Not all is doom and gloom at Celtic, even if the current mood suggests otherwise. For all the struggles this season, it can firmly be written off as a transitional year, and that is acceptable.
Hearts control proceedings as far as the table is concerned, but the bookies still give Celtic a chance.
The 2-2 draw at Tynecastle last weekend was far from the disaster that has been portrayed. It was a small blip in the title charge, nothing more.
Leading comparision site Gambling.com can provide data on odds and even a full list of new online casinos, and they show Celtic’s chances at 8/5, meaning they remain one of the favourites.
On top of that, the Europa League remains up for grabs. Everyone needs to stop getting ahead of themselves. Martin O’Neill is able to steady the ship and will not be there forever.
With a favourable run of fixtures coming up, while Hearts and Rangers face difficult matches, including against each other, it is still very much in Celtic’s hands to cut that gap or indeed overhaul it in the coming weeks and months.
But for all the pessimism, it is sometimes worth reflecting on the good times. Celtic have dominated for over a decade, putting together impressive points tallies and title charges that set standards few Scottish clubs can match. In this article, we look at some of the best.
The Invincibles: 2016-17
Brendan Rodgers’ first season at Celtic remains the benchmark for domestic dominance in Scotland. The Invincibles finished the league campaign with a record 106 points, going the entire Premiership season unbeaten. They did not lose a single domestic match across all competitions, sweeping the treble with a swagger that felt inevitable by Christmas.
Tom Rogic’s last-minute winner in the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen sealed the treble and cemented the team’s place in club folklore. Moussa Dembélé’s hat-trick in the first derby of the season, Scott Sinclair’s instant impact and Stuart Armstrong’s breakout year all contributed to a side that felt untouchable. It was not just winning. It was control, confidence and complete superiority.
Postecoglou’s revolution: 2021-22 and 2022-23
Ange Postecoglou arrived to scepticism and left as a cult figure. His first season was supposed to be a rebuild, yet Celtic stormed to the title with a relentless, high-tempo style that overwhelmed the league. The 2021-22 campaign included a defining 3-0 win over Rangers at Celtic Park, a night where the atmosphere and the football aligned perfectly.
The following season, Postecoglou pushed even harder. Celtic finished with 99 points, won another treble and came close to eclipsing Rodgers’ Invincibles tally. Kyogo Furuhashi became the face of the era with 34 goals, while players like Jota, Hatate and Carter-Vickers elevated the squad into one of the most entertaining Celtic sides of the modern era. Ange’s football was not just effective. It was exhilarating.
The Treble Treble: 2018-19
The 2018-19 season was chaotic behind the scenes but ruthless on the pitch. Brendan Rodgers left for Leicester City in February, leaving Neil Lennon to steady the ship. Despite the upheaval, Celtic completed their third straight treble and secured an eighth consecutive league title.
Odsonne Édouard was the star, scoring 23 goals in all competitions and delivering in big moments, including the Scottish Cup final winner against Hearts. The team scored 121 goals across the season and maintained a level of consistency that belied the managerial change. In Europe, Celtic reached the knockout stages of the Europa League before falling to Valencia, but domestically they were relentless.
The Gary Hooper season: 2011-12
The 2011-12 campaign is remembered for Gary Hooper’s outstanding goal return. He scored 29 goals in all competitions, forming a lethal partnership with Anthony Stokes and becoming the focal point of a young, hungry Celtic side under Lennon.
This was the season Celtic began to reassert themselves after Rangers’ financial collapse, but the football was vibrant regardless of context. Hooper’s finishing, Victor Wanyama’s emergence and Fraser Forster’s early heroics helped Celtic reclaim the title with authority. It was a season that set the foundation for the dominance that followed.
The 125th anniversary season: 2012-13
Celtic’s 125th year brought one of the club’s most memorable European nights. Domestically, they won the league by 16 points and added the Scottish Cup, but the Champions League run defined the season.
The 2-1 win over Barcelona at Celtic Park remains one of the greatest results in the club’s history. Tony Watt’s breakaway goal, Forster’s extraordinary performance and the sheer emotion of the night captured everything Celtic supporters believe the club can be. The team reached the Round of 16 before losing to Juventus, but the journey itself was unforgettable.
In Scotland, the squad was simply too strong for the competition. Kris Commons, Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper all delivered big moments, and the team’s consistency ensured another comfortable title win.
A club built on eras of dominance
Celtic’s current struggles feel sharper as the last decade has been defined by trophies and long stretches of superiority. From Rodgers’ Invincibles to Postecoglou’s high-tempo revolution, from treble-winning consistency to European nights that shook Glasgow, the club has repeatedly set standards that few teams in Scotland can match.
These seasons are reminders of what Celtic can be at their best: powerful, expressive, relentless and capable of producing moments that live far beyond the final whistle. Whatever happens this year, the club’s recent history shows that dominance is never far away at Parkhead.
