IT WAS A DAY of last hurrahs when Celtic gatecrashed the world record books at Hampden exactly a year ago today.
Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada and Filipe Jota thumped three goals behind keeper Mark Ridgers as the champions overcame stubborn Inverness Caley Thistle 3-1 in the Scottish Cup Final at a sun-bathed national stadium.
The latest silverware success sealed the club’s EIGHTH domestic treble – and that was enough to propel them into pole position in football’s Hall of Fame.
Ange Postecoglou joined club legends Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon as managers who achieved the trophy clean sweep in Scotland.
KYOGO CRACKER No.1…the Celtic striker swoops to score the opening goal in the 2-1 League Cup Final victory over Rangers with keeper Allan McGregor helpless.
KYOGO CRACKER No.2…the Japanese ace turns the opener past Hearts keeper Zander Clark as Celtic seal the Premiership title at Tynecastle.
KYOGO CRACKER No.3…Furuhashi thumps Celtic into the lead in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final win over Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden on June 3.
Earlier in the campaign, the Greek-Australian gaffer, in his second term in charge, had guided his team to a 2-1 League Cup Final victory over Michael Beale’s Ibrox outfit on February 26 2023 when Kyogo fired in a double salvo.
The Premiership title was secured with a 2-0 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle on May 7 with four league games still to play.
The prolific Japanese ace was on target again with the opener and No.2 was claimed by South Korean powerhouse Oh Hyeon-gyu, a £2million arrival from K-League club Suwon Bluewings in January.
History beckoned at Hampden on Saturday June 3 – and the Hoops did not fail to rise to the occasion.
HISTORY BHOYS…Callum McGregor holds aloft the Scottish Cup as Celtic seal their eighth domestic treble – and a place in the world football Hall of Fame.
There was some sorrow among the smiles, though, as Postecoglou, so popular with the players as well as the supporters, said his final farewell to Glasgow a couple of days later as he was installed as new team boss at Spurs.
Portuguese pin-up Jota wasn’t to know it at the time, either, but his late strike against Caley was to prove to be his last goal for Celtic after two electrifying years at the club following his recruitment from Benfica.
He was lured to Saudi Arabia in the summer with £25million enough to tempt the Hoops hierarchy into releasing their flamboyant wide Bhoy.
Both Postecoglou and Jota went with the best wishes of all at the club after playing such important roles in Celtic making world history.
*TOMORROW: Don’t miss THREE CHEERS No.1 (1966/67) – only in your champion CQN.
