Celtic are on the cusp of sealing their fifth successive Scottish Premiership title, but Ronny Deila’s current Hoops team are a much different outfit to the side that started the Parkhead club’s title dominance.
Let’s take a look back at the Celtic team that regained the title from Rangers in 2011/12. Neil Lennon took charge for his second season in the Parkhead dugout with the road to the title starting with a 2-0 win away to Hibernian at Easter Road.
Here is the line-up from that win over Hibs, and where they are now…
Hibs 0-2 Celtic Sunday 24th July 2011
Lukasz Zaluska: At this point, the Polish stopper was Parkhead number one. But he would later be demoted to the bench after Fraser Forster re-signed on loan from Newcastle United. After years as the England goalkeeper’s deputy, Zaluska then went on to play second fiddle to current goalkeeper Craig Gordon before quitting Parkhead in 2015. He is now at Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 and is still struggling to nail down a place in the first team.
Emilio Izaguirre: The Honduran is one of three Parkhead survivors in the team from the Easter Road victory. The left-back has had a successful time at Celtic Park, winning trophies and individual awards but has recently lost his place in the side to youngster Kieran Tierney.
Kelvin Wilson: The big English centre-half was making his league debut for the Hoops at Easter Road. He had signed on a free from Nottingham Forest and would go on to spend two years in Glasgow before returning to the Championship side in 2013. Now 30, he is still a regular with the East Midlands side.
Mark Wilson: The full back claimed a league winner’s medal in his final season at Parkhead, but also scored the decisive goal in a bad-tempered Old Firm match where Rangers had three players sent-off. After a spell at Bristol City, he ended up back at Dundee United where he started his career. He would finish his playing days at Dumbarton before going to work in the media.
Glenn Loovens: This was to be the Dutchman’s final season in the Hoops as well. The centre-half moved on to Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship, and is still a part of their squad pushing for promotion this season.
Joe Ledley: The Welshman with a wicked left foot became an important part of Neil Lennon’s side and stayed with the club until January 2014 when he signed for Crystal Palace in the Premier League. He is still at Selhurst Park and is set to go to Euro 2016 with Wales this summer.
Ki Sung-Yeung: Over the course of the season, the South Korean contributed seven goals and six assists as Celtic claimed the title. He scored the second goal against Hibs in the victory at Easter Road. He moved to Premier League side Swansea City in 2012 for a fee in the region of £6million.
Beram Kayal: The Israeli was the Hoops’ stand-in captain before suffering an ankle injury after a brutal tackle from Lee McCulloch which sidelined him for four months. The midfielder fell out of favour when Ronny Deila replaced Neil Lennon in 2014 and he later departed for Championship side Brighton. He is now part of their side pushing for promotion to the Premier League.
Anthony Stokes: The Irishman scored the opener against his old (and current) side at Easter Road. Sometimes brilliant, sometimes anonymous, you never knew what you were going to get with Stokes during his time at Celtic Park. He is currently on loan in the Championship, and looking to guide Hibernian back to the top-flight.
Kris Commons: The 32-year-old is the final survivor from the opening day of season 2011/12. Commons has been, pound for pound, probably the best piece of business done by Celtic in many years. He has won trophies and player of the year awards, but nearly left after drifting out the side last year.
Gary Hooper: The Englishman was the main talisman for the Hoops in his time at Parkhead. The former Scunthorpe strike scored goals a plenty, before moving on to Norwich City for £5million. He struggled to replicate his form in East Anglia though, and has since moved to Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.
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