A Battle of Titans: Celtic and Bayern Munich in the Champions League
On Wednesday, Celtic will welcome Bayern Munich to Glasgow for a monumental UEFA Champions League knockout clash, with the return leg set to take place in Germany. This will be the fifth time these two historic clubs have faced each other in European competition, with their first encounter dating back to the 2003/04 campaign. That season, a little-known Portuguese manager named Jose Mourinho took Porto to the Champions League final and won it, but the clash between Celtic and Bayern was a memorable one in its own right.
Celtic’s Journey to the Group Stage
Back in 2003/04, Celtic entered the Champions League in the second qualifying round. The Scottish giants dispatched Kaunas of Lithuania and MTK Hungaria of Hungary with back-to-back 5-0 aggregate wins to reach the group stage. Their reward was a tough draw against Bayern Munich, Anderlecht, and Lyon. Lyon were in the third year of their seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles and were poised to become Real Madrid’s nemesis in Europe. Bayern, on the other hand, had won the 2000/01 Champions League final against Valencia and had claimed four of the last five Bundesliga titles.
The First Leg: Bayern’s Comeback
The first game between Celtic and Bayern ended 2-1 in favor of the German side. Celtic took an early lead through Alan Thompson, but Roy Makaay scored a brace to secure the win. The second game at Celtic Park was a tense affair, with Celtic dominating and creating more chances. Despite Bayern’s efforts to keep them at bay, the match ended 0-0. The German side had their fair share of opportunities, especially as the game progressed, but both teams were ultimately content with the result.
Celtic’s Lineup: Where Are They Now?
- Goalkeeper: Magnus Hedman – After a successful stint at Celtic, Hedman moved to Chelsea as an emergency goalkeeper in 2006. He later had a brief comeback at the age of 40 for Frej. Hedman has been open about his battle with addiction and now works as a mental health coach in Sweden.
- Centre-back: Stanislav Varga – Varga became a key defender for Celtic under Martin O’Neill before returning to Sunderland in 2006. He has since managed Tatran Liptovsky Mikulas in Slovakia and is currently unemployed.
- Centre-back: Dianbobo Balde – Balde rose to cult status at Celtic, making 233 appearances and winning Player of the Year in 2002/03. He retired in 2012 and has been coaching Guinea’s Under-20s.
- Centre-back: Jackie McNamara – McNamara, the son of another Celtic player, spent a decade at Celtic Park, winning multiple awards. After retiring, he managed several clubs, including Dundee United and York City. He suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2020 but has since returned home and works in media.
- Right midfielder: Didier Agathe – Agathe had a unique journey from Reunion to Celtic via Montpellier and Raith Rovers. He retired in 2010 and has managed lower-league English sides.
- Central midfielders: Neil Lennon and Stiliyan Petrov – Both are Celtic legends. Lennon managed the club twice, while Petrov, diagnosed with leukaemia in 2012, has since worked as a pundit.
- Attacking midfielder: Chris Sutton – Sutton scored 86 goals for Celtic and has worked in the media since retiring.
- Left midfielder: Alan Thompson – Thompson became a key player at Celtic and has worked as an assistant manager.
- Strikers: Henrik Larsson and John Hartson – Larsson is one of Celtic’s greatest players, with 242 goals. Hartson scored 109 goals for Celtic and has since worked in media.
Bayern’s Lineup: Where Are They Now?
- Goalkeeper: Oliver Kahn – Kahn retired in 2008 and moved into punditry. He became CEO of Bayern in 2021 but was fired in 2023. He is now in the process of buying Bordeaux.
- Right-back: Willy Sagnol – Sagnol retired in 2009 and has been the manager of the Georgian national team, leading them to Euro 2024.
- Centre-backs: Robert Kovac and Samuel Kuffour – Kovac has worked as an assistant manager, most recently at Dortmund. Kuffour is a pundit and has a son playing in Ghana.
- Left-back: Bixente Lizarazu – Lizarazu became a European jiu-jitsu champion and is a regular pundit in France.
- Central midfielders: Owen Hargreaves, Jens Jeremies, and Michael Ballack – Hargreaves and Ballack have worked as pundits, while Jeremies runs an agency representing players.
- Left midfielder: Hasan Salihamidzic – Salihamidzic worked for Bayern’s management and is now a free agent.
- Striker: Roy Makaay – Makaay scored 102 goals for Bayern and has been head of the Bayern Munich World Squad.
- Substitutes: Rab Douglas, Michael Gray, Mohammed Sylla, Shaun Maloney, Liam Miller, Johan Mjallby, Joos Valgaeren – Young players like Maloney and Miller were on the bench, with Maloney later moving to Manchester United.
Martin O’Neill: A Legendary Manager
Martin O’Neill is second only to Jock Stein in Celtic’s managerial history. His back-three formation became a symbol of defensive excellence, and his team finished runners-up in the UEFA Cup before this season. After stepping away to care for his wife, O’Neill returned to manage Aston Villa, Sunderland, the Republic of Ireland, and Nottingham Forest before retiring. He now appears as a pundit on TNT Sports.
Owen Hargreaves: Recalling the Clash
TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves played in both games against Celtic and recalls the intense atmosphere at Celtic Park. "That game was quite special," Hargreaves said. "The anthem came on, and the crowd just went mad. I’ve never experienced anything like that. We did well to just nick a draw. Celtic had a great team and could rise to the occasion, making it really hard for us." Hargreaves emphasizes the difference between good players and great players, highlighting Celtic’s ability to perform when it mattered most.
