For 30 years the League Cup was our bogey tournament. Celtic won the trophy only three times during the 70s, 80s and 90s. We lost seven finals in the 1970s, winning only one that decade. That 1974 win is cherished especially this week for Dixie Deans’ hattrick in a 6-3 win over Hibernian. Dixie made history with his two cup final hattricks, while Joe Harper carved his name in the history books with his own League Cup Final hattrick for Hibs that day.
The 80s was a decade mostly of elimination before the final. A memorable 1982 win in the Hampden rain over Rangers was followed by two final loses to the same side that decade.
We waited 15 long years for our next League Cup victory. Wim Jansen’s immortal side beat Dundee United at Ibrox, heralding a pivotal season for Celtic. We endured two final defeats that decade, another loss to Rangers and that loss to Raith Rovers.
Celtic have been unequivocal top dogs this century and that shows in the League Cup winner stats, but it was the meek side assembled by John Barnes who won the trophy against Aberdeen under Kenny Dalglish in March 2000.
Martin O’Neill won the League Cup only once, during his first and treble winning 2000-01 season. He lost a final, again to Rangers, in controversial circumstances in 2003. Never question how bad things would be without VAR, kids. We have lost only two finals since, both under Neil Lennon: 2011 to Rangers and the following year to Kilmarnock.
Gordon Strachan won the League Cup twice: over Dunfermline in 2006, when the players wore No. 7 shorts, in memory of the Jimmy Johnstone, who died a few days before the final. Then in 2009, when extra-time goals from Darren O’Dea and Aiden McGeady beat Rangers.
Ronny Deila won the League Cup in his first season at Celtic in a 2015 final against Dundee United, before Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon delivered the Quadruple Treble, an achievement which still sets the tone in Scottish football. The 3-0 win over Aberdeen in 2016 was our 100th trophy and part of the Invincible Treble season. 2017 saw Celtic overcome Motherwell in a difficult final (their fans are still sore), while it was a Ryan Christie goal that beat Aberdeen in 2018.
The 2019 final deserves a moment’s reflection. That Celtic team were clearly at the end of the road and were battered by Newco on the day. But there is a culture of winning these days which is ingrained in the structure at Celtic Park. End of the road or not, Christopher Jullien scored the only goal of the game which saw Fraser Forster deliver one of the all-time great Celtic goalkeeper performances. Even a man advantage was insufficient for Newco.
Neil Lennon would deliver the fourth treble of the series before things fell apart the following year. The 2019-20 season has much in common with this term. This Celtic side is in need of rebuild, but you would be foolish to be bet against them winning any domestic trophy.
Who can forget that magic moment at Hampden when Kyogo lifted the ball over the Hibs keeper to give Celtic the lead and provide Ange Postecoglou with his first trophy in 2021? It was Kyogo who delivered the killer goal in the final a year later, ending Newco’s hopes of taking the trophy for the first time.
Brendan uncharacteristically saw his side eliminated from the League Cup at Kilmarnock on his return two years ago, but the trophy came back home last year, when an epic 3-3 draw with Newco was decided in Celtic’s favour after penalties.
Our incredible record of success in recent seasons has heightened the importance of all trophies, even the once-minor the League Cup. Celtic now cherish winning every trophy, every other club cherishes the prospect of winning any trophy. The League Cup has never mattered more.
Enjoy the day and best of luck to your team.
207 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- »
Shortbread still on about trainers and tactics board…ffs
I hope we gub St Mirren tomorrow and shut these eejits up…
ZIGGY
I was at that Deep Purple gig in 1972.
My first was The Who supported by James Gang in October 1970.
On news earlier saying Amber weather warning issued for today and tomorrow.Could put the game in danger.Transport could be affected.We should be hoping its put back into 2026.
What has the manager’s shoes got to do with his ability to manage?
If we defend the constant bombardment of high balls into our box from throw ins to set pieces then we will win if we don’t we are toast
WBC- Our last few managers have been too strong for the media, they have been waiting for a weaker one, to hammer him on a daily basis, winning games shuts them up
Nancy turning up in Orange White and Blue trainers would not have been mentioned as much.
We shouldn’t moan,according to FF,BBC Scotland is a Fenian cesspit.
Turkeyboy – the warning is for heavy rain, the worst of it in the south of the country. As long as the pitch at Hampden can drain the water, the game will go ahead.
Speak up, Aipple
The attacks and nonsense about our new gaffer are proper mental.
Footwear for tomorrow wellington boots
Bada Bing…”Our last few managers have been too strong for the media, they have been waiting for a weaker one, to hammer him on a daily basis, winning games shuts them up.”
