It is almost impossible to explain the excitement generated ahead of Johannes ‘Shuggie’ Edvaldsson in 1975. He was the first non-Scottish born Celtic player in my lifetime and his arrival marked a philosophical shift at the club; the development plan that secured the European Cup only 8 years earlier was no longer fit for purpose.
1975 was also the year we lost the league for the first time since Jock Stein arrived a decade earlier, almost certainly prompting the manager to broaden his search for reinforcements after the retirement of Billy McNeill and release of Jimmy Johnstone.
His first season at Celtic brought the harsh experience of Rangers winning the treble; the glory years were well and truly over, but Shuggie tasted glory as part of the double winning side in season 76-77. Kenny Dalglish’s departure that summer dealt the club another blow as it finished fifth in the Premier Division, failing to qualify for European competition just 11 years after reaching the summit, but Edvaldsson was one of that campaign’s highlights, finishing top scorer at the club.
Season 78-79 is remembered for its climatic conclusion, but it was a dogged campaign. Celtic were poor for much of the season with painful reversals, exactly the kind of attrition Edvaldsson had the character to overcome. He was provided crucial experience to a young Celtic team who beat Rangers 4-2 with 10 men on the final game of the season.
It was good to see him back at Celtic Park with visiting Motherwell teams in the 80s and good to remember him today, may he rest in peace.
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RIP big shuggie
Celtic.One club.one truth
HH
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Nicely done, Paul.
Thoughts with David66, SFTB and others who have lost a family member lately.
RIP Shuggie.
A Celt from my Panini days, before I’d ever seen my heroes play live.
For this interested in drugs and sport, Icarus and Pantani are both brilliant insights into the murky world of cycling. Pantani was like the De Canio of cycling, though fortunately without his politics. A pure raj, who cycled like we love to play – attack, attack, attack!
HH jg
Birthday wishes and condolences FC.
Chelsea don’t mess about…..keeps everyone on their toes.
Rutherglen’s finest, first name Big second name Shuggie
RIP Johannes Edvaldsson a Celtic legend.
“Owner Roman Abramovich said Lampard’s status as an “important icon” of the club “remains undiminished” despite his dismissal.”
If only our custodians had the balls to make the change similarly back when we lost to Sparta at home.
Roman Abramovich said,
“This was a very difficult decision for the Club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him.
“He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances we believe it is best to change managers.
“On behalf of everyone at the Club, the Board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as Head Coach and wish him every success in the future. He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.”
The Club will be making no further comment until such time as a new Head Coach is appointed
All multi millionaire football club owners are not the same.
That picture of Brown, Lennon on the bench looking 4-1 down v Sparta at home felt like the defining moment for me. The ending of an era that needed to have been addressed. Who knows which way it might have went thereafter had the club acted. I think likely that a competent coach would have had taken us within couple of points of Sevco by this point of the season.
Sevco were there for the taking on Jan 2nd. We would have done it with better in game management from coaching staff.
It’s a hard one to swallow.
Oh and not going to Dubai which by his own admission….NL pushed for.
RIP big Shuggie. Was at his debut v. Derby County in 1975 when a shirt sleeved crowd watched an entertaining 1-0 victory in the warm sunshine. I recall a guy sitting directly in front of me and my late dad in the main stand. “Mon the Sellik” he roared, “play fitbaw and humiliate this mob. They’re no used tay grass parks” ! Those who, like me, are of a certain vintage will recall the mud heap which was the old Baseball Ground.
Can you imagine this was Barkas
We got the best out of Craig Gordon and it was right to part ways
https://twitter.com/spfl/status/1353673978020290560
Chelsea have a minimum requirement for this season that they’re in danger of not meeting.
So despite being ‘only’ 5 points of 4th, with FA Cup and CL ties to come, they’ve acted now while the season is salvageable.
Meanwhile we waited till we lost our season, although, thankfully, Neil Lennon has agreed to stay to the end of the season…
Roll on renewal time.
Big Shuggie was a man who knew how to clear a set piece.
