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More than 23 years after locking horns with Celta Vigo on the road to Seville, Martin O’Neill is back in the Celtic dugout for another European showdown.
The veteran boss, 74, masterminded a memorable two-legged victory over the Spaniards as the Hoops marched towards the 2003 UEFA Cup Final. Now, O’Neill is preparing to welcome the La Liga outfit to Glasgow once again, with Celts desperate to kickstart their Europa League campaign.
But how big a threat will Celta Vigo pose on Thursday and why do they have more in common with Celtic than you might think? Here, Record Sport brings you the lowdown.
Celta Vigo have come a long way since scrambling to preserve their La Liga status on the final day of the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Traditionally regarded as a mid-table outfit, the Sky Blues have been on the rise in recent years and are now mixing it with some of Spain’s biggest clubs. They collected 55 points in 2024-25 to finish seventh and book their place in Europe for the first time in nine years. And they went one better last term, climbing to sixth despite enduring a nine-game winless start to the campaign.
Celta Vigo won at the Bernabeu(Image: Oscar J Barroso/AFP7/REX/Shutterstock)
Celta showed they could mix it with the big boys, too, thumping Valencia home and away while pulling off a stunning 2-0 victory at Real Madrid and a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. Their European return was just as impressive, with the Galicians marching into the Europa League quarter-finals before eventually coming unstuck against eventual runners-up Freiburg.
Celta have found life a little tougher this season, with just two wins from their opening nine La Liga games leaving them searching for consistency. Currently eighth in the Spanish top flight, they have struggled to turn possession into points. A thumping 5-0 demolition of Racing Santander showed what they are capable of when they hit their stride, but such performances have been in short supply.
Like Celtic, the Sky Blues have also drawn a blank in the Europa League, losing their opening two games against Omonia and Juventus. Late goals made those setbacks all the more disappointing, leaving them desperate to get their European campaign up and running. They did at least get a timely boost before heading to Glasgow, with a much-needed 2-1 victory over Alaves lifting the mood.
Giraldez has put Celta back on the European map - and he has done it his way.
The 38-year-old worked his way through the Galician club’s youth ranks before replacing the sacked Rafa Benitez as first-team boss in March 2024. A lifelong Celta fan, Giraldez would rather put his faith in the club's academy than splashing millions in the transfer market. He generally favours a 3-2-4-1 formation but is no stranger to tinkering, having rotated his starting line-up across his last 57 matches. And the young coach is not afraid to give his players a public dressing-down, either. Despite beating Alaves, he took aim at what he branded “absurd” mistakes.
Celta’s attacking plans have suffered a major blow with World Cup winner Borja Iglesias ruled out for six weeks with a calf injury. That leaves veteran forward Iago Aspas carrying an even greater burden. The 39-year-old is a club legend and the face of a side he has represented for much of the last 11 years.
Celta Vigo icon Iago Aspas, right(Image: Getty Images)
Usually deployed as a playmaker on the right, Aspas remains the man who makes Celta tick. So far this season, he has two goal contributions to his name after finishing last term with eight goals and six assists. Yet while he may be in the twilight of his career, Celtic can't afford to give the ex-Liverpool star time and space around the box. Celta also have ex-Hoops Treble-winner Carl Starfelt in their ranks. But the Swede will miss a return trip to Parkhead through injury.
Celtic and Celta Vigo have crossed paths just once before, during the Hoops’ famous run to the 2003 UEFA Cup final. The sides met in the third round, with Henrik Larsson’s first-leg winner at Parkhead giving Celts a slender 1-0 advantage before a 2-1 defeat in the return tie.
John Hartson scores in Vigo(Image: SNS Group)
But John Hartson’s crucial strike in Spain proved priceless as O’Neill’s men progressed thanks to the away goals rule, keeping their European dream alive. Celtic went all the way to Seville, where their memorable run ended in defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Porto in the final.
Celta Vigo are essentially Celtic’s Spanish cousins.
Their name translates as ‘Celtic’, paying tribute to the ancient Celtic heritage of Galicia, the north-western Spanish region the club calls home.
The connection runs deeper than the name, too. Celta’s badge features a Celtic cross, while their famous sky-blue and white colours mirror the traditional flag of Galicia.
In an interview with FootyAdventures, a club representative explained the historic link: "Galicia is from Celtic origins. We were conquered by Celtic tribes coming from the east of Europe more than 2000 years ago and they actually settled down in Galicia and the north of Portugal before arriving in Scotland and Ireland. All these years later, the name Celta connects with Celtic."
Their ultras even use a Celtic Warrior as their symbol. But there's one glaring difference between the two clubs. Celta Vigo play in blue...
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