Indeed! Hope it begins tomorrow and continues to the end of a winning season…
Good article
League Cup was always my 3rd favourite domestic trophy, though a few highlights over the years
More recently, I enjoyed ’82 and the Wim season LCF at Ibrox
Roll With It
Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what shoes can do for your country
JFK CSC
BBC ban at our press conferences has obviously been lifted as I heard David Currie ask a question.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 13TH DECEMBER 2025 1:44 PM
Really dispiriting to hear Nancy is already having clear the air discussions with the players about tactics. Flip flopping is weakness so I really hope that’s not the outcome. We have no tolerance for more shambles.
This season is teetering on the point of total collapse, potentially starting tomorrow. My feeling is 1-1 aet and St Mirren to prevail on pens. Hope I’m wrong.
———
The guy can’t win ( no pun intended I assure you)
Pelters on here and everywhere else it seems all week for playing his preferred formation with, it is claimed , players who don’t understand it and can’t adapt to it.
First sign that he might be doing , what for me at least is the right thing , in recognising that his squad might need longer to adapt to his style ( or be replaced by players who can) and he’s accused of flip flopping.
We both know all that will matter tomorrow is if we win or lose.
I believe the players will step up and we will win , irrespective of the system and perhaps not handsomely given the conditions , but we will prevail.
KTF
WN must be wondering what kind of hellhole of a tiny-minded backwater he’s rocked up in where his choice of footwear is actually an issue.
The Scottish football press are an embarrassment to their “profession”.
Wild presser yest.
https://youtu.be/HKznxjDvTWE?si=ULWZaVrVaJ2MjRIQ
HH
ZIGGY
I was at that Deep Purple gig in 1972.
My first was The Who supported by James Gang in October 1970.
—-
Saw the Who at Parkhead, as well as Alex Harvey. Had to smuggle half bottles of eldo, in my skinners😊
Michael Stewart makes a good point. Beaton on VAR denies Livi a penalty v the huns but four days later he phones Martindale and admits he got it wrong. After seeing the incident numerous times from various angles he decides it’s not a penalty but a few days later he changes his mind. Stewart thinks it should be investigated…but we know that will not happen…
TLIO
I’m supportive of Nancy. I’m saying he should stick to his guns.
WBC – who’ll miss the pens? Let’s see… Engels, Daizen, McCowan, CalMac all have previous misses to their credit. We’ve been crap in our last two shoot outs whilst looking bereft of confidence. All in all a reasonable basis for pessimism.
Oh ye of little faith…
Weather conditions a real game leveller tomorrow hope we take advantage
Weather be damned. We shall thrash these Ferguslie Park upstarts.
FWIW , despite the fact that WN is an unknown quantity I’m more confident about tomorrow than I would be with BR , at least as we were with him in his last few months , in charge.
I think it may be that those in the media commenting on footwear don’t know enough about football to critique Nancy’s ability. Surely if they did there would be no need to mention trainers.
It’s all bluenoses that get the gigs on BBC NEWS/SPORTSCENE over at Pacific Quay ,McCann and Dodds leave sevco,right away they are back on Sky ,and Sportsound ,
i expect WN to be sporting celtics new official club stilettos tomorrow.
i would buy them myself, but not 1 penny more 👠👠😄
im not sure about the weather being a leveller tomorrow.
considering the games we have played against them this season, i dont think the game needs a leveller
Lets all
Only to be worn by media :-))
HH
Game could be in danger tomorrow weather atrocious and travelling could be affected.
maeda could still outrun anyone on the pitch even with stilettos on!
Weegies wi squeegies ra morra!
Might see a re-run of the Scotland game were all the ground staff squeegee the pitch.All the crowd were in right enough.Surely there are others who want it cancelled,we are away to Unt.on Wednesday.We could do without 90-120 minutes ploughtering about in a mudhole.
Players back,new signings 😏 (aye right),in.Makes sense.
Ah Jamesgang
Fond memories of a very good poster on here.
What a baptism of pressure for our new manager.Not needed in my opinion.
Surely we could have handled the transition from MON to WN in a more efficient, controlled and stable manner.
Or is that too sensible.
Not to mention the double wage bill.
However, we are where we are. Good luck WN et al.
HH.
Two games in and some bangers already calling time on the new manager.
Pathetic, hun like behaviour from a support that should know better.
Win or lose tomorrow, the man must be given the time and financial support to shape the team.
If not, we become Sevco like in our ways…