List of Celtic F.C. seasons

Some of the trophies won by Celtic FC

Celtic Football Club is a Scottish professional association football club based in Parkhead, Glasgow. The club was founded in 1887 and played their first match in May 1888, a friendly match against Rangers.[1] The club played their first competitive match in September 1888, when they entered the first round of the 1888–89 Scottish Cup, and were founding members of the Scottish Football League in 1890 from which they have remained in the top tier of ever since.[2] Celtic have won the Scottish league title on 52 occasions, the Scottish Cup 40 times and the Scottish League Cup 20 times.[3] The club enjoyed their greatest successes during the 1960s and 1970s under Jock Stein when they won nine consecutive league titles and the European Cup.[4]

As of the end of the 2021–22 season, the club have played more than 123 seasons in Scottish football. The table details their achievements and the top goalscorer in senior major first-team competitions to the end of the most recently completed season. Details of the partially completed league campaign in the 1939–40 season, abandoned due to the Second World War, are also included.[5]

History

Celtic played their first ever competitive match on 1 September 1888, a first round Scottish Cup tie against Shettleston, winning 5–1,[6] and eventually reaching the final where they lost to Third Lanark after a replay.[7] The team also made their debuts in the Glasgow Cup and the North-Eastern Cup that same season, reaching the semi-final of the Glasgow Cup where they lost to Queens Park,[7] and defeating Cowlairs 6–1 in the final of the North-Eastern Cup to win their first ever trophy.[1][8] The Scottish Football League was formed in 1890, and Celtic were among the founding members,[9] finishing third behind joint-winner's Rangers and Dumbarton in the competition's inaugural season.[10]

In 1891, Celtic won their second trophy when they beat Third Lanark 4–0 in the final of the Glasgow Cup.[11] The following year saw Celtic winning their first major tournament, defeating Queen's Park 5–1 in the 1892 Scottish Cup Final.[3] A first league title then followed in season 1892–93.[3] The Glasgow Cup remained a prestigious tournament for some years, but declined in importance after the Second World War following the introduction of the Scottish League Cup and European club competitions.[12] Celtic have since gone on to win the Scottish League Championship on 51 occasions, including a run of nine consecutive titles in the 1960s and 1970s, the Scottish Cup 40 times, and the Scottish League Cup 19 times.[3]

Celtic first participated in European competition during the 1962–63 season, their third-place finish in the league the previous season qualifying them for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.[13] They went on to reach two European Cup Winner's Cup semi-finals in 1964 and 1966,[14] before going on to become the first British club to win the European Cup in 1967, defeating Inter Milan 2–1 in the final.[15] Celtic reached the European Cup Final again in 1970, but lost to Feyenoord.[16] Their last appearance in a European final was in 2003 when they lost 3–2 to FC Porto in the UEFA Cup Final.[17] [18]

