9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Celtic assistant manager Shaun Maloney speaks to the press after the match
Remember Remember the sixth of November 2005 as Gordon Strachan got to experience his first Celtic Park Glasgow Derby.
Maloney scored one of the best goals ever witnessed in the fixture.
The other goal was pretty memorable as well.
Whether it was a panic attack or something else Stefan Klos clearly had visions of Bobo’s Goannae Get You are he allowed the ball to bounce off his backside into the net.
Balde being in the vicinity was enough to terrify Klos into scoring an own goal.
November 6 was a pivotal night for both managers, two former Aberdeen team-mates.
For Strachan it was the making of his Celtic side after the most difficult of starts.
It was time up for McLeish, even with the benefit of a squad filled with ineligible players, lured to Rangers through the promise of off the books payments. Disguised remuneration.
McLeish managed a unique double that season. His side fluked their way into the Last 16 of the Champions League on seven points and finished third in the SPL.
ON THIS DAY 9th NOVEMBER 2005
Celtic 2-0 Rangers – League Cup
Goals – Maloney 26, Klos 82 og.
Celtic eased holders Rangers out of the CIS Insurance Cup to heap more pressure on beleaguered Ibrox boss Alex McLeish. ?? https://t.co/0i0MnTu9s5— Willie Collow (@CollowWillie) November 9, 2026
Strachan’s first month at Celtic couldn’t have been more difficult.
There was a 4-4 SPL draw at Motherwell between the two legged defeat to Artmedia Bratislava.
Chris Sutton was seriously injured against Artmedia, Alan Thompson and Neil Lennon were sent off in a 3-1 defeat at Ibrox.
THE 30 YARD SCREAMER FROM MALONEY
Two Poles started to turn things around alongside some overlooked talent already at the club. Maloney, Aiden McGeady and Stephen McManus. Plus one of the greatest talents seen at Celtic this century, Shunsuke Nakamura.
Results picked up during September and October, there were no European distractions post Artmedia.
When the League Cup tie came around Celtic were on a run of 10 victories and a home draw against George Burley’s Hearts side.
Celtic’s dominance was rewarded in the 26th minute through Maloney’s wonder goal.
Klos was a bit too far from goal but from a distance the pace and swerve on the shot made it unstoppable. A night-time goal in the Glasgow Derby ignites Celtic Park.
Eight minutes from full time Rangers were still in the hunt despite having Soti Kyrgiakos sent off in the 66th minute.
All in took was a cross towards the back post from Nakamura to terrify Klos.
Balde had a 10% chance of reaching the ball but his presence was too much for Klos to deal with. He went to pieces as the ball bounced off his backside into the goal with Balde towering above.
After an international break Celtic beat their city rivals 3-0 just 10 days later.
Strachan was on his way to winning the first of three SPL titles. For McLeish and Klos it was time up.
