Ten years ago today Celtic were involved in a 2-2 St Stephen’s Day draw with Dundee United. Gordon Strachan’s side were firmly on the road to retaining the title despite the summer arrival at Ibrox of Paul le Guen.
A week earlier Celtic had been robbed of a win at Ibrox when Kenny Clark was afraid to award a penalty after Neil Lennon was chopped in the penalty box by Steven Smith. Thomas Gravesen’s opener was cancelled out by an equaliser from Brahim Hemdani allowing le Guen to hang around for another few weeks
Beating Falkirk 1-0 on the 23rd of December ensured Celtic’s return to winning ways but there was a scare in store three days later when goals from David Robertson and Collin Samuel put the visitors 2-0 in front just before the hour mark.
A first half leg break for Bobo Balde saw Darren O’Dea on with the Dubliner pulling a goal back in the 78th minute.
In traditional Celtic fashion Shunsuke Nakamura equalised in the 80th minute with an incredible chip but there was to be no winner as United escaped with a point.
The changes at Celtic since that day have been incredible, click on the panel below to recall the players wearing the hoops ten years ago.
ARTUR BORUC
The Holy Goalie was in his prime at this stage, a month after an incredible display against Manchester United in the Champions League.
For various reasons it was soon to go downhill, from being one of the most in demand keepers in Europe Celtic were grateful to pick up £1m from Fiorentina in 2009.
He eventually moved on to Southampton and is now in his third season at Bournemouth and is an essential part of Eddie Howe’s plans.
PAUL TELFER
It was a short and strange Celtic career for a player closely associated with Gordon Strachan throughout his career.
There was nothing flash about Telfer, he did his job with a minimum of fuss and didn’t really bother with the trimmings of the footballing life.
He made 31 appearances during the 2006/07 season, following the Champions League exit to Milan in March he left the club for Bournemouth and later had a stint at Leeds United.
BOBO BALDE/ DARREN O’DEA
Summoned as as a substitute for Bobo Balde, O’Dea scored his first Celtic goal to inspire the fightback.
Balde’s injury led to the signing of Steven Pressley and another door closed in the Dubliner’s face.
He excelled in the Champions League matches against Milan but never got the run of games needed to develop at Celtic before going off globe trotting before joining Paul Hartley at Dundee.
STEPHEN MCMANUS
Was in his second season as a regular and on a great upward curve after a late breakthrough.
Enjoyed his best days under Gordon Strachan and was quickly made surplus to requirements by Tony Mowbray.
After a move to Middlesbrough he returned to Scotland and has become a fixture in the Motherwell side under three different managers.
LEE NAYLOR
Another short and strange Celtic career, joining the club on the same day as Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink while Charlie Mulgrew took the road to Wolves.
Naylor started off in exceptional form and looked the real deal covering in at the problem left-back position.
As Strachan moved on he was replaced by Danny Fox before a brief flourish under Neil Lennon before moving on to spells at Cardiff, Accrington and Derby County.
AIDEN MCGEADY/ DEREK RIORDAN
Two exceptional talents that enjoyed vastly different careers at Celtic and elsewhere.
On this occasion Riordan replaced McGeady but that was a rarity for the Hibs favourite who later returned to Easter Road and continued a troubled career.
McGeady still had a few medal winning seasons to enjoy at Celtic before moving on to Spartak Moscow. His move to Everton wasn’t a success with Ronald Koeman loaning him out to Preston with a Premier League, or Celtic return looking unlikely.
JIRI JAROSIK/ KENNY MILLER
Jiri Jarosik was an early marquee signing, like most it never quite worked out.
He failed to discover his Chelsea or Birmingham form and never really nailed down a regular position in Strachan’s side although he had a decent scoring record in the Champions League.
After 18 months at Celtic he was back on his travels, Miller’s career ping ponged around going no where in particular just like his season long Celtic stint.
EVANDER SNO
Looked a world-beater when signed from Feyenoord but followed the Telfer/Jarosik/ Gravesen pattern in blowing out his Celtic career very quickly.
His two year Celtic career ended with a move to Ajax where he suffered a heart scare during a match but thankfully recovered.
He later had a brief stint with Bristol City but ten European appearances for Celtic was to be the highlight of a brief top flight career.
THOMAS GRAVESEN
There’s a book or a movie to be made out of this guy!
It’s hard to believe these days that Celtic could sign someone from Real Madrid but that didn’t seem so far out back in 2006.
By the end of his first season he had drifted out of the team and missed out on a place on the bench in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline.
A loan spell at Everton never worked out although his colourful lifestyle seems to have brought him a multi-millionaire lifestyle now based in Las Vegas
SHUNSUKE NAKAMURA
One of the most talented players to play for Celtic, his Champions League goal against Manchester United will never be forgotten.
He arrived at Celtic the day after the nightmare in Bratislava and became an essential part of Gordon Strachan’s successes.
Like many others the 08/09 season is best forgotten although he did put the cross in for Darren O’Dea to head the first goal of the CIS Cup Final.
He had a disappointing time with Espanyol after Celtic then returned to Japan,
MACIEJ ZURAWSKI
A one hit wonder who scored with ease in the 05/06 season but quickly drifted out of contention after that scoring burst.
Anyone that scores the only goal of the game is bound to be remebered with the Pole sealing a win in February 2006 in front of a domineering midfield that included Roy Keane and Neil Lennon.
He left Celtic for Cyprus before returning to Poland, he never achieved Champions League standards but was an essential part of the 05/06 title win.