Key

Seasons

Source:[20][21][22]
Season League Scottish
Cup
Scottish
League Cup
Glasgow
Cup
European
competition
Top goalscorer(s)
Division Pld W D L GF GA Pts Pos Player(s) Goals
1888–89 RU 0N/A[a] SF 0N/A[b] Willie Groves 11
1889–90 1R RU Willie Groves
John Coleman
Peter Dowds
02
1890–91 SFL 18 11 3 4 48 21 21 3rd QF W Peter Dowds 21
1891–92 SFL 22 16 3 3 62 21 41 2nd W W Sandy McMahon 30
1892–93 SFL 18 14 1 3 54 25 29 1st RU RU John Campbell 25
1893–94 SFL 18 14 1 3 53 32 29 1st RU SF Sandy McMahon 30
1894–95 SFL 18 11 4 3 50 29 26 2nd QF W Jake Madden
Sandy McMahon
11
1895–96 SFL 18 15 0 3 64 25 30 1st 1R W Allan Martin 21
1896–97 SFL 18 10 4 4 42 18 24 4th 1R RU Alex King
Sandy McMahon
12
1897–98 SFL 18 15 3 0 56 13 33 1st 2R SF George Allan 17
1898–99 SFL 18 11 2 5 51 33 24 3rd W SF Sandy McMahon 21
1899–1900 SFL 18 09 7 2 46 27 25 2nd W RU Jack Bell 14
1900–01 SFL 20 13 3 4 49 28 29 2nd RU 1R Sandy McMahon 14
1901–02 SFL 18 11 4 3 38 28 26 2nd RU RU John Campbell 15
1902–03 SFL 22 08 10 4 36 30 26 5th QF RU John Campbell 17
1903–04 SFL 26 18 2 6 68 27 38 4th W RU Jimmy Quinn 17
1904–05 SFL 26 18 5 3 68 31 41 1st SF W Jimmy Quinn 22
1905–06 SFL 30 24 1 5 76 19 49 1st QF W Jimmy Quinn 23
1906–07 SFL 34 23 9 2 80 30 55 1st W[c] W Jimmy Quinn 32
1907–08 SFL 34 24 7 3 86 27 55 1st W W[d][e] Jimmy Quinn 22
1908–09 SFL 34 23 5 6 71 24 51 1st F[f] RU Jimmy Quinn 31
1909–10 SFL 34 24 6 4 63 22 54 1st SF W Jimmy Quinn 33
1910–11 SFL 34 15 11 8 48 18 41 5th W RU Jimmy Quinn 18
1911–12 SFL 34 17 11 6 58 33 45 2nd W 1R Jimmy McMenemy 12
1912–13 SFL 34 22 5 7 53 28 49 2nd QF RU Jimmy Quinn 14
1913–14 SFL 38 30 5 3 81 14 65 1st W[g] SF Patsy Gallacher 24
1914–15 SFL 38 30 5 3 91 25 65 1st 0N/A[h] 1R Jimmy McColl 26
1915–16 SFL 38 32 3 3 116 32 67 1st W Jimmy McColl 36
1916–17 SFL 38 27 10 1 79 17 64 1st W Jimmy McColl 24
1917–18 SFL 34 24 7 3 66 26 55 2nd SF Patsy Gallacher 17
1918–19 SFL 34 26 6 2 71 22 58 1st RU Jimmy McColl 17
1919–20 SFL 42 29 10 3 89 31 68 2nd R4 W Tommy McInally 35
1920–21 SFL 42 30 8 6 86 35 66 2nd R4 W Tommy McInally 32
1921–22 SFL 42 27 13 2 83 20 67 1st R3 RU Joe Cassidy 20
1922–23 SFL 38 19 8 11 52 39 46 3rd W 1R Joe Cassidy 34
1923–24 SFL 38 17 12 9 56 33 46 3rd R1 SF Joe Cassidy 25
1924–25 SFL 38 18 8 12 77 44 44 4th W RU Jimmy McGrory 31
1925–26 SFL 38 25 8 5 97 40 58 1st RU RU Jimmy McGrory 48
1926–27 SFL 38 21 7 10 101 55 49 3rd W W Jimmy McGrory 58
1927–28 SFL 38 23 9 6 93 39 55 2nd RU W Jimmy McGrory 63
1928–29 SFL 38 22 7 9 67 44 51 2nd SF W Jimmy McGrory 34
1929–30 SFL 38 22 5 11 88 46 49 4th R3 RU Jimmy McGrory 38
1930–31 SFL 38 24 10 4 101 34 58 2nd W W Jimmy McGrory 45
1931–32 SFL 38 20 8 10 94 50 48 3rd R3 SF Jimmy McGrory 30
1932–33 SFL 38 20 8 10 75 44 48 4th W SF Jimmy McGrory 32
1933–34 SFL 38 18 11 9 78 53 47 3rd R4 SF Frank O'Donnell 28
1934–35 SFL 38 24 4 10 92 45 52 2nd R4 SF Jimmy McGrory 20
1935–36 SFL 38 32 2 4 115 33 66 1st R2 RU Jimmy McGrory 50
1936–37 SFL 38 22 8 8 89 58 52 3rd W SF Jimmy McGrory 27
1937–38 SFL 38 27 7 4 114 42 61 1st R3 SF Johnny Crum 27
