CELTIC have swept up a hat-trick of honours in the PFA Scotland Awards.
Ange Postecoglou won the Manager of the Year accolade, Callum McGregor did likewise in the Player category and Liel Abada lifted the Young Player prize.
It was an evening for the efforts of the Greek-Australian, in his debut campaign as Neil Lennon’s long-term successor, to be acknowledged by his fellow-professionals.
WINNERS…Ange Postecoglou, Manager of the Year, and Callum McGregor, Player of the Year, celebrate the League Cup triumph at Hampden in December.
WINNER…Liel Abada after the 2-1 success over Hibs at the national stadium six days before Christmas.
Scotland international chief Steve Clarke made the presentation shortly after Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Ibrox outfit at Parkhead yesterday.
Postecoglou inherited a shambles in the summer, but has turned things around in spectacular fashion with the side now sitting at the Premiership pinnacle six points ahead of their nearest challengers with only three games to go, starting with the visit of Hearts on Saturday.
McGregor, who took over as captain when Scott Brown departed in the summer for his ill-fated stay at Aberdeen, has led by example throughout the term and won his first team honour as the onfield leader when the Hoops lifted the Premier Sports League Cup after beating Hibs 2-1 at Hampden on December 19.
WINNER…Tom Rogic shows the skills that earned him Goal of the Season as he fires in a wonder solo strike against Dundee United at Tannadice before the turn of the year. Ex-Celt Charlie Mulgrew is helpless to prevent him opening the scoring in the Hoops’ 3-0 win.
Twenty-year-old Abada has hit the ground running after his £3.5million arrival from Israeli outfit Maccabi Petah Tikva and has scored 14 goals – including one on his first appearance in the 1-1 draw with FC Midtjylland in the first leg Champions League qualifier ay Parkhead in July.
As an added bonus, Australian playmaker Tom Rogic won the Sky Sports Premiership Goal of the Season for his mesmerising solo effort to get the ball rolling in the 3-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on December 5.
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