2004–05 Celtic F.C. season


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 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

NOTE: scores are written Celtic first
DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionCeltic scorers
18 July 2004Craven Cottage Fulham2–0FriendlyHartson, Lennon
24 July 2004Qwest Field Chelsea2–4ChampionsWorld SeriesBeattie
27 July 2004Rentschler Field Liverpool1–5ChampionsWorld SeriesBeattie
29 July 2004Lincoln Financial Field Manchester United2–1ChampionsWorld SeriesSutton, Beattie
1 August 2004SkyDome Roma0–1ChampionsWorld Series
4 August 2004Celtic Park Newcastle United2–1FriendlySylla, Camara
8 August 2004Celtic ParkMotherwell2–0SPLMcNamara, Sutton
10 August 2004Celtic Park Tottenham2–0FriendlyBeattie, Camara
14 August 2004Rugby ParkKilmarnock4–2SPLHartson, Thompson
22 August 2004Pittodrie StadiumInverness CT3–1SPLHartson, Petrov
29 August 2004Celtic ParkRangers1–0SPLThompson
11 September 2004Celtic ParkDundee3–0SPLCamara, Hartson
14 September 2004Celtic Park Barcelona1–3UCLSutton
19 September 2004Easter RoadHibernian2–2SPLCamara, Hartson
21 September 2004Celtic ParkFalkirk8–1SLCSylla, Wallace, Lambert, McManus, McGeady
29 September 2004San Siro Milan1–3UCLVarga
3 October 2004TannadiceDundee United3–0SPLSutton , Petrov
16 October 2004Celtic ParkHearts3–0SPLCamara, Juninho, Hartson
20 October 2004Lokomotiv Stadium Shakhtar Donetsk0–3UCL
24 October 2004Almondvale StadiumLivingston4–2SPLPetrov, Camara, Hartson, Sutton
27 October 2004Celtic ParkAberdeen2–3SPLHartson
30 October 2004Fir ParkMotherwell3–2SPLMcGeady, Thompson, Beattie
2 November 2004Celtic Park Shakhtar Donetsk1–0UCLThompson
6 November 2004Celtic ParkKilmarnock2–1SPLMcGeady, Thompson
10 November 2004Ibrox StadiumRangers1–2SLCHartson
13 November 2004Celtic ParkInverness CT3–0SPLSutton, Hartson
20 November 2004Ibrox StadiumRangers0–2SPL
24 November 2004Nou Camp Barcelona1–1UCLHartson
28 November 2004Dens ParkDundee2–2SPLCamara, Hartson
4 December 2004Celtic ParkHibernian2–1SPLHartson
7 December 2004Celtic Park Milan0–0UCL
12 December 2004East End ParkDunfermline Athletic2–0SPLSutton, Petrov
18 December 2004Celtic ParkDundee United1–0SPLSutton
26 December 2004TynecastleHearts2–0SPLMcGeady, Petrov
2 January 2005Celtic ParkLivingston2–1SPLHartson, Sutton
9 January 2005Celtic ParkRangers2–1SCSutton, Hartson
16 January 2005PittodrieAberdeen1–0SPLSutton
22 January 2005Celtic ParkMotherwell2–0SPLSutton, Petrov
30 January 2005Rugby ParkKilmarnock1–0SPLSutton
6 February 2005East End ParkDunfermline Athletic3–0SCHartson Sutton
9 January 2005Celtic ParkRangers0–2SPL
27 February 2005Broadwood StadiumClyde5–0SCVarga, Thompson, Petrov, Bellamy
2 March 2005Celtic ParkDundee3–0SPLPetrov, Balde
6 March 2005Easter RoadHibernian3–1SPLPetrov, Hartson, Bellamy
12 March 2005Celtic ParkDunfermline Athletic6–0SPLHartson, McGeady, Petrov, Beattie
16 March 2005Caledonian StadiumInverness CT2–0SPLBellamy, Thompson
19 March 2005TannadiceDundee United3–2SPLBellamy
2 April 2005Celtic ParkHearts0–2SPL
10 April 2005Hampden ParkHearts2–1SCSutton, Bellamy
13 April 2005Almondvale StadiumLivingston4–0SPLHartson , Varga
16 April 2005Celtic ParkAberdeen3–2SPLVarga, Hartson, Bellamy
24 April 2005Ibrox StadiumRangers2–1SPLPetrov, Bellamy
30 April 2005Celtic ParkHibernian1–3SPLBeattie
8 May 2005Celtic ParkAberdeen2–0SPLHartson
15 May 2005TynecastleHearts2–1SPLThompson, Beattie
22 May 2005Fir ParkMotherwell1–2SPLSutton
28 May 2005Hampden ParkDundee United1–0SCThompson

Key:

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition

Team statistics

League table

Technical staff

Transfers

In:
DatePlayerFromFeeSource
29 July 2004 Jacob Lensky Blackburn Rovers10Bosman
5 August 2004 Henri Camara Wolverhampton Wanderers10Loan
25 August 2004 Juninho Middlesbrough10Bosman
23 December 2004 Kjartan Finnbogason KR10Undisclosed
23 December 2004 Teddy Bjarnason KR10Undisclosed
29 January 2005 Stéphane Henchoz Liverpool10Bosman
31 January 2005 Craig Bellamy Newcastle United10Loan

Out:
DatePlayerToFeeSource
30 June 2004 Henrik Larsson Barcelonastyle="display:none">10Bosman
1 July 2004 Liam Miller Manchester Unitedstyle="display:none">10Bosman
2 July 2004 Johan Mjällby Levantestyle="display:none">10Bosman
21 July 2004 Jamie Smith ADO Den Haagstyle="display:none">10Bosman
10 November 2004 Bobby PettaTerminated contractReleased
8 January 2005 Kevin McBride Motherwellstyle="display:none">10Undisclosed
6 April 2005 Juninho Palmeiras10Bosman