# 2004–05 Celtic F.C. season

Celtic started season 2004–05 looking to win the Scottish Premier League trophy and retain the Scottish Cup. They also competed in the Scottish League Cup and entered the Champions League at the group stage.
In the race for the SPL title, Celtic recorded a win over city rivals Rangers. However, as the season drew to a close, with Rangers closely following, the club extended their lead at the top of the SPL table to two points as they lined up for the final game of the season. A win at Motherwell was required to seal the title.
With two minutes remaining on the clock, Celtic were leading 1–0, a result which would have handed them the league. However, Motherwell's Scott McDonald (who later signed for Celtic) netted two last-minute goals. Rangers defeated Hibernian 1–0 at Easter Road, thereby winning the league championship title and leaving Celtic in second position. Celtic ended the season one week later with a 1–0 win over Dundee United in the Scottish Cup Final, which was marked by fans as Martin O'Neill's final match as manager.
On 25 May 2005, O'Neill announced he would resign as manager of Celtic at the end of 2004–05 season along with first team coach Steve Walford and assistant manager John Robertson. It was widely reported that O'Neill decided to take time out of football in order to care for his ailing wife, who was ill with lymphoma.

## Competitions

All results (home and away) list Celtic's goal tally first.
Win  Draw  Loss
| Date | Venue | Opponents | Score | Competition | Celtic scorers |
| 18 July 2004 | Craven Cottage | Fulham | 2–0 | Friendly | Hartson, Lennon (pen.) |
| 24 July 2004 | Qwest Field | Chelsea | 2–4 | ChampionsWorld Series | Beattie (2) |
| 27 July 2004 | Rentschler Field | Liverpool | 1–5 | ChampionsWorld Series | Beattie (pen.) |
| 29 July 2004 | Lincoln Financial Field | Manchester United | 2–1 | ChampionsWorld Series | Sutton (pen.), Beattie |
| 1 August 2004 | SkyDome | Roma | 0–1 | ChampionsWorld Series | |
| 4 August 2004 | Celtic Park | Newcastle United | 2–1 | Friendly | Sylla, Camara |
| 8 August 2004 | Celtic Park | Motherwell | 2–0 | SPL | McNamara, Sutton |
| 10 August 2004 | Celtic Park | Tottenham | 2–0 | Friendly | Beattie, Camara |
| 14 August 2004 | Rugby Park | Kilmarnock | 4–2 | SPL | Hartson (2), Thompson (2) |
| 22 August 2004 | Pittodrie Stadium | Inverness CT | 3–1 | SPL | Hartson (2), Petrov |
| 29 August 2004 | Celtic Park | Rangers | 1–0 | SPL | Thompson |
| 11 September 2004 | Celtic Park | Dundee | 3–0 | SPL | Camara (2), Hartson |
| 14 September 2004 | Celtic Park | Barcelona | 1–3 | UCL | Sutton |
| 19 September 2004 | Easter Road | Hibernian | 2–2 | SPL | Camara, Hartson |
| 21 September 2004 | Celtic Park | Falkirk | 8–1 | SLC | Sylla, Wallace (3), Lambert, McManus, McGeady |
| 25 September 2004 | Celtic Park | Dunfermline Athletic | 3–0 | SPL | Camara (2), Varga |
| 29 September 2004 | San Siro | Milan | 1–3 | UCL | Varga |
| 3 October 2004 | Tannadice | Dundee United | 3–0 | SPL | Sutton (2) (pen.), Petrov |
| 16 October 2004 | Celtic Park | Hearts | 3–0 | SPL | Camara, Juninho, Hartson |
