Celtic author and Tour Guide Matt Corr, of this parish, joined Tino on The Celtic Exchange Podcast to discuss Matt’s forthcoming book Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which covers Gordon Strachan’s eventful first season at Celtic in 2005/06.
Martin O’Neill left the club for family reasons and we had to pick ourselves up from the end of his incredible era at the club together with the events on the final day of the league campaign at Motherwell in what turned out to be a Black Sunday for Celtic, easily the worst ever experience watching Celtic for so many of you reading this.
Yet Gordon Strachan’s record at Celtic remains under appreciated and it’s also an era that has been curiously overlooked by Celtic authors, until now.
So much happened to Celtic in Gordon Strachan’s first season and so many big stories surrounded the transfers in and out. The goals that perhaps stand out most are the two that young Stephen McManus scored on New Year’s Day 2026 at Tynecastle to turn around a 2-1 Hearts lead to the match for Celtic. And of course the goal a few months later at Celtic Park by Big John Hartson that wrapped up the title.
Celtic’s Stephen McManus celebrates with team mates after scoring during the Scottish Premier division match between Hearts and Celtic at Tynecastle stadium on January 1, 2006, .Celtic won the match 3-2. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Both Stephen McManus and John Hartson will be joining The Celtic Star – along with loads of other guests which we’ll announce today and over the next few days – at the Kerrydale Suite at Celtic Park on Thursday 19 October (7pm-midnight) for a Celtic Star extravaganza during the International break. Tickets are selling fast, so get yours, full details below.
Meanwhile here’s Matt Corr talking about his latest Celtic Star book on The Celtic Exchange Podcast…
Majic, Stan and the King of Japan is out in Friday 20 October and is available to order now HERE.
The Celtic Star presents a night with John Hartson and Stephen McManus at the Kerrydale on Thursday 19 October…
There’s no Celtic action for a few weeks due the latest international break, but you can still come along to Celtic Park on Thursday 19 October – on the anniversary of Hampden in the Sun, Celtic 7 Rangers 1…to join The Celtic Star team live in the Kerrydale with special guests John Hartson and Stephen McManus as we launch Matt Corr’s new book ‘Majic, Stan and the King of Japan’ which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season at Celtic and we’ll have the trophies Celtic won that season there too!
There’s live music from the wonderful Boolavogue and many more Celtic guests coming along which we’ll start to announce tomorrow. Tickets are selling fast so get yours now, just click on the image below and we’ll see you in the Kerrydale. it’s going to be some night and a great Celtic fix during the international break!
Join The Celtic Star at the Kerrydale on Thursday 19 October when we celebrate the launch of Matt Corr’s new book Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season as Celtic manager. We’ll have the trophies that the Celtic team won that season plus well delighted welcome our special guests John Hartson and Stephen McManus, both stars of that Celtic team.
And we have other guests to be announced later this week plus there’s live music from the wonderful Boolavogue. Tickets are selling fast for what is sure to be a wonderful night of Celtic conversation and music and you can order below…
