1/8/2003

TEST

4/1/2002

Celtic confident of beating Boro, West Ham for Izzet

Celtic are confident of landing Leicester City midfielder Muzzy Izzet ahead of several English rivals. With the Foxes facing relegation, Izzet is expected to quit Filbert Street at the end of the season.

He almost signed for Middlesbrough in January for £6 million and has also been linked with West Ham and Derby County.

But Celtic hope the carrot of Champions League football and the chance to again work with Martin O'Neill will be enough to bring the London-born Turkish international to Glasgow.

4/1/2002

BURNS EYES VOGTS ROLE

Former Celtic manager Tommy Burns has admitted his long-term target is to replace Berti Vogts as Scotland boss. "If the opportunity came up then I would have to think seriously about it," he said.

3/31/2002

Celtic invite Swedish starlet for second trial

Celtic are expected to welcome Swedish youngster N'Diwa Lord-Kangana at Parkhead for a second time next week. Lord-Kangana trained with the club's first team last October and has been invited for further tests by Hoops boss Martin O'Neill.

The 18-year-old Djurgardens defender is a regular of Sweden's junior squads.

3/30/2002

Celtic to trump Hibs for Newcastle youngster

Celtic are planning to trump Hibs for Newcastle United defender Gary Caldwell. The 19 year-old centre-half won his first Scottish cap in midweek after an impressive loan spell at Hibs.

Newcastle are keen for Caldwell to stay and have offered him a new deal.

But he rejected the two-year offer and Hoops boss Martin O'Neill hopes to land the 19 year-old ahead of Hibs at the end of the season.

3/30/2002

Celtic in shock talks with Everton's Ginola

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill is in talks with Everton outcast David Ginola about a shock move north next season. The Sun reports that O'Neill has already contacted both the Frenchman and his agent, Chantal Stanley, about joining Celtic on a 12-month contract.

O'Neill plans to use Ginola as his new 'Lubo Moravcik' in Celtic's Champions League campaign and has even managed to persuade the winger to take a cut in wages - presently £50,000-a-week - to join his Hoops squad.

Sources close to Stanley say the deal "has a great chance" of happening.

3/29/2002

Celtic set for US friendly?

Celtic are considering playing a friendly against AC Milan in New York to raise money for the victims of the September 11 atrocities.

Martin O'Neill's men need just three points for their first back-to-back title in 20 years and one win to retain the Tennent's Scottish Cup.

Celtic have a big following in America and the chance to see their silverware would be certain to raise cash for the relatives of those killed in the terror attacks in the United States last year.

3/25/2002

APRIL FOOLS DAY COMES EARLY

Leeds to launch £7M bid for Celtic's Lennon

Leeds United have been linked with a swoop for Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon. According to press reports yesterday, the Northern Ireland international has become increasingly unsettled in Glasgow and is angling for a return to England at the end of the season.

Leeds are reportedly prepared to offer £7 million for the former Crewe youngster.

Lennon still has two years of his present contract to run, but has so far baulked at talks regarding a new extension.

3/24/2002

OLD FIRM TO MEET IN FINAL

Celtic will play Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday 04th May 2002, Rangers defeated Partick Thistle by 3-0 in the other semi-final at Hampden today.

3/22/2002

£1 million or £700,000 for Tebily?

Various figures being quoted for Tebily who left Celtic today to sign for Birmingham City. SKY TV quote £1 million deal whilst everyone else says £700,000. Strange that the varying figures should be so great, I wonder where the three hundred grand has gone?

3/22/2002

Tebily leaves Celtic for Birmingham

Olivier Tebily today brought the curtain down on his Celtic career with a £1 million move to Birmingham.

The Ivory Coast international was brought to Parkhead for Stg£1.2million by coach John Barnes in July 1999, but he struggled to settle into the defence.

Despite recent injuries to key defenders, manager Martin O'Neill still opted to call on youngster Stephen Crainey and left Tebily frustrated on the bench.

But the 26-year-old defender, who still had two years remaining on his contract, wanted regular football and has once again linked up again with his former boss Steve Bruce, who took him to Sheffield United.

Martin O'Neill said "Olivier's signed for Birmingham because he wants to play first-team football, and I can understand that.

"The simple truth is that I couldn't guarantee him a regular place in the side here, and that's what he needs at this stage in his career.

"He started this season very well for us, but he lost his place after picking up a couple of knocks and was never able to get it back again.

"But he's a very nice lad and someone who's done us a turn on more than one occasion.