| 20 October 2004 | Lokomotiv Stadium (Donetsk) | Shakhtar Donetsk | 0–3 | UCL | |
| 24 October 2004 | Almondvale Stadium | Livingston | 4–2 | SPL | Petrov, Camara, Hartson, Sutton |
| 27 October 2004 | Celtic Park | Aberdeen | 2–3 | SPL | Hartson (2) |
| 30 October 2004 | Fir Park | Motherwell | 3–2 | SPL | McGeady, Thompson (pen.), Beattie |
| 2 November 2004 | Celtic Park | Shakhtar Donetsk | 1–0 | UCL | Thompson |
| 6 November 2004 | Celtic Park | Kilmarnock | 2–1 | SPL | McGeady, Thompson (pen.) |
| 10 November 2004 | Ibrox Stadium | Rangers | 1–2 | SLC | Hartson |
| 13 November 2004 | Celtic Park | Inverness CT | 3–0 | SPL | Sutton, Hartson (2) |
| 20 November 2004 | Ibrox Stadium | Rangers | 0–2 | SPL | |
| 24 November 2004 | Nou Camp | Barcelona | 1–1 | UCL | Hartson |
| 28 November 2004 | Dens Park | Dundee | 2–2 | SPL | Camara, Hartson |
| 4 December 2004 | Celtic Park | Hibernian | 2–1 | SPL | Hartson (2) |
| 7 December 2004 | Celtic Park | Milan | 0–0 | UCL | |
| 12 December 2004 | East End Park | Dunfermline Athletic | 2–0 | SPL | Sutton, Petrov |
| 18 December 2004 | Celtic Park | Dundee United | 1–0 | SPL | Sutton |
| 26 December 2004 | Tynecastle | Hearts | 2–0 | SPL | McGeady, Petrov |
| 2 January 2005 | Celtic Park | Livingston | 2–1 | SPL | Hartson, Sutton |
| 9 January 2005 | Celtic Park | Rangers | 2–1 | SC | Sutton, Hartson |
| 16 January 2005 | Pittodrie | Aberdeen | 1–0 | SPL | Sutton |
| 22 January 2005 | Celtic Park | Motherwell | 2–0 | SPL | Sutton, Petrov |
| 30 January 2005 | Rugby Park | Kilmarnock | 1–0 | SPL | Sutton (pen.) |
| 6 February 2005 | East End Park | Dunfermline Athletic | 3–0 | SC | Hartson (2) Sutton |
| 20 February 2005 | Celtic Park | Rangers | 0–2 | SPL | |
| 27 February 2005 | Broadwood Stadium | Clyde | 5–0 | SC | Varga (2), Thompson (pen.), Petrov, Bellamy |
| 2 March 2005 | Celtic Park | Dundee | 3–0 | SPL | Petrov, Balde (2) |
| 6 March 2005 | Easter Road | Hibernian | 3–1 | SPL | Petrov, Hartson, Bellamy |
| 12 March 2005 | Celtic Park | Dunfermline Athletic | 6–0 | SPL | Hartson (2), McGeady, Petrov (2), Beattie |
| 16 March 2005 | Caledonian Stadium | Inverness CT | 2–0 | SPL | Bellamy, Thompson (pen.) |
| 19 March 2005 | Tannadice | Dundee United | 3–2 | SPL | Bellamy (3) |
| 2 April 2005 | Celtic Park | Hearts | 0–2 | SPL | |
| 10 April 2005 | Hampden Park | Hearts | 2–1 | SC | Sutton, Bellamy |
| 13 April 2005 | Almondvale Stadium | Livingston | 4–0 | SPL | Hartson (3) (pen.), Varga |
| 16 April 2005 | Celtic Park | Aberdeen | 3–2 | SPL | Varga, Hartson, Bellamy |
| 24 April 2005 | Ibrox Stadium | Rangers | 2–1 | SPL | Petrov, Bellamy |
| 30 April 2005 | Celtic Park | Hibernian | 1–3 | SPL | Beattie |
| 8 May 2005 | Celtic Park | Aberdeen | 2–0 | SPL | Hartson (2) |
| 15 May 2005 | Tynecastle | Hearts | 2–1 | SPL | Thompson, Beattie |
| 22 May 2005 | Fir Park | Motherwell | 1–2 | SPL | Sutton |
| 28 May 2005 | Hampden Park | Dundee United | 1–0 | SC | Thompson |
Key:
* SPL = Scottish Premier League
* SC = Scottish Cup
* SLC = Scottish League Cup
* CLF - Champions League Group F
* CL = Champions League Match
* F = Friendly match