1938–39 SFL 38 20 8 10 99 53 48 2nd QF W John Divers 27
1939–40[i] SFL 05 03 0 2 7 8 6 6th 0 SF Frank Murphy[j] 03
1940–41 No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War. Celtic entered unofficial competitions including the 1939–40 Emergency League, the 1940 Emergency Cup, the Southern League, the Summer Cup, the Southern League Cup and the 1946 Victory Cup.
1941–42
1942–43
1943–44
1944–45
1945–46
1946–47 SFL 30 13 6 11 53 55 32 7th 1R Sect 1R N/A[b] Tommy Kiernan 17
1947–48 SFL 30 10 5 15 41 56 25 12th[k] SF Sect SF Johnny Paton 10
1948–49 SFL 30 12 7 11 48 40 31 6th 1R Sect W Jackie Gallacher 21
1949–50 SFL 30 14 7 9 51 50 35 5th 3R Sect SF John McPhail 21
1950–51 SFL 30 12 5 13 48 46 29 7th W QF RU John McPhail 30
1951–52 SFL 30 10 8 12 52 55 28 9th 1R SF RU Bobby Collins 13
1952–53 SFL 30 11 7 12 51 54 29 8th QF Sect 1R Bertie Peacock 12
1953–54 SFL 30 20 3 7 72 29 43 1st W[l] Sect SF Neil Mochan 22
1954–55 SFL 30 19 8 3 76 37 46 2nd RU Sect SF Jimmy Walsh 25
1955–56 SFL 34 16 9 9 55 39 41 5th RU Sect W Not invited Neil Mochan 24
1956–57 SFL 34 15 8 11 58 43 38 5th SF W 1R did not qualify Billy McPhail 18
1957–58 SFL 34 19 8 7 84 47 46 3rd SF W 1R did not qualify Sammy Wilson 32
1958–59 SFL 34 14 8 12 70 53 36 6th SF SF 1R did not qualify John Colrain 18
1959–60 SFL 34 12 9 13 73 59 33 9th SF Sect 1R did not qualify Neil Mochan 22
1960–61 SFL 34 15 9 10 64 46 39 4th RU Sect RU did not qualify Stevie Chalmers 26
1961–62 SFL 34 19 8 7 81 37 46 3rd SF Sect W did not qualify John Hughes 31
1962–63 SFL 34 19 6 9 76 44 44 4th RU Sect RU Inter-Cities Fairs Cup1R John Hughes 20
1963–64 SFL 34 19 9 6 89 34 47 3rd QF Sect W Cup Winners' CupSF Stevie Chalmers 40
1964–65 SFL 34 16 5 13 76 57 37 8th W RU W Inter-Cities Fairs Cup2R Stevie Chalmers 27
1965–66 SFL 34 27 3 4 106 30 57 1st RU W[m] Cup Winners' CupSF Joe McBride 43
1966–67 SFL 34 26 6 2 111 33 58 1st W W[n] W European CupW[o] Joe McBride 38
1967–68 SFL 34 30 3 1 106 24 63 1st 1R W[p] W European Cup1R
Bobby Lennox 44
1968–69 SFL 34 23 8 3 89 32 54 1st W W[q] SF European CupQF Willie Wallace 34
1969–70 SFL 34 27 3 4 96 33 57 1st RU W[r] W European CupRU Willie Wallace 24
1970–71 SFL 34 25 6 3 89 23 56 1st W[s] RU SF European CupQF Harry Hood 33
1971–72 SFL 34 28 4 2 96 28 60 1st W[t] RU European CupSF Kenny Dalglish 29
1972–73 SFL 34 26 5 3 93 28 57 1st RU RU European Cup2R Kenny Dalglish 39
1973–74 SFL 34 23 7 4 82 27 53 1st W[u] RU European CupSF Dixie Deans 33
1974–75 SFL 34 20 5 9 81 41 45 3rd W W[v] W European Cup1R Paul Wilson 26
1975–76 SPD 36 21 6 9 71 42 48 2nd 3R RU RU Cup Winners' CupQF Kenny Dalglish 32
1976–77 SPD 36 23 9 4 79 39 55 1st W[w] RU UEFA Cup1R Kenny Dalglish 27
1977–78 SPD 36 15 6 15 63 54 36 5th 4R RU European Cup2R Joe Craig 16
1978–79 SPD 36 31 6 9 61 37 48 1st QF SF RU did not qualify Tom McAdam 16
1979–80 SPD 36 18 11 7 61 38 47 2nd W QF SF European CupQF George McCluskey 17
1980–81 SPD 36 26 4 6 84 37 56 1st SF SF RU Cup Winners' Cup1R Frank McGarvey 29
