Celtic Football Club is known for its passionate global fanbase, but also for the remarkable number of elite footballers who have grown up supporting the Hoops. Success across different eras have brought connections with footballers past and present, alongside footballers who have enjoyed success at other clubs but express their enthusiasm for the Celtic Park match day atmosphere.
When Roy Keane capped his illustrious career with Manchester United by signing for Celtic he said: "I wouldn't have called it a dream but I'd always liked Celtic. I felt a bit of loyalty to them. I just wanted to play for Glasgow Celtic. Celtic is a special club. From my days being brought up in Cork, I always had an affection for Celtic."
Champions League winner Andy Robertson told the We Are Liverpool podcast in 2023: "I grew up a massive Celtic fan. Had the season ticket, used to go to every home game in particular and try to go to some away games and things like that.
"Celtic was my life. Went to school and then you come back and you go in your garden and you pretend to be Henrik Larsson for instance. I was lucky. The team I grew up with was a fantastic Celtic team with Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Stillain Petrov, all these players, Neil Lennon.
"So I had a really good team to watch. They were all my heroes. Celtic was it for me. I didn’t really watch much other football I was that focused on trying to watch Celtic and Celtic was in the Champions League.”
Here are famous footballers with a Celtic connection.
1. Andy Robertson
The Liverpool full-back recently stated he “always dreamed” of playing for Celtic at the peak of his career and isn’t ruling out turning that into a reality in the future. Was previously part of the club’s youth set-up at one point and he was infamously let go because of his apparent lack of size at the time. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
2. Ray Houghton
Born and raised in Castlemilk before becoming and Irish World Cup hero, ex-Liverpool midfielder Houghton previously recalled how he received abuse and death threats from a section of Rangers fans when he opted for a move to Anfield over Ibrox in 1987. | Getty Images
3. Paul McGrath
One-time Manchester United and Aston Villa was reportedly close to signing for Celtic during the Liam Brady era but it arguably would’ve taken more than the Irish international to deliver silverware for his fellow countryman. | Getty
4. Wayne Rooney
Another Manchester United great who, along with his family, have a strong affinity with the club after visiting the stadium on several occasions to watch matches. His affection for the green and white half of the city was inspired by his friendship with former player Alan Stubbs when the pair were at Everton together. | Getty Images