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 2 | DF | SUI | Stéphane Henchoz |
| 3 | MF | GUI | Mohamed Sylla |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Jackie McNamara |
| 5 | DF | BEL | Joos Valgaeren |
| 6 | DF | GUI | Bobo Baldé |
| 7 | MF | BRA | Juninho |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Alan Thompson |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Chris Sutton |
| 10 | FW | WAL | John Hartson |
| 11 | MF | SCO | Stephen Pearson |
| 12 | MF | ESP | David Fernández |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Paul Lambert |
| 16 | DF | DEN | Ulrik Laursen |
| 17 | MF | FRA | Didier Agathe |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Neil Lennon |
| 19 | MF | BUL | Stiliyan Petrov |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 20 | GK | SCO | Rab Douglas |
| 21 | GK | SWE | Magnus Hedman |
| 22 | GK | SCO | David Marshall |
| 23 | DF | SVK | Stanislav Varga |
| 27 | FW | SEN | Henri Camara |
| 29 | MF | SCO | Shaun Maloney |
| 33 | MF | SCO | Ross Wallace |
| 35 | MF | SCO | Paul Lawson |
| 37 | FW | SCO | Craig Beattie |
| 41 | DF | SCO | John Kennedy |
| 44 | DF | SCO | Stephen McManus |
| 46 | MF | IRL | Aiden McGeady |
| 47 | FW | WAL | Craig Bellamy |
| — | DF | SCO | Craig Reid |
| 48 | MF | SCO | James McLeod |
| — | FW | ISL | Kjartan Finnbogason |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 2 | DF | SUI | Stéphane Henchoz | 8 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | GUI | Mohammed Sylla | 9 | 1 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Jackie McNamara | 44 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | BEL | Joos Valgaeren | 28 | 0 | 18+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | GUI | Dianbobo Balde | 46 | 3 | 34 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | BRA | Juninho Paulista | 22 | 1 | 9+5 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Alan Thompson | 44 | 10 | 32 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1+1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Chris Sutton | 37 | 16 | 25+2 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | WAL | John Hartson | 49 | 30 | 38 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | SCO | Stephen Pearson | 9 | 0 | 1+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | ESP | David Fernández | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Paul Lambert | 7 | 1 | 0+4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | NED | Bobby Petta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | DEN | Ulrik Laursen | 21 | 0 | 12+6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | FRA | Didier Agathe | 24 | 0 | 14+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Neil Lennon | 49 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | BUL | Stiliyan Petrov | 49 | 12 | 37 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | SCO | Rab Douglas | 19 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | SWE | Magnus Hedman | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | SCO | David Marshall | 24 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | SVK | Stanislav Varga | 46 | 6 | 34 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 27 | FW | SEN | Henri Camara | 26 | 8 | 12+6 | 8 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | SCO | Shaun Maloney | 3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | SCO | Ross Wallace | 21 | 3 | 4+12 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0+3 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | SCO | Paul Lawson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | FW | SCO | Craig Beattie | 13 | 4 | 0+11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 41 | DF | SCO | John Kennedy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | DF | SCO | Stephen McManus | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 46 | MF | IRL | Aiden McGeady | 37 | 5 | 20+7 | 4 | 2+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 47 | FW | WAL | Craig Bellamy | 15 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Team statistics
### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Rangers (C) | 38 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 78 | 22 | +56 | 93 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 2 | Celtic | 38 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 85 | 35 | +50 | 92 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Hibernian | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 64 | 57 | +7 | 61 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 44 | 39 | +5 | 61 | |
| 5 | Heart of Midlothian | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 50 | |
* ↑ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.

## Technical staff

| Position | Staff |
| Manager | Martin O'Neill |
| Assistant Manager | John Robertson |
| First Team Coach | Steve Walford |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Terry Gennoe |
| Head of Youth Academy | Tommy Burns |
| Head of Recruitment | Tom O'Neill |
| Head Physiotherapist | Tim Williamson |
| Physiotherapist | Gavin McCarthy |
| Doctor | Roddy MacDonald |
| Head of Sports Science | Kenny McMillan |
| Performance Coach | Jim Henry |
Last updated: 12 June 2017 Source:

## Transfers

In:
| Date | Player | From | Fee |
| 29 July 2004 | Jacob Lensky | Blackburn Rovers | 10Free |
| 5 August 2004 | Henri Camara | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 10Loan |
| 25 August 2004 | Juninho | Middlesbrough | 10Free |
| 23 December 2004 | Kjartan Finnbogason | KR | 10Undisclosed |
| 23 December 2004 | Teddy Bjarnason | KR | 10Undisclosed |
| 29 January 2005 | Stéphane Henchoz | Liverpool | 10Free |
| 31 January 2005 | Craig Bellamy | Newcastle United | 10Loan |
Out:
| Date | Player | To | Fee |
| 30 June 2004 | Henrik Larsson | Barcelona | 10Free |
| 1 July 2004 | Liam Miller | Manchester United | 10Free |
| 2 July 2004 | Johan Mjällby | Levante | 10Free |
| 21 July 2004 | Jamie Smith | ADO Den Haag | 10Free |
| 10 November 2004 | Bobby Petta | Terminated contract | Released |
| 8 January 2005 | Kevin McBride | Motherwell | 10Undisclosed |
| 6 April 2005 | Juninho | Palmeiras | 10Free |