"There's no doubt in my mind that he's a very strong defender and I'm hoping that this move will bring out the very best in him."

Celtic have negotiated a sell-on clause into the deal that takes him south which will entitle the club to a percentage of any future profit Birmingham might make on the player.

3/22/2002

No punishment for Dallas?

Strange that Hugh Dallas has made such a major blunder with the Didier Agathe booking fiasco and nothing is being said about it in the media. Must be my paranoia creeping up again.

3/22/2002

Stan for Spurs?

Spurs are rumoured to be ready to offer upto £10 million for Celtic's Bulgarian midfielder Stilian Petrov.

Can't see much happening with this rumour. Spurs are as skint as both halves of the Old Firm.

3/22/2002

NEW DEAL FOR MORTEN

Celtic have offered Morten Wieghorst a further one year deal, his best bet for regular football looks like being a loan deal, look out for news in the next few days.

3/21/2002

Valencia crash out of UEFA cup.

Valencia tonight crashed out of Europe going down 1-0 at home to Inter Milan. The aggregate score was 2-1 to Inter.

3/21/2002

Pierre scores winner in penalty shoot out.

Feynoord defeated PSV on penalties 5-4 after the agg score was tied at 2-2, the winning penalty was struck home by Pierre van Hooijdonk.

3/21/2002

Pierre on target again

Ex Celt Pierre van Hooijdonk scored in the 90th minute to send the UEFA cup quarter final tie against PSV in extra time, the score was 1-1 after 90 minutes, the sides drew 1-1 in the first leg.

3/21/2002

SOMEONE'S LYING!!!!!!! OR ARE THEY JUST MAD??????????

Arteta: I'm not going to Rangers, Leeds or anywhere else

Spanish football 21/3/02

Mikel Arteta has branded Rangers boss Alex McLeish "mad" over claims he's signed with the Glasgow giants. Barcelona youngster Arteta, on loan with Paris Saint Germain, was reportedly transferred to Rangers on Tuesday in a £6 million deal.

But the midfielder told PSG's website: "I'm surprised at hearing all this.

"Last week I was supposed to have signed for Betis, according to the Spanish press.

"Then three days later I was at Leeds. But I've signed nothing, not with them nor with Rangers.

"This is all utter madness, these managers who say I've signed for them must be mad."

PSG have first refusal on the Barca playmaker.

3/20/2002

Juve & Porto out of Champions League

Both Juventus and Porto are out of the UEFA Champions League after the final round of group matches was completed tonight. Juventus fielding almost a reserve team defeated Arsenal 1-0 in front of an almost empty Del Alphi Stadium, Porto lost to Spata Prague by 2-0.

3/20/2002

CELTIC WON'T WRAP TITLE UNTIL AFTER SPLIT.

With Rangers currently leading Kilmarnock by 3-0 at Ibrox it looks as though Celtic will have to wait until after the league split to seal the title for the second year in a row.

3/18/2002

TICKET INFORMATION FOR LEICESTER GAME

Celtic have been allocated 7000 tickets for this fixture priced £15.00 Adults and £5.00 Concessions. 5000 of these tickets have been sent to Celtic for them to sell. The remaining 2000 will be sold to Celtic fans from the Ticket Office at Filbert Street.

3/18/2002

CELTIC DESERVED MORE GOALS, CLAIMS O'NEILL

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill claimed his side were unlucky to win by such a slim margin after they sustained their 100 per cent home record in the SPL against Dundee United. "Even though we scored just one goal, we won very convincingly," he said.

3/16/2002

Celtic boss to skip World Cup for new Lubo search

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill is considering missing this year's World Cup so to step up his search for Lubo Moravcik's replacement. O'Neill will discuss his transfer plans with Celtic's plc board soon, before embarking on his European tour.

He said, "I don't think there is any way that I'll be able to replace Lubo for £350,000 - the fee that Dr Jo Venglos paid to get Moravcik from Duisburg four years ago.

"Ideally you want someone who is good with both feet, able to unlock defences and younger than Lubo."

3/15/2002

JOOS RECOVERS FROM OPERATION

Joos Valgaeren has come through his hernia operation without any complications and is currently on his way back to Glasgow to begin his rehabilitation. The Belgian defender had the straightforward operation in Germany yesterday morning and, accompanied by club doctor Roddy MacDonald, he will return to Glasgow this afternoon.

