BIZARRE HISTORY OF... CELTIC

DI STEFA-NO DEAL

In August 1964, Bhoys boss Jimmy Mcgrory and centre-half – and languages graduate – John Cushley went to Spain to offer Alfredo Di Stefano £30,000 for a year-long contract. Sadly, the 38-year-old had already left Real Madrid for Espanyol.

DENTAL CARE

In the 1967 European Cup Final, goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson kept the team’s false teeth in a little bag behind his goal. In the uproar that followed Celtic’s victory over Inter, the bag was almost lost.

MINOR CHARACTER

In 1976, 17-year-old defender Roy Aiken had to report to the East German police so they could check that, as a minor, he was being properly looked after on the trip to Sachsenring Zwickau for a Cup Winners’ Cup clash.

BHOY FROM BRAZIL

John Barnes brought in Rafael Scheidt for £5m in 1999 after watching him on ESPN. Barnes’ replacement Martin O’neill later told Scheidt: “I like footballers who are not like you. I like footballers who play well.”

HEADLINE-MAKER

Hurt by talk that his heart wasn’t in a cup tie against Inverness in 2000, Mark Viduka decided to stay in the changing room after the break. Celtic went on to lose 3-1, leading to famous Sun splash: ‘Super Cali Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious’.