1981–82 SPD 36 24 7 5 79 33 55 1st 4R Sect W European Cup1R George McCluskey 25
1982–83 SPD 36 25 5 6 90 36 55 2nd SF W RU European Cup2R Charlie Nicholas 48
1983–84 SPD 36 21 8 7 80 41 50 2nd RU RU UEFA Cup3R Brian McClair 31
1984–85 SPD 36 22 8 6 77 30 52 2nd W QF SF Cup Winners' Cup2R Brian McClair 24
1985–86 SPD 36 20 10 6 67 38 50 1st QF QF RU Cup Winners' Cup1R Brian McClair 29
1986–87 SPD 44 27 9 8 90 41 63 2nd 4R RU RU European Cup2R Brian McClair 41
1987–88 SPD 44 31 10 3 79 23 72 1st W[x] QF SF European Cup1R Andy Walker 32
1988–89 SPD 36 21 4 11 66 44 46 3rd W QF N/A[y] European Cup2R Mark McGhee 19
1989–90 SPD 36 10 14 12 37 37 34 5th RU SF Cup Winners' Cup1R Dariusz Dziekanowski 16
1990–91 SPD 36 17 7 12 52 38 41 3rd SF RU did not qualify Tommy Coyne 20
1991–92 SPD 44 26 10 8 88 42 62 3rd SF QF UEFA Cup2R Charlie Nicholas 25
1992–93 SPD 44 24 12 8 68 41 60 3rd 4R SF UEFA Cup2R Andy Payton 15
1993–94 SPD 44 15 20 9 51 38 50 4th R3 SF UEFA Cup2R Pat McGinlay 12
1994–95 SPD 36 11 18 7 39 33 51 4th W RU did not qualify John Collins 12
1995–96 SPD 36 24 11 1 74 25 83 2nd SF QF Cup Winners' Cup2R Pierre van Hooijdonk 32
1996–97 SPD 36 23 6 7 78 32 75 2nd SF QF UEFA Cup1R Jorge Cadete 33
1997–98 SPD 36 22 8 6 64 24 74 1st SF W[z] UEFA Cup1R Henrik Larsson 19
1998–99 SPL 36 21 8 7 84 35 71 2nd RU R3 CL2QR
UEFA Cup2R
Henrik Larsson 38
1999–2000 SPL 36 21 6 9 90 38 69 2nd R3 W UEFA Cup2R Mark Viduka 27
2000–01 SPL 38 31 4 3 90 29 97 1st W W[aa] UEFA Cup2R Henrik Larsson 53
2001–02 SPL 38 33 4 1 94 18 103 1st RU SF CLGS
UEFA Cup3R
Henrik Larsson 34
2002–03 SPL 38 31 4 3 98 26 97 2nd QF RU CL3QR
Henrik Larsson 44
2003–04 SPL 38 31 5 2 105 25 98 1st W[ab] QF CLGS
UEFA CupQF
Henrik Larsson 41
2004–05 SPL 38 30 2 6 85 35 92 2nd W QF CLGS John Hartson 30
2005–06 SPL 38 28 7 3 93 37 91 1st R3 W[ac] CL2QR John Hartson
Maciej Żurawski
20
2006–07 SPL 38 26 6 6 65 34 84 1st W[ad] QF CLR16 Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 18
2007–08 SPL 38 28 5 5 84 26 89 1st QF QF CLR16 Scott McDonald 31
2008–09 SPL 38 24 10 4 80 33 82 2nd QF W CLGS Scott McDonald 20
2009–10 SPL 38 25 6 7 75 39 81 2nd SF QF CLPO
ELGS
Robbie Keane 16
2010–11 SPL 38 29 5 4 85 22 92 2nd W RU CL3QR
ELPO
Gary Hooper 22
2011–12 SPL 38 30 3 5 84 21 93 1st SF RU ELGS Gary Hooper 29
2012–13 SPL 38 24 7 7 92 35 79 1st W[ae] SF CLR16 Gary Hooper 31
2013–14 SP 38 31 6 1 102 25 99 1st 5R 3R CLGS Kris Commons 32
2014–15 SP 38 29 5 4 84 17 92 1st SF W[af] CLPO
ELR32
Leigh Griffiths 20
2015–16 SP 38 26 8 4 93 31 86 1st SF SF CLPO
ELGS
Leigh Griffiths 40
2016–17 SP 38 34 4 0 106 25 106 1st W W[ag] CLGS Moussa Dembélé 32
2017–18 SP 38 24 10 4 73 25 82 1st W W[ah] CLGS
ELR32
Scott Sinclair 18
2018–19 SP 38 27 6 5 77 20 87 1st W W[ai] CL3QR
ELR32
Odsonne Édouard 23
2019–20[aj] SP 30 26 2 2 89 19 80 1st[ak] W W[al] CL3QR
ELR32
Odsonne Édouard 29
2020–21 SP 38 22 11 5 78 29 77 2nd 4R 2R CL2QR
ELGS
Odsonne Édouard 22
2021–22 SP 38 29 6 3 92 22 93 1st SF W CL2QR
ELGS
ECLKPO
Kyogo Furuhashi 20
2022–23 SP 38 32 3 3 114 34 99 1st W W CLGS Kyogo Furuhashi 34

