Tomorrow the Celts take on theRangers to compete for this season’s League Cup, a trophy which currently resides in Celtic Park. Last season’s final victory over Hibs – with Kyogo as hero – made the forward Celtic’s first Japanese scorer in a League Cup Final.
In total, 12 nationalities have scored for the Bhoys in all of our League Cup Final matches (Scotland, Iceland, England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Ireland, Wales, Australia, France and Japan). You can get full details of this in last season’s article see below.
READ THIS…Hail Hail History – 12 Nations, Celtic’s League Cup scorers
So, based on likely Celtic players for the final (starting or on the bench), which new nationality could feasibly be added to the list of Celtic League Cup Final scorers? Let’s have a look at the contenders…
USA – Cameron Carter-Vickers – Although born in England, Carter-Vickers plays for the US national team (qualifying through his father). He has scored for Celtic, including against the Ibrox side. He was unlucky to not do this the last time the Bhoys played theRangers at Hampden so the final would be a great time to exorcise that ghost.
CANADA – Alistair Johnston – Canadian Johnston has only recently signed for Celtic but has already appeared at Ibrox. He is yet to score for the Bhoys so tomorrow could be his big chance (a full-back scored when we last met theRangers at Hampden). If he does then he would be the first person from the continent of the Americas to achieve this feat for Celtic.
PORTUGAL- Jota – As a forward, winger Jota is well placed to make Portugal the 13th country to score for Celtic in a League Cup Final. He is a near certain starter for the game and has already scored twice against the Light Blues. Could tomorrow be his cup final opportunity?
ISRAEL – Liel Abada – Like Jota, Abada is a forward and so has a much better chance of scoring than more defensive players. He has a good goals record against theRangers having got three goals in two previous matches. He’s not guaranteed to start but, if he does, could add Israel to Celtic’s League Cup Final goal records.
MONTENEGRO – Sead Hakšabanović – Although born in Sweden (a nationality that already has a Celtic League Cup Final goal to its name), Sead plays for Montenegro, his family’s homeland. He has scored for Celtic, although not against theRangers. It is very unlikely he’ll start tomorrow but a late substitute appearance could give him the opportunity.
SOUTH KOREA – Hyeongyu Oh – The most recent addition to the Celtic side, Oh is a South Korean. He can’t be the first Asian to score for Celtic in the final as Kyogo beat him to it but he can still be the first South Korean to do so. Oh has already got his name on the Bhoys’ scoresheet but another tomorrow would make him even more popular.
It would be a little bit of history if Sunday’s final saw more countries added to the list of Celtic’s League Cup Final scorers. In fact if all those countries were to be added it would be a truly great day!
However every Celtic fan will just be happy with the win – even if it’s from a country who’s scored for us before. C’mon the Hoops!
Matthew Marr
Follow Matthew on twitter @hailhailhistory
Matthew Marr’s Debut Celtic book – The BOULD BHOYS – ‘Glory to their name’ tells the story of Celtic’s first ever title win. It will be published in this April on Celtic Star Books and will be available on highest quality hardback and also on Amazon Kindle. It is absolutely superb.
8 December 2019
Celtic 1-0 Rangers#celticthrowbackthursdayFraser Forster was Celtic’s hero as the ten-man Bhoys won the cup.
Jullien gave Celtic the lead before Morelos saw his penalty saved (after Frimpong was red carded).#celtic #celticfc #football #celticprogrammes pic.twitter.com/R4clu8R8NQ
— Hail Hail History 🍀 (@hailhailhistory) February 23, 2023
