Celtic is one of the biggest clubs on the planet. They were the first British side to win the European Cup and have won 55 Scottish league titles.
Nowadays, many top players use Celtic as a stepping stone to bigger leagues. Virgil van Dijk played for the club before moving to Southampton and then Liverpool. However, to be a true Celtic great, you must play your best football for the club. Here are the top 10 greatest Hoops players of all time.
The 10 greatest Celtic players of all-time
10. Shunsuke Nakamura
During his four years at Celtic, Shunsuke Nakamura became a hero for his ability to take a sublime free-kick. He won three Scottish Premier League titles before moving to Spain with Espanyol. It did not work out for Naka in La Liga, but he went on to have a successful spell back in Japan with the Yokohama F. Marinos. Following his retirement, Naka worked as a coach at Yokohama FC.
9. James Forrest
Often in these lists, it is compiled of players who have already retired. However, James Forrest deserves a place despite still competing for the Hoops. This is deservedly so as he is the most decorated player in Celtic history.
Forrest has won 26 trophies with Celtic. This includes 13 league titles, seven Scottish Cups, and Six Scottish League Cups. Forrest is now 34, and his contract with the Hoops expires at the end of the season. Forrest may still be able to add more silverware to his trophy cabinet.
8. Scott Brown
Scott Brown began his career with Hibernian before winning 10 Scottish Premiership titles with the Hoops. He spent 14 years as a Celtic player before finishing his career with Aberdeen. The midfielder always put in tough tackles, especially in matches against Rangers.
Brown also earned 55 caps for Scotland, scoring four goals. During his playing career, he sported a shaved head, but since he has retired, he has grown his hair out. Brown is now a manager and is in charge of Ayr United after a spell with Fleetwood Town.
7. Bobby Lennox
This list cannot be compiled without having at least one of the Lisbon Lions, who defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in the 1967 European Cup final. Bobby Lennox played his entire career for Celtic, barring a spell with the Houston Hurricane in the North American Soccer League. Lennox was Celtic's most decorated player before Forrest broke his record. He scored three goals in 10 games for Scotland.
6. Billy McNeil
Billy McNeil captained the Celtic side to European glory in 1967. He was also a successful manager of the club, who led the Hoops to four league titles. The defender also played for Scotland 29 times, and managed three goals for his country. He also managed notable English sides, Manchester City and Aston Villa. McNeil passed away in 2019, at the age of 79. There is a statue of McNeil outside of Celtic Park holding the European Cup.
5. Paul McStay
Being a one-club man helps when making this list. Paul McStay spent 16 years as a Celtic player, making over 500 appearances. He won three Scottish Premier Division titles, four Scottish Cups, and one Scottish League Cup. The midfielder also represented Scotland on 76 occasions, where he scored nine goals. McStay now lives in Australia with his family.
4. Kenny Dalglish
Despite growing up as a Rangers fan, Kenny Dalglish became a legend at Celtic. He won four league titles with the Hoops before also becoming a legend with Liverpool. King Kenny had two spells managing Liverpool, but also had an interim period in charge of Celtic, where he won the Scottish League Cup.
Dalglish also played 102 times for Scotland, where he scored 30 goals. His daughter, Kelly Cates, is a successful presenter who is one of Gary Lineker's replacements on Match of the Day.
3. Jimmy Johnstone
Jimmy Johnstone was Celtic's mercurial winner when they won the 1967 European Cup. He also won the Scottish First Division nine times with the Hoops. Nicknamed Jinky, he also came third in the Ballon d'Or the year Celtic won the European Cup.
Johnstone played over 300 times for Celtic but became a journeyman after leaving the club. He went on to have short spells with the San Jose Earthquakes, Sheffield United, Dundee, Shelbourne, and Elgin City. He also earned 24 caps for Scotland, where he scored four times. Johnstone passed away in 2006, at the age of 61.
2. Henrik Larsson
Henrik Larsson also played for Barcelona, Manchester United, and Feyenoord; however, his best days were undoubtedly with Celtic. He won four league titles with the Hoops and was part of their side that reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 2003 before losing to Jose Mourinho's FC Porto. Larsson also earned a prestigious individual award at Celtic, claiming the 2001 European Golden Boot.
Larsson scored 227 goals with 65 assists in 301 games for Celtic. He also found the back of the net 37 times for Sweden in 106 caps. After retiring from playing, Larsson managed Swedish sides including Landskrona BoIS, Falkenbergs FF, and the team he represented as a player, Helsingborgs IF.
1. Jimmy McGrory
Jimmy McGrory's Celtic career spanned from 1922 to 1937. During this period, he scored 522 goals in 445 games. He won the Scottish League Division One three times and the Scottish Cup five times. McGrory was also a successful manager with the Hoops, where he won the league again. The great Jock Stein was his successor as manager, who led Celtic to the 1967 triumph.
Remarkably, McGrory was such an effective center-forward despite only being 5 ft 6. His diving headers led to nicknames such as the Human Torpedo and the Mermaid. McGroy played only seven times for Scotland, but still scored six goals. He passed away in 1982, at the age of 78. His goalscoring record makes him the all-time leader in British football.