captured on security cameras. Mr Edvaldsson, 45, was given immediate medical attention by security staff. He was then taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, where he was treated at the accident and emergency unit before being transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Wednesday. A spokeswoman at the hospital yesterday described his condition as ”stable”. His fiancee, Miss Cathy Bradley, was believed to be at his bed-side. Mr Edvaldsson, who was known affectionately by Celtic fans as ”Shuggie”, has run the Poolewe Hotel in the West Highland village of the same name for the past four years. The editor of Wester Ross Life magazine, Mr Don Shaw, said: ”He is very well liked in Poolewe. He is such a warm, welcoming person. The hotel is renowned for its hospitality. This is a great shock.” Fellow hotelier Mr Peter Harrison, of the Pool House, Poolewe, said: ”We wish him a speedy recovery. It’s all so very unfortunate.” Celtic manager Tommy Burns, who played alongside Mr Edvaldsson, contacted his fiancee yesterday to express his concern. He said: ”He was a real character at Celtic and everyone’s thoughts are with him.” Celtic manager Jock Stein brought Mr Edvaldsson to Scotland after spells with Icelandic sides Valur and Holbeck. During his years at Celtic Park, he attained a reputation as a big-hearted and gritty player who never gave up. His most memorable games for Celtic included the last game of the 1978-9 season, when, in a Rangers-Celtic decider, Celtic scored two second-half goals to clinch the title. He left the club in 1980, after two league championship and three Scottish Cup triumphs, and then enjoyed a spell playing football in the United States. From the US, he moved to Hanover in Germany for a season, before returning to Scotland to captain Motherwell for two seasons. He retired from the game in 1984. Former Scotland and Rangers player Davie Cooper died in March at the age of 39 from a brain haemorrhage. He collapsed while filming a coaching programme for Scottish Television at Clyde’s Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, and died later in hospital.
Johannes Edvaldsson dead at 70 as former Celtic and Motherwell hero passes away
Steven Mair
26 mins ago
Former Celtic great Johannes Edvaldsson has died at the age of 70.
Nicknamed ‘Shuggie’, Edvaldsson spent five years at the club from 1975 to 1980.
The Icelandic star played in a multitude of positions for the Parkhead side after being signed by legendary manager Jock Stein.
Edvaldsson’s former team-mate from his time in Glasgow, Murdo Macleod, Tweeted: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Johannes “Big Shuggie” Edvaldsson. Big part of the team when we beat Rangers 4-2 to win the league in 1979. My thoughts are with his family.”
He played 188 games under Stein and later Billy McNeill’s management, scoring 36 goals, and won two league titles and one Scottish Cup.
a person standing in front of a crowd © Daily Record
Celtic’s Former Players’ Association added: “Very sad news today about Big Johannes ‘Shuggie’ Edvaldsson who passed away today. A great Celt. Our thoughts are with family. RIP.”
Edvaldsson’s storied career also took him to South Africa, America and Germany, and eventually led to a return to Scotland with Motherwell where he made 55 appearances in a two-year spell.
Former Celt Johannes Edvaldsson passes away
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/january/Former-Celt-Johannes-Edvaldsson-passes-away/
Everyone at Celtic is saddened to hear of the passing of former player, Johannes Edvaldsson, who has died at the age of Johannes, or ‘Shuggy’ as he was affectionately known by Celtic supporters, was an Icelandic internationalist who joined Celtic in 1975 following a short trial with the club. He went on to make 195 appearances for the club over the next five years, scoring 38 goals. He won two league titles and one Scottish Cup with Celtic – the league and cup double in 1977 and, most famously, playing his part in the 1979 title triumph, when the Hoops beat Rangers 4-2 at Paradise to become champions, an event that has gone done in Celtic folklore as the night 10 men won the league. Johannes left the club in 1980 to joined Tulsa Roughnecks in the United States, but returned to Scotland two years later, and played for two seasons with Motherwell. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Johannes’ family at this very sad time.
Johannes Edvaldsson (1950 – 2021) Monday 25 January 2021
We are saddened to learn of the news of the death of Johannes Edvaldsson at the age of 70.The former Iceland international played for Motherwell between 1982 and 1984, arriving from German side Hannover 96.An uncompromising defender, “Shuggie”, as he was known, made 65 appearances in claret and amber, netting six goals. Primarily playing at the back, he could also be deployed to great effect further up the pitch.Prior to arriving at Fir Park, he played with Valur, FC Metz, Celtic and Tulsa Roughnecks. He was capped 34 times by his country.Everyone at Motherwell FC’s thoughts are with his family.
