WE all knew Filipe Jota was a class act after watch the little Portuguese wizard in his first two years at the club.
The maverick winger signed off in perfect style by netting the third goal in the champions’ 3-1 Scottish Cup Final against gallant Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden on a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon on June 3 2023.
Not only did the triumph over the Highlanders seal the domestic clean sweep for the Hoops, it also put them in the history books as the only team in Europe to achieve the formidable feat of eight trebles.
The fans bade a fond, if reluctant, farewell to the swivel-hipped wide Bhoy a month later as he departed Parkhead in a record-equalling £25million fee for Saudia Arabian top-flight side Al Ittihad.
TEARS AND CHEERS…an emotional Filipe Jota after his goalscoring return to Celtic.
Now Jota is back in Glasgow after an absence of 18 months – a return via French outfit Rennes – and, as you might have anticipated, he marked the occasion with another crucial strike.
The champions had huffed and puffed, but could not kill off the contest against Motherwell at Fir Park as the scoreline remained at 2-1 throughout the second-half.
On came Jota in the 65th minute as a substitute for Nicolas Kuhn and once again this laughing cavalier in green and white didn’t disappoint.
Deep in stoppage time, the wizard of the touchline timed his run to perfection to drill in a low right-wing cross from Daizen Maeda to seal the deal.
Welcome back to Paradise, Jota!
MATCHWINNER JOTA STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT
