2004–05 Celtic F.C. season explained

Club:Celtic
Season:2004–05
Manager:Martin O'Neill
Chairman:Brian Quinn
Stdtitle:Ground
Stadium:Celtic Park
Glasgow, Scotland
(Capacity: 60,355)
League:Scottish Premier League
League Result:2nd
Cup1:Scottish Cup
Cup1 Result:Winners
Cup2:Scottish League Cup
Cup2 Result:Quarter-finals
Cup3:Champions League
Cup3 Result:Group stage
League Topscorer:
John Hartson (25)
Season Topscorer:
John Hartson (30)
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Prevseason:2003–04
Nextseason:2005–06

Celtic started season 2004–05 looking to win the Scottish Premier League trophy and retain the Scottish Cup. They also competed in the Scottish League Cup and entered the Champions League at the group stage.

In the race for the SPL title, Celtic recorded a win over city rivals Rangers. However, as the season drew to a close, with Rangers closely following, the club extended their lead at the top of the SPL table to two points as they lined up for the final game of the season. A win at Motherwell was required to seal the title.

With two minutes remaining on the clock, Celtic were leading 1–0, a result which would have handed them the league. However, Motherwell's Scott McDonald (who later signed for Celtic) netted two last-minute goals. Rangers defeated Hibernian 1–0 at Easter Road, thereby winning the league championship title and leaving Celtic in second position. Celtic ended the season one week later with a 1–0 win over Dundee United in the Scottish Cup Final, which was marked by fans as Martin O'Neill's final match as manager.

On 25 May 2005, O'Neill announced he would resign as manager of Celtic at the end of 2004–05 season along with first team coach Steve Walford and assistant manager John Robertson. It was widely reported that O'Neill decided to take time out of football in order to care for his ailing wife, who was ill with lymphoma.[1]

Competitions

All results (home and away) list Celtic's goal tally first.

DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionCeltic scorers
18 July 2004Craven Cottage Fulham2–0Friendly Hartson, Lennon (pen.)
24 July 2004Qwest Field Chelsea2–4ChampionsWorld SeriesBeattie (2)
27 July 2004Rentschler Field Liverpool1–5ChampionsWorld SeriesBeattie (pen.)
29 July 2004Lincoln Financial Field Manchester United2–1ChampionsWorld SeriesSutton (pen.), Beattie
1 August 2004SkyDome Roma0–1ChampionsWorld Series
4 August 2004Celtic Park Newcastle United2–1Friendly Sylla, Camara
8 August 2004Celtic ParkMotherwell2–0SPLMcNamara, Sutton
10 August 2004Celtic Park Tottenham2–0Friendly Beattie, Camara
14 August 2004Rugby ParkKilmarnock4–2SPLHartson (2), Thompson (2)
22 August 2004Pittodrie StadiumInverness CT3–1SPLHartson (2), Petrov
29 August 2004Celtic ParkRangers1–0SPLThompson
11 September 2004Celtic ParkDundee3–0SPLCamara (2), Hartson
14 September 2004Celtic Park Barcelona1–3UCLSutton
19 September 2004Easter RoadHibernian2–2SPLCamara, Hartson
21 September 2004Celtic ParkFalkirk8–1SLCSylla, Wallace (3), Lambert, McManus, McGeady
29 September 2004San Siro Milan1–3UCLVarga
3 October 2004TannadiceDundee United3–0SPLSutton (2) (pen.), Petrov
16 October 2004Celtic ParkHearts3–0SPLCamara, Juninho, Hartson
20 October 2004Lokomotiv Stadium (Donetsk) Shakhtar Donetsk0–3UCL
24 October 2004Almondvale StadiumLivingston4–2SPLPetrov, Camara, Hartson, Sutton
27 October 2004Celtic ParkAberdeen2–3SPLHartson (2)
30 October 2004Fir ParkMotherwell3–2SPLMcGeady, Thompson (pen.), Beattie
2 November 2004Celtic Park Shakhtar Donetsk1–0UCLThompson
6 November 2004Celtic ParkKilmarnock2–1SPLMcGeady, Thompson (pen.)
10 November 2004Ibrox StadiumRangers1–2SLCHartson
13 November 2004Celtic ParkInverness CT3–0SPLSutton, Hartson (2)
20 November 2004Ibrox StadiumRangers0–2SPL
24 November 2004Nou Camp Barcelona1–1UCLHartson
28 November 2004Dens ParkDundee2–2SPLCamara, Hartson
4 December 2004Celtic ParkHibernian2–1SPLHartson (2)
7 December 2004Celtic Park Milan0–0UCL
12 December 2004East End ParkDunfermline Athletic2–0SPLSutton, Petrov
18 December 2004Celtic ParkDundee United1–0SPLSutton
26 December 2004TynecastleHearts2–0SPLMcGeady, Petrov
2 January 2005Celtic ParkLivingston2–1SPLHartson, Sutton
9 January 2005Celtic ParkRangers2–1SCSutton, Hartson
16 January 2005PittodrieAberdeen1–0SPLSutton
22 January 2005Celtic ParkMotherwell2–0SPLSutton, Petrov
30 January 2005Rugby ParkKilmarnock1–0SPLSutton (pen.)
6 February 2005East End ParkDunfermline Athletic3–0SCHartson (2) Sutton
9 January 2005Celtic ParkRangers0–2SPL
27 February 2005Broadwood StadiumClyde5–0SCVarga (2), Thompson (pen.), Petrov, Bellamy
2 March 2005Celtic ParkDundee3–0SPLPetrov, Balde (2)
6 March 2005Easter RoadHibernian3–1SPLPetrov, Hartson, Bellamy
12 March 2005Celtic ParkDunfermline Athletic6–0SPLHartson (2), McGeady, Petrov (2), Beattie
16 March 2005Caledonian StadiumInverness CT2–0SPLBellamy, Thompson (pen.)
19 March 2005TannadiceDundee United3–2SPLBellamy (3)
2 April 2005Celtic ParkHearts0–2SPL
10 April 2005Hampden ParkHearts2–1SCSutton, Bellamy
13 April 2005Almondvale StadiumLivingston4–0SPLHartson (3) (pen.), Varga
16 April 2005Celtic ParkAberdeen3–2SPLVarga, Hartson, Bellamy
24 April 2005Ibrox StadiumRangers2–1SPLPetrov, Bellamy
30 April 2005Celtic ParkHibernian1–3SPLBeattie
8 May 2005Celtic ParkAberdeen2–0SPLHartson (2)
15 May 2005TynecastleHearts2–1SPLThompson, Beattie
22 May 2005Fir ParkMotherwell1–2SPLSutton
28 May 2005Hampden ParkDundee United1–0SCThompson

Key:

Squad

[2]

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition|}

Team statistics

League table

Transfers

In:

DatePlayerFromFeeSource
29 July 2004 Blackburn Rovers10Bosman
5 August 2004 Wolverhampton Wanderers10Loan
25 August 2004 Middlesbrough10Bosman
23 December 2004 KR10Undisclosed
23 December 2004 KR10Undisclosed
29 January 2005 Liverpool10Bosman
31 January 2005 Newcastle United10Loan

Out:

DatePlayerToFeeSource
30 June 2004 Barcelona10Bosman
1 July 2004 Manchester United10Bosman
2 July 2004 Levante10Bosman
21 July 2004 ADO Den Haag10Bosman
10 November 2004 Terminated contract Released
8 January 2005 Motherwell10Undisclosed
6 April 2005 Palmeiras10Bosman

See also

James McLeod was released due to long term injury, ongoing Sciatic nerve problem due to dislocating herniated disc.

Notes and References

  1. News: Strachan in for O'Neill at Celtic . BBC News . 25 May 2005.
  2. Web site: 2004–2005 Glasgow Celtic F.C. Squad. worldfootball.net. 6 December 2011.

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