Celtic Football Club achieved a significant milestone by equaling their fierce Glasgow rivals, Rangers, with a record 55 Scottish top-flight championships. The team secured the league title on Saturday with a resounding 5-0 victory over Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership, guaranteeing their triumph with four matches left in the season.
This commanding win places Celtic 18 points ahead of Rangers, who sit in second place with five games remaining. Celtic’s victory marks their fourth consecutive league title and positions them well for a potential sixth domestic treble within the past nine seasons.
Having already claimed the Scottish League Cup, Celtic is set to compete in the Scottish FA Cup final against Aberdeen scheduled for May 24. Although Rangers won their 55th league title in 2021, they haven’t managed to maintain their supremacy against Celtic, who have dominated Scottish football recently.
Celtic has notably secured 21 of the last 26 domestic trophies available in Scotland, with the potential to increase this tally to 22 out of 27 if they secure victory in the upcoming Scottish FA Cup. Celtic captain Callum McGregor expressed immense pride in the team’s achievements, calling their performance “amazing” and “outstanding.”
For manager Brendan Rodgers, this latest triumph represents his eleventh trophy, including four league titles across his two stints in charge of Celtic. Rodgers is ambitiously aiming for a third domestic treble with the team. Despite some “negativity” surrounding the league and its competitiveness, Rodgers emphasized the importance of focusing on their own game and maintaining a strong mentality.
He credited his players for consistently delivering crucial performances. Assuring fans of his commitment to the club, Rodgers stated he is “200%” certain of staying at Celtic next season, expressing his happiness and motivation to continue striving for new achievements and records.
The match in Dundee was briefly interrupted during the first half by Celtic fans protesting against the ticket pricing for away supporters. Supporters threw tangerines onto the field and chanted about ticket prices while displaying a banner reading, “Enjoy the fruits of our labour.” Stewards and players promptly cleared the field of tangerines to resume play.
Off the field, before the match commenced, Celtic fans paid their respects to Pope Francis with banners and Vatican flags, holding a minute of silence in honor of the pontiff on the day of his funeral. A Celtic delegation, including Rodgers and his team, had previously met Pope Francis in a private audience following a game against Lazio in December 2023.