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Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Tommy Burns laid the Celtic foundations for success as former star insists class of '95 kickstarted Parkhead dominance
Hoops hero Tosh McKinlay played a major part in ending the club's trophy drought 30 years ago and it's been non stop silver since Celtic fans have got so used to securing silverware that even a Double can come with a tinge of disappointment. But there was a time when picking up a single trophy was something to really celebrate. And there's one in particular from 30 years ago that will always have a special place in the Hoops' history. It was Tosh McKinlay's trusty left peg that whipped in a pinpoint cross for Pierre van Hooijdonk to head the winner against Airdrie to claim the Scottish Cup in 1995 – and spark an outpouring of emotion. There were tears on the pitch with long-suffering heroes such as Paul McStay, Peter Grant and Packie Bonner savouring the return of success. The goal didn't just end six years of trophy agony for Celts though. McKinlay reckons the victory for Tommy Burns' side kick-started the revolution that led to the club's 21st century dominance. The former full-back is convinced his old gaffer laid the foundations for future success – and the late great would be beaming with pride at watching the current side at Parkhead. The loss of Burns in 2008 was devastating to family, friends and fans alike, but his legacy lives on, from the Hampden triumph to the coming within a whisker of winning the league with one of the most swashbuckling sides since the Lisbon Lions. McKinlay – who was presenting a £7,000 cheque to the annual Troon Taxi Outing on behalf of Celtic's Foundation – said: 'Tommy would be delighted. I've said many times we were unfortunate we didn't win the league. 'We were one game from being invincible, but we didn't win it. I think that team deserved to win the league. 'But Tommy would be delighted with how it's going for Celtic now. I think he laid the foundations for what you're seeing now for a very successful Celtic football club. 'It was six years without a trophy back then, but I think now there's about 40 odd trophies under Celtic's belt since. 'I remember when it was the Lions' 50th anniversary and I said they'd won a quarter of the trophies Celtic had won in their history. 'This team, all the managers, have now won 40 trophies in the last 15, 20 years. It's incredible and long may that continue.' McKinlay was part of a Celtic dressing room that was packed full of players who were steeping in the club. And he's thrilled it's a tradition that's been maintained during these glory days, with Kieran Tierney's return adding to the homegrown hardcore in the group. He said: 'In my time I was fortunate – Paul McStay, Tom Boyd, John Collins, Peter Grant, Packie Bonner and, latterly, Charlie Nicholas was still there. 'So there was a core of real Celtic men in that dressing room. It was easy to fit in. 'Then you sprinkle them with the Three Amigos – van Hooijdonk, Paulo di Canio and Jorge Cadete – plus Andy Thom, Lubomir Moravcik and Mark Viduka. 'I was very fortunate to play with a lot of these guys. But the core of the Celtic dressing room is very important and Kieran will add to that being back. 'Callum McGregor's already there, people like that, Anthony Ralston, James Forrest too. So, it's very important. 'Jamesy's obviously smashed the record with trophies won, another absolute legend at the club, which was held by the fantastic Bobby Lennox. 'Jamesy's another very important figure in the dressing room.' McKinlay was renowned for having a left foot that could open a tin of beans and he'd regularly fire over cross balls for the Amigos to lap up. He reckons it will be a similar story for the current side with Tierney back in town. The Scotland star earned his blockbuster £25million move to Arsenal on the back of his rampaging runs that helped the likes of Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths score a barrel load of goals. KT is looking to pick up where he left off and strikers such as Adam Idah will be licking their lips at the prospect of his precision supply line. McKinlay said: 'Again, I was very fortunate, van Hooijdonk was 6ft 12, so I couldn't really fail! 'And Jorge wasn't too bad in the air either. So I was fortunate. 'Obviously, the goal in the Cup Final, everybody talks about. But there were plenty of other assists for van Hooijdonk and Cadete as well. 'I think Kieran will be looking forward - on that side where the Green Brigade are – to be marauding up and down that line. I'm really looking forward to seeing him getting the Hoops back on. I have to give special mention to Greg Taylor too. 'Obviously, it's still to be decided what he's going to be doing, but he got plenty of deliveries in for strikers also. One goal I can remember at Fir Park, a fantastic delivery for Idah. 'But I'm sure Adam will be looking forward to Kieran coming back.' McKinlay was thrilled to hand over the huge donation to the famous Troon Taxi Outing, where Glasgow's black cab drivers help give kids with support needs a memorable day out. He said: 'Time just flies, but it's another year I'm going to be doing the Taxi day for Celtic. 'It's a fantastic day in the calendar for me to come and lend a hand to setting the kids off for a brilliant day out.' Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Matt Healy loving life at Shamrock Rovers after ‘home alone' Belgian stint
