Glasgow Roots

Lore & Background

Celtic have been in the Scottish top division since the inaugural Scottish Football League season in 1890. They played their first match in May 1888, a friendly against Rangers which Celtic won 5–2. Celtic established themselves within Scottish football, winning six successive league titles during the first decade of the 20th century. The club enjoyed their greatest successes during the 1960s and 70s under Jock Stein, when they won nine consecutive league titles and the 1967 European Cup. Celtic have played in green and white throughout their history, adopting in 1903 the hoops that have been used ever since.

Reader's Guide

Celtic are one of only seven clubs in the world to have won over 100 trophies, with 122 major honours as of May 2026, the most of any European club and the second-most in the world. The club has won the Scottish league championship a record 56 times, most recently in 2025–26, the Scottish Cup a record 43 times and the Scottish League Cup 22 times. The club's greatest season was 1966–67, when Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup, also winning the Scottish league championship, the Scottish Cup, the League Cup and the Glasgow Cup. Celtic also reached the 1970 European Cup final and the 2003 UEFA Cup final, losing in both.

Did You Know?

• Celtic's first kit consisted of a white shirt with a green collar, black shorts, and emerald green socks.
• The original club crest was a simple green cross on a red oval background.
• Celtic set the League record for the highest home score in 1895 when they beat Dundee 11–0.
• The club's fanbase was estimated in 2003 as being around 9 million worldwide.