The 26-year-old faces a six-week spell on the sidelines that effectively ends his season, and he now faces a major fight to be fit in time for the World Cup finals in June.

3/14/2002

CUP REFEREE APPOINTED

Stuart Dougal will referee the Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final next weekend.

Saturday, 23 March Ayr United v Celtic Hampden Park, Glasgow, kick-off 5.35 pm

Live on Sky Sports

Referee: Stuart Dougal

If drawn or postponed, the match will be replayed on Tuesday, 2 April, kick-off 7.45 pm.

3/14/2002

LAMBERT OUT OF RETIREMENT TO CAPTAIN SCOTLAND

Scotland coach Berti Vogts has persuaded Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert to come out of international retirement by offering him the captaincy. "He is not doing this for his own benefit, it is a selfless decision for the benefit of the team," the German declared.

3/13/2002

Ex Ranger out Ex Celt in?

It's expected that ex Rangers boss Walter Smith will get the bullet from the Everton job later today, favourite to step into the hotseat is ex Celt Davie Moyes currently in charge at Preston North End.

3/12/2002

MICHAEL OWEN'S CELTIC CONNECTION

"My Dad's side of the family are all Scottish," said Owen on Tuesday's Liquid News programme on BBC Choice.

"It's one of a couple of teams I could have played for. I could have played for England or Scotland. I chose England."

Owen, who is currently out of action with a hamstring strain, also disclosed that he is a closet Celtic supporter.

He continued: "I've got a lot of relatives who all support Celtic so I tend to follow them.

"I've played against Celtic. What a fantastic atmosphere. I'd love to go back and play against them again.

"The stadium holds 50 or 60,000 which is probably the best atmosphere I've ever played in.

"The players there are lucky to be playing in front of such a fanatical following and they are producing the goods at the moment."

3/11/2002

From Leicester City website

Foxes To Tackle Celtic

Leicester City hope to announce an April date for a friendly fixture with Scottish champions Celtic at Filbert Street.

The game will take place next month and an exact date is due to be confirmed in the very near future.

The match will mark the first return to the club of Martin O'Neill since his hugely successful five-year stint with the Foxes.

Former City stars Neil Lennon and Steve Guppy will also be making their first return appearances.

The match is part of the agreement which allowed assistant manager John Robertson and first team coach Steve Walford to move to Celtic 20 months ago.

Ticket information will be announced shortly.

3/11/2002

PETROV TARGETS TEN-YEAR CELTIC STRETCH

Bulgaria captain Stilian Petrov wants to sign a four-year contract extension at Celtic - and then stay for another three years after that. "Why would I want to go anywhere else?" asked the midfielder. "I can win things here on a regular basis and play in the Champions' League."

3/10/2002

CELTIC CHAMPIONS 2001 -2002 & 2002-2003

According to one web report we are going for three in a row.

Celtic closer to SPL crown after Old Firm draw

Arthur Numan's equaliser for Rangers ensured the Ibrox Old Firm derby remained all square - but the result means Celtic move closer to a third successive SPL title.

Numan's long-range effort cancelled out a first-half opener for Celtic by Stilian Petrov.

Petrov had given Celtic a 23rd-minute lead, poking the ball past Stefan Klos after Henrik Larsson had put him clear.

3/10/2002

Numan concedes title to Celtic

Rangers' goalscorer Arthur Numan conceded the Scottish Premier League title to Celtic despite a 1-1 Old Firm draw at Ibrox.

Numan's outstanding second-half strike levelled an opening goal from Stilian Petrov.

But it could do nothing to cut the Bhoys' 10-point lead at the top of the table.

And the Dutchman was in no mood to claim it was enough to give Rangers a lifeline in what looks a one-horse race for the championship.

Responding to the suggestion Celtic have the title in the bag, Numan said: "I think that is right.

"You have to be honest with yourself. Before the game, we knew we had to get three points today.

"I think we were the better team in the second half. We tried to find space up front to create some chances. But we only got chances outside the box, and that is not enough.

"In the second half we did everything we could, but it was not enough."

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill was not ready to agree with Numan that the league championship is all over bar the shouting.

Asked if he was prepared to claim the title is now as good as won, he said: "I would not be. We have got a lead and a game in hand and we must go and put that to bed.

"Not to lose a game at Ibrox was a big boost for us. I am delighted. We defended very strongly and deserved to get something out of the game," he told Sky Sports.