MATT HEALY reckons his crowded house has helped him settle in quickly at Shamrock Rovers after 18 months of being home alone. Corkman Healy, 23, has been one of the star turns of the first half of the season since his arrival in Tallaght from Belgian second division outfit Francs Borains. 2 Matt Healy admitted that he's loving life at Shamrock Rovers 2 Healy has featured in all but one of the Hoops' games this season His importance is clear as he has featured in all but one of Healy puts it down to how easy he has settled in to living with team-mates, including fellow Rebel County man Josh Honohan, near the club's training base. He said: 'I'm in a house with Josh, there are a couple of us in the house, so we're all very close. 'I lived by myself in Belgium for 18 months so I quite like living with a few lads, you get close to them, out in the evenings, watch TV, hit a few golf balls.' Read more on football That helped him as soon as he arrived in Dublin. And the Hoops have also hit their stride in the past two months to go six points clear at the top of the table — a gap they can extend tonight by beating Drogheda United. Healy added: 'Even at the start of the season when results weren't going our way, I thought we were playing well and we knew we were going in the right direction. 'And the plan was just to stick to what we were doing. Most read in Football 'We don't really change the way we play for anybody. We know if we stick to what we do, it will be tough for any team.' That approach saw them beat champions Shelbourne 2-1 on Friday night at Tolka Park when Healy was man of the match and pal Honohan bagged the winner after earlier scoring an own goal. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict It capped an eventful week for Healy added: 'I knew Josh from Cork, he only lives about 15 minutes away from me in Cork. 'He was the year above me. I played against him a couple of times. 'I was gutted for him that he didn't get on the pitch the other night. I thought he deserved to get a few minutes and get a cap. 'These things happen, the own goal happens, you can't do anything about it and he turned around and scored in the second half.' As for tonight's tricky trip to Sullivan and Lambe Park, Healy added: 'Drogheda, they're very hard to beat. They're good at defending and they stay in the game. But we'll be ready and hopefully get three points.'
Daily Record
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Daizen Maeda drops major Celtic future hint with Jose Mourinho 'ready' to splurge Fenerbahce transfer kitty
The Hoops' top performer from last season is attracting interest from across Europe In-demand Daizen Maeda has dropped a major hint that he could be set to stay at Celtic next season. The 27-year-old enjoyed his most successful campaign since making his move to Celtic Park back in 2022 - with Ange Postecoglou taking him from his former side to Yokohama F. Marinos - netting 33 goals this term. He also wrote his name in the club's history books by bagging four Champions League goals this campaign—the most since Joe Craig in 1977/78 while scooping all of Scotland's top Player of the Year awards. That form as seen him linked with a move away from the Scottish Premiership leaders - with Postecoglou's Tottenham touted as a potential destination alongside Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce. Leeds United, Liverpool and West Ham have also been linked with an approach for the forward - but the man himself doesn't appear to be in any rush to leave Celtic off he back of an impressive season. Speaking to media in Japan, he said: "I was in great form both personally and with the team. I'd like to keep it up next season. "I'm who I am because of my team. I'd like to thank my teammates, and above all, my family for supporting me so far. "My career really took off here in Mito. When I first came to Mito, I thought, 'No one can run at all! "My forte is sprinting multiple times during a match and running for 90 minutes straight. I came to Mito and learned about not wanting to lose games." Despite the stance, there are reports in the Turkish media that Fenerbahce are ready to step up their pursuit of the Hoops' hero. Fotomac reported last week that an "optimistic" £8.4million opening offer was being lined up for the Japan international. However, Yeni Safak claim that boss Mourinho is pushing the club higher-ups to spend big on the player - claiming he is a "top target" for Fener and they are "ready" to follow the lead of the legendary boss. It is reported that Celtic will demand at leas £25million for Maeda as they look to smash their transfer record sale for the second consecutive summer - following Matt O'Riley's big-money departure for Brighton 12 months ago. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Daily Record
