Bayern Munich v Celtic 2003
In a fortnight’s time thousands of Celtic fans will be hitting the high road to Munich, some of them might even have match tickets!
The Allianz Arena is new ground for a support that has been to the Nou Camp six times since they last visited the powerhouse of southern Germany.
In 2003, not long after Seville, Celtic headed to the old Olympic Stadium for Matchday One in the Champions League with the feeling that there was one more good campaign in the side that had taken the club back onto Europe’s centre stage.
The draw hadn’t been kind which is a recurring theme but after seeing off teams from Spain, Germany and England to reach the UEFA Cup Final there were grounds for optimism ahead of facing Bayern.
Johan Mjalby and Joos Valgaeren were missing but with a powerful midfield and led by Henrik Larsson this side was always capable of scoring.
And score they did, early in the second half through Alan Thompson but a nightmare display from Magnus Hedman was to prove very costly.
The game did demonstrate that Celtic could compete at the highest level- but as the group unfolded they came up just short and ended up, disappointingly at the time in the UEFA Cup.
MAGNUS HEDMAN
Off the park the Swede didn’t lack confidence as he enjoyed the trappings of his celebrity lifestyle but on it he had the heart of a mouse when it came to the big occasion.
Martin O’Neill attempted to bring him into the side on a number of occasions but they almost all ended with a minor injury picked up or a high profile howler.
Gordon Strachan moved him on swiftly, after a bizarre spell at Chelsea his career and life went into a tailspin.
JACKIE MCNAMARA
He was rarely given the runaround at any level and had the full respect of his higher profile team-mates.
In this season, possibly O’Neill’s finest he made 11 appearances in Europe but a year later he left the club as a contract dispute unfolded at the time of the changeover between O’Neill and Gordon Strachan.
After a promising start to his managerial career his star began to wane, he is now the unlikely chief executive of non-League side York City.
BOBO BALDE
Bobo was Bobo and not many strikers fancied going feace to face with O’Neill’s preferred type of central defender.
A year later he was signing an incredible Celtic contract that cost the club plenty in the years that followed, like his playing style Bobo wasn’t prepared to compromise or back down as his Celtic career quietly fizzled out.
STAN VARGA
After being signed in January he had to wait until the final game of the season at Kilmarnock to make his debut.
With Joos Valgaeren and Johan Mjallby injury prone Varga went on to make 50 SPL and European appearances this season, the following year he scored a memorable equaliser against AC Milan before two late goals meant another defeat.
He left Celtic to return to Sunderland and is now involved with a number of projects in Slovakia.
DIDIER AGATHE
He found more space to operate when he was playing in Europe and was a key factor in the successes of O’Neill’s sides.
When Gordon Strachan took over his career came to a sudden halt, he’s now back in the Reunion Isles working with young players and in regular contact with Celtic’s academy set up.
NEIL LENNON
O’Neill’s warrior on the pitch, he took every game to heart and never shirked a challenge on or off the park.
His game was priceless in Europe where retaining possession was so important.
Despite being the player most closely associated with O’Neill he was the one that had the most success under Strachan.
He went on to manage Celtic successfully in Europe and is now making a decent fist of sorting Hibs out.
STAN PETROV
He provided Celtic with great service at home and abroad before leaving for Aston Villa under a bit of a cloud.
Reunited with O’Neill his career was going from strength to strength when cancer struck him down in his prime.
Fortunately that was five years ago, he almost made a full recovery but is back to full health and is never slow to talk up his old club.
ALAN THOMPSON
He was a heart on sleeve type player capable of raising his game against so-called higher quality opponents.
He quickly got what it was about to be a Celtic player and responded with several big time goals before he drifted out of contention under Gordon Strachan.
In 2010 he was back to assist Neil Lennon but left under a cloud twio years later after helping to deliver the title.
CHRIS SUTTON
If Celtic had a Sutton in defence, midfield and attack the successes could have been even greater.
He recently slaughtered Hedman’s performance in this match, the dressing room after this painful defeat must have been feisty.
Now pulling up trees and upsetting a lot of folk that don’t like uncomfortable truths with his media work.
HENRIK LARSSON
After the hurt of Seville he went on to have another incredible season before heading off to Barcelona.
He deserved a run to the knock out stages of the Champions League with Celtic but two years later he was deservedly picking up a winners medal from the competition.
Management hasn’t been kind to him with his career currently in limbo but at Celtic, Manchester United and Barcelona he is assured of a heroes welcome.
JOHN HARTSON
His game was about more than goals with his bravery creating openings for his team-mates.
After O’Neill he managed to win another title under Strachan before moving south where it never really worked out at West Brom.
Like Petrov he had to battle cancer but is now looking healthier than ever, fully involved in a number of projects and enjoyed last week’s win over Anderlecht like any fan.