Details
Ref: International tournaments trivia & notes
Tournaments: World Cup, Euros, European Championships, African Nations Cup, Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Copa America
Trivia
World Cup
Edson Braafheid – Only Celtic player whilst on Celtic’s books to have played in a World Cup final (for losing side Netherlands v Spain). However, he was a loanee at Celtic in an unsuccessful spell at the club, and he was only a Celtic player till the end of season even though he was returning to Bayern Munich. So can be argued either way if he counts or not for this note.
Julius Hjulian – First player from Celtic’s books to have ever played in the World Cup finals. He played in the 1934 finals with the USA team but was not at Celtic at the time, and actually when at Celtic he never managed to play a game with the Celtic first team.
Ex-Celt James McGhee – His son, Bartholomew ‘Bart’ McGhee, represented the USA and scored the second-ever World Cup goal in 1930 (and was the only goal he scored for his national side). He only won three caps.
Juninho – Played in the World Cup final in 2002 with winning side Brazil, albeit only came on in the last few mins of the game. He later signed for Celtic in 2004 for a brief spell at the club.
Josip Juranovic – Reached the semi-finals of the World Cup (2022) with Croatia whilst a Celtic player. He was a pivotal player who started every game and played almost all the minutes with his country, including giving a man-of-the-match performance in a win v tournament favourites Brazil.
Bobby Evans, Neil Mochan, Willie Fernie – First Celtic players to play in the World Cup whilst also being on Celtic’s books at the time: World Cup 1954. Ex-Celt Tommy Docherty (Preston North End) was also in the squad.
Wim Jansen – The former Celtic manager had played in two World Cup finals, both defeats for the Netherlands (1974, 1978).
Jock Stein – Died in 1985 whilst the Scotland national side manager, straight at the end after a crucial qualifier group match which ended in a draw over Wales at Ninian Park (Cardiff) that took the team to a final two-legged set of qualifiers (which Scotland won). On the scoring of Scotland’s equaliser v Wales, the press swarmed around the dug-out to get the crucial pictures of the Scotland coaching team. Jock Stein was in some discomfort, and then with the final whistle about to blow, he seemed to slump and required to be helped down the tunnel. It was a poor sight as rather than use a stretcher, four men in an emergency carried him by his arms and legs into the medical room. There was little they could do. He died soon after in the stadium at a time when he should have been able to join in with Scotland’s celebrations. RIP
Euros
14 Nov 2014 Scotland 1-0 Ireland, European Championship qualifiers – Dubbed Celtic v Celtic – Battle of the Celtic Managers. As Hampden was out of use for a period of time as it was being refitted following the Commonwealth games, Celtic Park was picked as the venue for important European Championship Qualifiers v Ireland. Both sides needed this win as the group was the closest of any going in the tournament, defeat for Scotland likely would have killed off any chances of automatic qualification before the half-way stage. To add spice to this, the managers were ex-Celts Martin O’Neill (Rep of Ireland) & Gordon Strachan (Scotland). Winning goal by ex-Celt Maloney who had played under both managers. Ireland though qualified overall despite Scotland getting the better of them in the two group matches.
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Africa Cup of Nations
Efe Ambrose: When with Celtic, he was called up to Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations which Nigeria won. In the Africa Cup of Nations, Ambrose played five out of six games for Nigeria, playing in the right-back position, including the final which he started. After the tournament, Ambrose was named in the 2013 African Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament. Ambrose says winning the Africa Cup of Nations was his biggest achievement and one of the greatest moments of his life. He then was hurried back to Celtic, and had a calamitous game for Celtic v Juventus in a 1st leg in the European Cup knock-out stages!
Landry N’Guemo: A season before he arrived at Celtic, he was part of the Cameroon side that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008.
AFC Asian Cup
Shunsuke Nakamura: He was a key part of two Asian Cup wins with Japan in 2000 & 2004, where most notably he was named Most Valuable Player at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup championships as well as named in the AFC Asian Cup Best Eleven for both tournaments too. Both were prior to his arrival at Celtic. However, whilst on Celtic’s books, he was named in the AFC Asian Cup Best Eleven for the 2007 tournament.
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Women’s World Cup
Shen Mengyu (China National team) became the first Celtic Women’s player to feature at the Women’s World Cup (July 2023).
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Quotes
MSM journalist: “Wim, is this the most important match you’ve ever been involved in?”