3/10/2002

FINAL SCORE FROM IBROX

RANGERS 1 CELTIC 1

Celtic opened the scoring in this one through Stan Petrov in the first half. John Hartson had a goal chalked off, television replays show that the linesman was again wrong, no surprize there then.

Arthur Numan equalised with a blistering shot in the second half, full report on game will follow later on front page.

3/9/2002

CUP SEMI-FINAL KICK OFF TIME SWITCH?

Celtic's semi-final tie against Ayr United will now probably kick off at 5.35pm, this is due to Newcastle and Arsenal drawing 1-1 in tonight's FA Cup tie, with Arsenal being involved in the Champions League over the next few weeks, the only date available for the replay is 23rd March 2002.

3/9/2002

BURNS FOR SCOTLAND JOB?

Martin O'Neill has confirmed that the SFA have approached the club in order to seek permission to speak to Tommy Burns about the assistant manager's post with the national team.

3/7/2002

RECTIFICATION

A few days ago we posted a story about Henrik Larsson. Henrik Larsson however never spoke to feyenoord.com and consequently did not say the things he was quoted as saying. Feyenoord.com would like to apologize for any invoncience we may have caused by posting this story.

3/6/2002

Celtic v Ayr United in Cup semi-final

Ayr United will meet Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final, the Ayrshire men tonight defeated Premier League side Dundee United by 2-0 in their cup 1/4 final replay at Somerset Park.

3/6/2002

Celtic's lead cut to 10 points

Rangers have reduced the gap at the top of the SPL to ten points, they defeated St Johnstone 2-0 at Perth tonight, the result almost certainly puts ex Celt Billy Stark's men into division one.

3/6/2002

from Feynoord website

HENRIK LARSSON FATHER AGAIN

Magdalena Larsson, wife of former Feyenoorder Henrik, gave birth to the couple’s second child last week, a daughter called Janice. “The delivery went well. And now we have a girl as well as a boy (4-year-old Jordan), it’s a dream come true.” Last year’s golden boot winner is still a big hero at Feyenoord and admits to looking out for the club’s results. “Pity about the 1-1 yesterday, it was there for the taking.” Although Henke feels Sunday’s performance in Amsterdam deserved more than that point he was understandably happy with his old club’s triumph over Glasgow’s other club last week. “Yeah, at Celtic we all enjoyed it immensely. Congratulations by the way. For me it was a double celebration, because I still have that Feyenoord feeling.”

3/5/2002

CELTIC TO APPEAL THOMPSON SENDING OFF

Celtic and Aberdeen will both appeal against the sending's off in the latest farce in Scottish football.

Martin O'Neill said, "We will be putting in a written appeal tomorrow morning. I've seen the incident since and I think it's extremely harsh. If that sort of behaviour was being red-carded every single time then I think you would be playing 2-a-side by half-time.

3/4/2002

BERKOVIC OWNS UP AT LAST TO V SIGN TO CELTIC FANS.

Israel star Eyal Berkovic has backed promotion-chasing English first division side Manchester City to become a Champions' League force, and taken a sideswipe at his former club Celtic and manager Martin O'Neill.

"You can go nowhere at Celtic," he said. "They are a big fish in a small pond and the league in Scotland is very, very dull. They can never reach the heights of a Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United.

Ex Celt Berkovic has had his share of disciplinary problems in the past and famously made an obscene gesture to Celtic fans during Kenny Dalglish's reign at Parkhead – but he believes he has turned over a new leaf.

"The incident at Celtic was the lunatic in me. I was being booed continually by a section of the crowd, they were really on to me, and then I scored an amazing goal and went over to them and made that gesture. I knew my career at Celtic was finished almost as I did it.

3/4/2002

Update on Celtic's Champions League and UEFA Cup opponents current league positions.

Ajax 1st Juventus 2nd Valencia 1st Porto 3rd Rosenborg Champions

3/3/2002

EX CELT BEING SHOWN THE DOOR AT TANNADICE

David Hannah who had a brief spell at Celtic Park has been told that he won't be offered a new contract by current club Dundee United.

3/3/2002

CELTIC'S LEAD BACK TO 13 POINTS

Celtic's lead in the SPL is back to 13 points after Rangers defeated Dundee United by one goal to nil today at Tannadice.

3/2/2002

IT'S A GHIRL FOR THE LARSSON'S.

Congratulations to Henrik & Magdalena on the birth of their baby girl.

Henrik and Magdalena already have a son, Jordan, five, who was named after basketball star Michael Jordan.

I'm sure this is one Miss, Henrik will be very proud of.