A NEW foreign Celtic manager heading into a League Cup final appearance against Dundee United looking for his first trophy; Murdo MacLeod has seen this movie before.
It was November 1997 and MacLeod was midway through his first, and what would be only, season as Wim Jansen's assistant at Parkhead. The Dutchman had enjoyed a difficult start in charge - losing four early league matches, including the first Old Firm game of the season - and needed something to validate his credentials. With Celtic desperate to prevent Rangers from racking up a tenth successive league champions, the Coca-Cola Cup final would provide the perfect platform for Jansen to persuade any doubting supporters that he was the right man for the job.
Played at Ibrox with Hampden under reconstruction, it would prove a relatively straightforward success as goals from Marc Rieper, Henrik Larsson, and Craig Burley delivered a 3-0 victory. Jansen and MacLeod had their first trophy. Six months later they would have another with the championship returning to Celtic Park for the first time in a decade.
"We had turned the corner in the league and were scoring goals but we needed something to show for it," recalled MacLeod as he helped promote the John Hartson Foundation golf day at Mar Hall.
"We went to Ibrox against a strong Dundee United side and that was our first major test. We felt that if we could win that one the boys would have the belief to go on and win other things. That was the first step to stopping 10-in-a-row."
The parallels are obvious to MacLeod. Ronny Deila has, gradually, won over any doubters in his maiden campaign as Celtic manager but a League Cup final victory over United on Sunday would deliver something tangible for his efforts. With the team six points clear at the top of the SPFL Premiership and still in the William Hill Scottish Cup, the prospect of the treble is now tantalisingly within Deila's grasp. MacLeod can see only one outcome at Hampden this weekend.
"I think the current Celtic side can take a big step forward if they win this trophy," he added. "The team is looking very strong. Two months ago I might have wondered if Celtic would turn up on the day or not. But they have been so consistent over the past few months that they are now a hard side to beat. They have pace and they feel as if they are going to win every game.
"United are struggling right now - I know Jackie [McNamara] can put up a case to say he lost two of his best players [Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong] but their form has gone out of the window. [Nadir] Cifcti is banned and that makes it three top players missing.
"I was at Tannadice when United beat Celtic before Christmas but that was a bit against the run of play. I can only see one winner [on Sunday]. Normally you go into a final and it's hard to call. The better side is on form - the weaker side is off form and I can't see anything other than a Celtic win, and a comfortable Celtic victory at that."
McNamara was part of the Celtic team that defeated United that day in 1997. MacLeod remembers him as an integral feature of the side. "Jackie was great to have about the team - he was one of the quieter ones, but he was chirpy when his pals were about," he added. "But you always knew what you would get with him when he was in the team - a real consistent performer.
"That whole season had about six contenders for player of the year whether it was Jackie, Larsson, Burley, Lambert, Jonathan Gould or Marc Rieper. There was real quality and consistency. He was quiet but he was never shy - there is a difference! He had a baby face but he would kick his granny. He wouldn't shirk any challenges and was much better going forward on the right-hand side."
Celtic have travelled to Hampden several times in the past few years as favourites and ending up falling flat on their faces, losing semi-finals and finals to Ross County, Kilmarnock and St Mirren. MacLeod, though, believes under Deila there will be no complacency.
"To be honest I don't think that's the mentality of this side," he added. "They don't have that complacent feel about them. Celtic are a good side to watch and have the right attitude so I wouldn't worry about them being too confident.
"The closer they get to the final, United will face the comments that they have no chance and everything is stacked in Celtic's favour. But I think Celtic are strong enough to put all this talk to one side go out and do a good job."
- Murdo MacLeod was helping launch the John Hartson Foundation Golf Day that takes place at Mar Hall on Tuesday, April 21. For more information visit www.johnhartsonfoundation.co.uk
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