Wim: [Smiles] “I’ve played in two World Cup Finals. You tell me…”
Wim Jansen on the Scottish media in his press conference ahead of a crucial Celtic v Rangers match
Links
Articles
Hail Hail History: Celtic and World Cup Finals
Guest column by @hailhailhistory
22 March, 2022 4 Comments
Source: Hail Hail History: Celtic and World Cup Finals (thecelticstar.com)
With international playoffs coming up – even though Scotland’s Ukraine contest has been delayed – football thoughts, for a short period at least, naturally turn to the World Cup. Celtic have various links with this competition, including to different finals that have taken place. This article looks at some of these…
One of the most notable connections was evident following the recent death of Wim Jansen, not least his phenomenal playing career. His record placed him amongst the game’s elite. As well as winning the European Cup in 1970 (defeating Celtic) he also played in two World Cup Finals, 1974 and 1978, although twice ended up on the losing team.
These achievements once highlighted the often parochial nature of Scotland’s media. At a Celtic press conference he was asked if an upcoming game versus Rangers was the biggest match of his career. With some incredulity he answered by pointing out other events in which he had played.
Jansen however is not the only person connected with Celtic to have experienced a World Cup Final. As well as Celtic’s former manager, the most obvious and tangible connections are Celtic players that have played in such finals.
IMAGO / Allstar. Edson Braafheid, Celtic V Dundee United, Celtic Park, 20 February 2010 Photo: Allstar Richard Selle
The only person to have played in a cup final when (technically) a Celtic player is Edson Braafheid. The Dutch player came on during the 2010 final, although his team lost out to Spain. Braafheid was on Celtic’s books for a matter of months in 2010, signing as a February loan from Bayern Munich and staying until the summer, when he then went straight to the World Cup.
IMAGO / Allstar. Juninho & John Hartson, Celtic v Hearts Celtic Park 16 October 2004 Photo Allstar/Richard Selle
Another Celt had played in – and won – the World Cup Final before coming to the club. Juninho was a key part of Brazil’s 2002 winning team, and came on as a substitute in the final. The Brazilian was at Celtic from 2004-05, during Martin O’Neill’s reign. He was clearly skilful and had some good games – including versus Rangers – but generally had an unsuccessful time.
There is another ‘Celt’ to have World Cup Final experience, even if he only played once for the team. Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton obviously won the 1966 World Cup with England. He played for Celtic in a 1974 testimonial game for Ron Yeats of Liverpool.
Celtic have also acted as opposition for various testimonial matches for World Cup winners. From the 1966 England team, the Bhoys have featured in tribute games held for Bobby and Jack Charlton, as well as Bobby Moore.
Off the park, some Celtic people have been involved in a World Cup Final. Arriving in 2007, Gregory Dupont was Celtic’s head of Sports Science for two years. He then became Head of Performance for France when they won the 2018 World Cup.
In addition to all of this, numerous World Cup winners (or beaten finalists) have come to Celtic Park whilst playing for other teams, especially in European competitions.
In recent times this includes Kylian Mbappe of Paris St Germain (France, winner 2018), Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich (Germany, winner 2014) as well as Carles Puyol, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, all of Barcelona (Spain, winners 2010).
Further back, other World Cup legends have graced the Parkhead turf. Johan Cruyff came on different occasions with Ajax; like Win Jansen he played in the 1974 finals.
Lothar Matthaus won the World Cup with Germany in 1990, and also played at Celtic Park for Bayern Munich in Peter Grant’s 1997 testimonial.
Another Celtic opponent with World Cup final experience was Sandro Mazzola. The Italian scored a penalty when Celtic won the 1967 European Cup; he later lost the 1970 World Cup Final.
Some other notable people have visited the ground, albeit not when playing.
Famously this includes Diego Maradona (winner 1986, runner-up 1990) who attended a training session for the Argentina national team at Parkhead, before his national side played Scotland in a friendly.
Bayern Munch President Franz Beckenbauer (winner 1974, runner-up 1966) also praised Celtic Park when he watched his team in a 2003 Champions League match.
Celtic have had experience playing in different stadia which have hosted World Cup Finals. This includes the Stadio Olimpico in Rome (1990 final), Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid (1982 final) and the Olympiastadion in Munich (1974 final).
As suggested by ‘Celtic Bob’ on Twitter (@celticbob2610) another Celtic connection to being the world’s ‘top side’ goes back to the 1800s. From the 1870s to the 1900s, games took place between the winners of the Scottish Cup and English FA Cup. Some of these matches were billed as being to crown the “Champions of the World.”
James Kelly – Celtic’s first captain
Neil McCallum – Celtic’s first goalscorer
In 1888, Renton won this title after beating West Bromwich Albion. Two of the Renton players would go on to be significant players in Celtic’s history: James Kelly (first captain and later chairman) and Neil McCallum (first goalscorer). Also, James McCall, who scored for Renton that day, played and scored for Celtic at different times in friendly matches.
Of course, there is one other Celtic player, who is well remembered for missing a penalty in the World Cup Final. Well, some people called Steve Fulton ‘Baggio’ anyway…