Interesting shared history between Celtic and Red Star Belgrade

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The Celtic Star

·22. September 2025

Interesting shared history between Celtic and Red Star Belgrade

Celtic’s history against Crvena Zvezda (AKA Red Star Belgrade) is an interesting one…

The numbers involved are especially surprising. After this week, the two clubs will have played on three continents, in (technically) five countries and in three competitions across four separate decades.

Celtic 5 Red Star Belgrade 1, European Cup, 13 November 1968. Celtic’s Steve Chalmers celebrates the second goal, scored by Jimmy Johnstone (out of picture) Photo The Celtic Wiki

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The Celts first played Red Star Belgrade in 1968. It was a European Cup match that became indelibly linked with one famous Celt. Jimmy Johnstone was well-known for being scared of flying, so Jock Stein made him a deal. If Celtic finished the tie in the first leg in Glasgow, Jinky would not have to travel for the second leg.

The man voted Celtic’s Greatest Player put in a stunning performance to help his team claim a 5-1 win. Even when the Belgrade manager begged Stein to bring Johnstone to Yugoslavia to show his skills to local fans, the ‘Wee man’ says he hid to avoid travelling for a game that ended 1-1.

Celtic captain Billy McNeill ahead of kick-off. Red Star Belgrade v Celtic, European Cup 2nd round, 2nd leg , 27 November 1968, photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic’s next encounter with Red Star took them to two separate continents. The Bhoys participated in the 1977 World of Soccer Cup, played across Asia and Australia. It was a tour that became better remembered for Kenny Dalglish refusing to travel and then signing for Liverpool for a fee of £440,000.

Tommy Burns in action against Red Star Belgrade in Singapore on 17 July 1977. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic’s first game was held in the Singapore National Stadium. Red Star were the Bhoys’ first opponents and the Yugoslavs claimed a 2-0 victory. The next day, Celtic boarded a plane to continue on to Australia.

Tommy Burns in action against Red Star Belgrade in Melbourne on 21 July 1977. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Playing at the Olympic Stadium in Melbourne, Celtic twice more faced Red Star. Thanks to a late Celtic equaliser – and despite being down to ten men – the first of these matches ended 1-1.

The second game was held after Celtic had also met Arsenal and an Australian XI. In the final game of the tour, the Celts cheered a 2-0 victory with goals from Roddie MacDonald and ‘Shuggie’ Edvaldsson.

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In a small piece of Celtic history, this victory let the Hoops claim the World of Soccer Cup. Although not comparable to those that had gone before, this was Jock Stein’s final piece of silverware as Celtic boss.

Celtic 2-2 Red Star Belgrade, Friendly Match in Celtic’s centenary season. 26 December 1988. Photo The Celtic Wiki

After playing in the 1960s and 1970s, Celtic renewed their acquaintance with Red Star in the 1980s. On Boxing Day in 1988, almost 22,000 fans were attracted to Celtic Park for a friendly that ended 2-2. It was an entertaining game against a Red Star side that went on to win the 1991 European Cup and featured star names such as Robert Prosinecki and Dragan Stojkovic.

On Wednesday night, Celtic will once again play in Belgrade, this time in the Europa League. However, this city is now classed as being in Serbia, unlike in 1968 when it was officially Yugoslavia.

Of course, the Bhoys have had another notable Belgrade trip, against a different team. In 1989, Celtic lost 2-1 to Partizan Belgrade in the away leg of a Cup-Winners’ Cup tie. The home tie saw ‘Jacki’ Dziekanowski score four and the Celts win 5-4, but exit on away goals.

Celtic fans in Belgrade in 1989. Partizan Belgrade 2-1 Celtic. ECWC first leg. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic v Partizan Belgrade – Darius Dziekanowski scores Celtic’s fifth goal in the ECWC at Celtic Park on 27 September 1989. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Hopefully, the away team is also cheering on Wednesday too. C’mon Celts!

Matthew Marr

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