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Aberdeen player ratings as Dimitar Mitov is Celtic heartbreaker with penalty heroics to put Dons in Scottish Cup dreamland
Jimmy Thelin and his troops are the Scottish Cup winners and end the Hoops' hopes of a domestic Treble Aberdeen are the Scottish Cup winners after an incredible afternoon at Hampden. Dimitar Mitov was the hero as he denied Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston from the spot to send the Red Army wild. Jimmy Thelin's men also bank the bonus of guaranteed European group stage football in a huge double prize boost at Hampden after the game ended 1-1 after 120 minutes. Record Sport rates the Aberdeen players as they get ready to party into the night after a day to remember in Glasgow's south side. DIMITAR MITOV Had very little to do before he picked the ball out of his net. Brilliant stop to deny Meada in stoppage time. Double penalty hero 8 JACK MILNE A surprise starter in a change of formation. Was a presence and his pace meant he was a solid presence. Booked. 7 ALFIE DORRINGTON Really unlucky at the ball cannoned off him. Decent defensively, composed and also tried to drive forward. Subbed late on. 7 MATS KNOESTER The Dutchman was the most experienced defender and kept the others right. Made a couple of important second half blocks. 7 ALEXANDER JENSEN The Dane kept Daizen Maeda quiet. Put in a decent shift but more as right back than wing back. 7 ANTE PALAVERSA The midfielder didn't really get much time on the ball going forward. Spent most of the time closing the space. Booked. 6 GRAEME SHINNIE Moved back into a midfield role. Put in his typical doggish and all-action performance. Drove his team forward. 7 LEIGHTON CLARKSON Fired a free kick straight at Kasper Schmeichel. Couldn't dominate the way he hoped. His set plays were Aberdeen's best option. 6 NICKY DEVLIN Came back in at left wing-back. Hasn't had a lot of football but put in a shift before he limped off. 6 TOPI KESKINEN Played as a central striker but got no service and spent his time chasing shadows. Wasn't able to use his pace. 5 KEVIN NISBET Had a good chance but his header flew over. Tried to lift the Aberdeen fans. Subbed late on. 6 SUBS Pape Gueye: Introduced in the 56th minute for Topi Keskinen. His presence and pace was a threat. 6 Dante Polvara: Came on in defence. Solid and also missed a good chance. 4
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Frimpong claim about Celtic worth more than £17m return as incoming Liverpool star's payback to old club is priceless
Frimpong once raved about the Hoops' pathway for young players and it could pay off to the tune of millions Jeremie Frimpong revealed his plan to follow Virgil van Dijk 's path back in 2019 – and he's set to live that dream more literally than he imagined. The flying Bayer Leverkusen wing-back looks set to join Premier League champions Liverpool in a £30m deal this summer with reports he's already undergone a medical at Anfield. Due to a substantial sell-on clause in the £11.5m deal that took him to Germany back in January 2021, Celtic will bank a further £6.5m – taking their total earned on Frimpong to £17m. That's a scarcely believable turnaround on a player they paid around £300,000 to sign from Manchester City in 2019. As he gets set to join one of the biggest clubs in the world, every word he's ever said about his future is being scrutinised and an interview from October 2019, just over a month after he joined Celtic, has resurfaced. And the way he talked up the Hoops and their proven pathway for young players back then might just be worth future millions to the club. He was asked about potentially following Virgil van Dijk's trajectory – a man whose career he will have mirrored almost exactly if and when he does join him at Liverpool. Speaking back before he'd even broken into the Celtic team, an 18-year-old Frimpong said: 'I'd 100 percent like to do what Virgil has done. There is a pathway at Celtic, you get chances here to do that. "The Dutch national team play a lot of young players, like Matthijs de Ligt, who are really good. They are building another great team and it would be exciting to be a part of that." The raving quotes have come back to the surface amid reports from Fabrizio Romano and others that he's undergone a medical ahead of his long-awaited return to the Premier League. Boss Arne Slot was far from ruling it out when asked about the reports today but he kept his cards close to his chest. Asked if he had in fact undergone medical testing, he bluntly replied: "What do you think? I think what we all know is the moment we announce it, that is the moment to talk about it in general. "We haven't announced anything so no need to talk about anyone." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
