On 22 May 2008, Gordon Strachan’s Celtic side travelled to Tannadice knowing that by matching Rangers’ result would give Celtic the league title…
After defeats to Rangers at the end of March and then Motherwell at the start of April, the league title appeared to be over. However, six wins in a row, including two over Rangers, pulled Celtic back into contention for the title.
Rangers were 4 points behind with two games in hand. Although Walter Smith’s side lost the initiative at Fir Park the week before drawing 1-1, they won days later at Love Street to draw level on points with Celtic going into the last game. Albeit, Celtic had a superior goal difference. Celtic were away to Dundee United and on the same Thursday night Rangers were up at Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen, so difficult games for both sides with both of the New Firm determined to stop title celebrations on their home soil.
Everyone at Celtic was saddened by the death of club legend Tommy Burns during the title run in, and the players vowed to win the league for Tommy. It was to the ground that Tommy scored to help Celtic win the league back in 1981, Tannadice Park, Dundee.
Rangers were on their way to Pittodrie knowing that Celtic held the advantage over them. With the games taking place simultaneously on a Thursday night, there was a huge amount of nerves in the Celtic end (and those that smuggled themselves into the United end). The season had been extended for them as they had a Europa League Final in Manchester, which turned out to be riotous, to say the least.
A laboured first half with both sides creating chances heightened the drama but news filtered through after the hour mark that Aberdeen had taken the lead at Pittodrie sparking scenes of jubilation in the stands, with Celtic supporters dotted everywhere, without a hint of bother.
Tannadice erupted nine minutes later when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink rose to meet a Paul Hartley corner and head home to all-but confirm the league title for Celtic.
Five minutes later, Darren Mackie made it 2-0 in Aberdeen sending Tannadice into an ecstasy of celebration. After heartbreak on the final day in 2003 and especially in 2005, Celtic had inflicted some last day pain on Rangers whilst enjoying their league success.
The Bhoys said they would do it for Tommy Burns and true to their word, they duly delivered.
Here are the highlights of the game…
Here are the full 90 minutes of the game as well as celebrations at full time…
Celtic Champions 2008 Quotes
“It’s been one of the most memorable seasons I’ve ever had in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. We’ve achieved what we set out at the beginning of the season to do. Now I’m away, it’s only fair that I go now and be with people who supported and believed in us for the whole season.” Celtic manager Gordon Strachan (last bit at dig at the Scottish media
“It’s great. Obviously we had a lot of motivation for this game and we had to win ourselves and we managed to do that. Six or seven weeks ago there was folk all over the country writing us off, but we always believed we could do it and it’s been great to prove everybody wrong. There’s nothing better in football than proving people wrong.”
Stephen McManus, Celtic captain.
“We loved him. He was just a gentleman at heart. God rest his soul. We did this for you Tommy – God bless.”
Celtic striker Scott McDonald.
“When you look at last season, the majority of people would say we’d have won the league if we didn’t have all the games we had. When you consider those last two or three weeks, it was virtually impossible for ANY team. We had so many games before the league decider against Aberdeen. But we can’t sit here and make excuses. It didn’t work out and Celtic won the league ” Kris Boyd on Rangers losing the league in 2008. Delicious.