Maybe we should play some of his old vids to the current centre halves.
If they’re sober enough to watch.
RIP Shuggie. From a time we had real men in the team rather than today’s primadonnas.
What I will say in relation to Chelsea and the way they have professionally dealt with Lampard is that I would still rather have our incompetent circus of fools that be a front for Putin’s blood money.
Any word on the findings of the January review.
The January review took place this morning and the Celtic Board can confirm it is in fact still January
Some admiring abromovitch and Chelsea… Fs…. Its not just the team that’s sunk to a new low!!!
RIP Big Shuggie
Was at his first game v Derby County, my auld man took me
Was my birthday that day
Got new football boots from a shop on High St (cannae remember the name) – might even be a pizza place now !
GENE on 25TH JANUARY 2021 12:19 PM
The January review took place this morning and the Celtic Board can confirm it is in fact still January
Well i don’t believe them.
Big Shuggie seemed a likeable guy and was a good player in a number of positions, midfield, defence and forward. I think he ended up staying in Scotland?
Re 76/77
“but Edvaldsson was one of that campaign’s highlights, finishing top scorer at the club”
To scorer? Really? From Centre Back?
As for calls on here for Celtic’s executive leadership team to show the same “balls”?
We have posters (who may very well be Celtic supporters) projecting the virtues of Dave King and Roman Abramovich?
Sign of the times I suppose reflecting the dissatisfaction.
Once heard of a guy who had a very effective global business model for his internationally sought product range.
Carlos Escobar was his name.
Maybe Celtic need to be more like him too?
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
Think Lampard suffered from a familiar problem.
Spent heaps on players who didn’t improve the team.
Shuggie started as a midfielder, was a makeshift striker, and a CB mostly from memory.
RIP Shuggie . The 4-2 game, one of my greatest Celtic supporting nights
L67- still the best game ive been at.
I see sevco are planning for next season, signing pre contract players now.
I wonder how their closest competitors will react. Well, as close as a 20 point gap can be.
Gene
Remember add in the date(25th)bound to be asked tomorrow.
:-)
HH
Bada , i was a teenager still at school . What a night . Seeing grown men cry , kneeling down and kissing the terracing steps . I got what Celtic meant to so many that night.
RIP Johannes Edvaldsson
Rest in peace Johannes. Happy memories.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 25TH JANUARY 2021 12:16 PM
What I will say in relation to Chelsea and the way they have professionally dealt with Lampard is that I would still rather have our incompetent circus of fools that be a front for Putin’s blood money
Here here.PLB.
HH
och , look at me, looking back at something in celtics history, living in the past, whit am a like
——————————————————
The new Billy McNeill – a scoring “trialist” the son of edvald
1975-07-24: Dundalk 0-6 Celtic, Friendly
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/CCl3foxXF0njbnPnYaINPQ1214278/GW1039H1254/
44,000 at the derby county friendly. Edvaldson scores the winner again, but he didnt sign until a week later.
Foote the referee, MIB.
Teams
Celtic:
Latchford, McGrain, Lynch, McCluskey, MacDonald (McNamara), Edvaldsson, Hood, Glavin, Wilson, Dalglish, Lennox. Subs: Connelly,
Scorers: Edvaldsson (62)
Derby County:
Moseley, Thomas, Nith, Rioch, McFarland, Todd, Newton, Gemmill, Davies, Hector, George. Subs:
Referee: I M D Foote (Glasgow)
Attendance: 44,000
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1975-08-02%3A+Celtic+1-0+Derby+County%2C+Friendly
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/3/37f426ee19d7e69869d539b16d6f1bd5/GW1046H690/
I am in the jungle there, who can spot me ?
Back to Basics….Carlos Escobar = Pablo Escobar….I presume.
MARKIEBHOY on 25TH JANUARY 2021 12:38 PM
Think Lampard suffered from a familiar problem.
Spent heaps on players who didn’t improve the team.
===========================
Also at the whim of a russian oligarch.
Who has spent more on management settlements than most clubs have as an actual transfer budget.scary eh.
HH