BRENDAN RODGERS is just two wins aways from becoming the first Celtic manager to claim three trebles.
That’s one more than Jock Stein who achieved the clean sweep silverware breakthrough in the team’s all-conquering season of 1966/67.
The Hoops were unstoppable in that never-to-be-forgotten crusade when they wiped out the opposition at home and abroad on their way to becoming the first British club to conquer Europe when they beat Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon on May 25 1967.
Legendary Stein repeated the domestic feat in 1968/69.
HAMPDEN HOORAYS…club legends Jock Stein and Billy McNeill celebrate a Scottish Cup Final triumph.
That record was undisturbed until Martin O’Neill came on the scene in flamboyant fashion in season 2000/01 to claim the title and both Cups with a flourish.
His efforts were boosted by the incomparable Henrk Larsson who thumped in 53 goals as he terrorised defences on the home front.
Celtic fans had to wait until the arrival of Rodgers in 2016/17 to celebrate the club’s fourth treble which the Irishman achieved with his Invincibles, the collection of players who went through the domestic campaign without a solitary loss.
The clean sweep was accomplished again the following season and the team were on their way to an incredible treble treble in 2018/19 when Rodgers quit Parkhead after winning the League Cup with a 1-0 success over Aberdeen in December.
TREBLE YELL…Brendan Rodgers and his triumphant players return on an open-top bus to Celtic Park after the 2-0 Scottish Cup win over Motherwell to seal the clean sweep in 2017/18.
Neil Lennon took over to finish the job by steering the team to the Premiership and capped it with a 2-1 Scottish Cup Final success over Hearts with Odsonne Edouard claiming a double on the iconic date of May 25.
The former club captain and Northern Ireland international midfielder staged an action replay the following season.
Ange Postecoglou emulated the feat in his second year in charge before heading for Spurs.
The one-time Australia World Cup head coach bowed out after the Hoops had beaten Inverness Caley Thistle 3-1 in the Scottish Cup Final on June 2 2023.
Rodgers sealed his second stint as Celtic manager later that month and claimed the double last season.
Now the 52-year-old Irishman is on the verge of history with a third clean sweep awaiting as he prepares his players for this afternoon’s semi-final in the national competition against St Johnstone at Hampden, a venue where he has never lost.
Aberdeen await the winners in the May 24 season’s grand finale after overcoming nine-man Hearts 2-1 in extra-time yesterday.
OH, HAMPDEN IN THE SUN, RODGERS 13 RIVALS NONE
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Celtic v St Johnstone this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