Notes

  1. ^ The Scottish League Cup competition did not begin until 1946.
  2. ^ a b European club competitions did not begin until 1955.
  3. ^ First League and Cup 'double'.
  4. ^ Second League and Cup 'double'.
  5. ^ Also won the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup to claim all four tournaments entered.
  6. ^ 1908–09 Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic was abandoned due to a riot. The trophy was withheld.
  7. ^ Third League and Cup 'double'.
  8. ^ The competition was withdrawn due to the outbreak of the First World War. Unofficial wartime tournaments included the Navy and Army War Fund Shield and the 1919 Victory Cup.
  9. ^ The 1939–40 season was suspended following the outbreak of the Second World War
  10. ^ John Divers is listed as Celtic's top scorer for 1939-40, but this tally includes goals scored in the unofficial wartime competitions set up in the aftermath of the suspension of official football. Prior to the official season being suspended in October 1939, Frank Murphy was the top scorer.
  11. ^ 12th place in 1947–48 is Celtic's lowest ever league position.
  12. ^ Fourth League and Cup 'double'.
  13. ^ First League and League Cup 'double'.
  14. ^ First League, Cup and League Cup 'treble'.
  15. ^ Won all five tournaments entered; first northern European club to win European Cup.
  16. ^ Second League and League Cup 'double'.
  17. ^ Second League, Cup and League Cup 'treble'.
  18. ^ Third League and League Cup 'double'.
  19. ^ Fifth League and Cup 'double'.
  20. ^ Sixth League and Cup 'double'.
  21. ^ Seventh League and Cup 'double'.
  22. ^ First Cup and League Cup 'double'.
  23. ^ Eighth League and Cup 'double'.
  24. ^ Ninth League and Cup 'double'.
  25. ^ The Glasgow Cup becomes a youth team competition.
  26. ^ Fourth League and League Cup 'double'.
  27. ^ Third League, Cup and League Cup 'treble'.
  28. ^ Tenth League and Cup 'double'.
  29. ^ Fifth League and League Cup 'double'.
  30. ^ Eleventh League and Cup 'double'.
  31. ^ Twelfth League and Cup 'double'.
  32. ^ Sixth League and League Cup 'double'.
  33. ^ Fourth League, Cup and League Cup 'treble'.
  34. ^ Fifth League, Cup and League Cup 'treble'; second in succession.
  35. ^ Sixth League, Cup and League Cup 'treble'; third in succession.
  36. ^ All competitive matches affiliated with the Scottish Football Association were postponed indefinitely on 13 March 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  37. ^ Season curtailed and standings at time of postponement declared final (including Celtic as champions) on 18 May 2020.[23]
  38. ^ Seventh League, Cup and League Cup 'treble'; fourth in succession.

References

  1. ^ a b "Brief history". Celtic FC. Archived from the original on 10 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  2. ^ Stokkermans, Karel. "Coventric!". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "About Celtic". Celtic FC. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  4. ^ Sullivan, Joe (10 September 2017). "Jock Stein - the man who made the modern-day Celtic". Celtic FC. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Welcome to Celtic@FitbaStats". FitbaStats - Celtic. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  6. ^ Cuddihy, Paul; Friel, David (2010). The Century Bhoys: The Official History of Celtic's Greatest Goalscorers. Black & White Publishing. ISBN 9781845026103.
  7. ^ a b "Results For Season 1888/1889". FitbaStats - Celtic. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Glasgow North-eastern Football Association Final Cup Tie". The Scotsman. 13 May 1889. p. 5.
  9. ^ "The Scottish Football League 1890 - 1891". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  10. ^ "SFL Archive 1890/1891". SPFL. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Glasgow Cup Finals 1888-2017" (PDF). Glasgow FA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  12. ^ "History". Glasgow FA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Celtic in Europe 1961-64". Jim Craig's Football 50. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Celtic FC - History". UEFA.com. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  15. ^ Barham, Albert (26 May 1967). "Relentless attack captures European Cup". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  16. ^ Green, Geoffrey (7 May 1970). "Dutch humble Celtic to take cup". The Times. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Derlei decides dramatic final". UEFA.com. 22 May 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  18. ^ Forsyth, Roddy (2 December 2007). "Celtic's form has James Forrest dreaming of a European run to rival 2003". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  19. ^ Brown, Alan; Preston, Simon; Di Maggio, Roberto. "Scotland - List of Topscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  20. ^ "League Tables". FitbaStats - Celtic. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Competition History (By Season)". FitbaStats - Celtic. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Player Records (By Season)". FitbaStats - Celtic. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.