Champs League Cash & A Knighthood Lost

By: JT | July 3rd, 2007

The massive importance of Celtic’s advancement through the group stages in the Champions League is further underlined in a fantastic article in today’s Scotsman. The column breaks down how Celtic took home almost £11 million from last year’s CL trip to the Round of 16. The most interesting funds the club earned were from TV and marketing rights. They took home a full £4.2 million pot, which as the only Scottish club in the group stages, was all theirs. For Celtic, there really is no other option but to make the group stages every season, and advance when the matchups are right. These funds are crucial to maintaining dominance in Scotland, and developing a squad capable of taking on Europe’s best.

As I know Ian will appreciate, Sevilla, the UEFA Cup champs (and one hell of a team to watch), only earned £4.2 million in prizes. Compare that to the £3.8 million that Levski Sofia pocketed just for showing up during the group stages of the CL and losing every match.

Jock Stein, the legendary Celtic coach and builder of the team that lifted the European Cup in 1967 and made it to the final in 1970 before losing to Feyenoord, was set to be knighted after the 1967 victory. Celtic was the first British club to claim the honor, but according to documents just released by Downing Street, the infamous “Battle of River Plate” cost him that knighthood. Celtic was playing Argentina’s Racing Club de Avellaneda in a home-and-home tie for the Intercontinental Cup. After two legs, it was 2-2 and in those days they went to a third and final playoff match, and this one was held in Argentina like the second leg was. Racing mugged the Celts all over the pitch, and eventually the Bhoys had enough and a nasty mass brawl ensued. For this offense, Stein’s name was dropped from the knighthood list. That’s an absurd reason for Jock to lose out on what he rightfully earned, and since posthumous knighthoods are not granted, it sadly appears there will be no Sir Jock.

For good or ill, politics and Celtic Football Club have always been entangled. That looks set to continue as John Reid, Tony Blair’s last Home Secretary, is rumored to be next in line for the Chairmanship at Celtic Park. The current chair, Brian Quinn, is looking to step down after seven years of exemplary service. Irish investment genius, owner of London City Airport and Celtic’s largest shareholder Dermot Desmond is pushing for the move. For the moment at least, Reid claims his future is undecided.

Mark Wilson is recovered from injury, and ready to go this season. That’s great news. He should be settling into first team football at right back, and then we won’t have to worry about Doumbe and his apparent demand for far more money than he’s worth.

The Maceo Rigters transfer fiasco has finally come to an end. Rigters had been consistently linked with a move to Parkhead, and was set to be in Glasgow today for talks. As it turns out, he signed for Blackburn before doing so. Oh well, nothing had, nothing lost. I prefer Maceo Parker anyway.