Jimmy Johnstone was “utterly phenomenal,” Dragan Dzajic

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The Celtic Star

·17. September 2025

Jimmy Johnstone was “utterly phenomenal,” Dragan Dzajic

Red Star Belgrade icon and current Serbian FA president Dragan Dzajic confessed he is still haunted by memories of Jimmy Johnstone tormenting him at Celtic Park…

Jimmy Johnstone Glasgow Celtic, 17 May 1967, Scotland IMAGO Photo – TopFoto (The Celtic Star)

However, he believes his old club are capable of pulling off a victory against Celtic in next week’s Europa League opener.

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Brendan Rodgers’ side will head to Belgrade for their first Europa League fixture following Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final clash with Partick Thistle at Firhill.

Celtic’s only prior meeting with Red Star Belgrade came in the 1968 European Cup second round, just a year after they became the first British side to have ever lifted the trophy. Dzajic – voted Yugoslavia’s greatest-ever player and still serving as Serbian FA president at 79 – holds Celtic in high regard going into next week’s encounter.

He looked back on the Celtic Park clash 57 years ago, when Johnstone – who was famously fearful of flying – was told he could skip the trip to Belgrade by Jock Stein for the return leg if Celtic secured a three-goal cushion, and he responded by inspiring a 5-1 win with two goals and two assists.

Speaking via The National, Dzajic said: “I regard Celtic as one of the best and most traditional clubs in the world with a great history. And that history includes a game against Red Star where I played.

“When I played, believe me, Celtic were one of the best clubs in Europe. They had a player I always remember – Jimmy Johnstone and he was utterly phenomenal that night. Celtic were truly a great team.”

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

Dzajic added: “They ripped us apart and we were a good team too. Of course, things change and Red Star shouldn’t be afraid of Celtic now. Celtic remain dominant in the Scottish league and they have their own system of play.

“I actually watched their game against (the)Rangers and my impression was they play very specifically and differently from most European clubs,” he said. “They are solid and physically strong. I’m sure the Red Star coach, Vladan Milojevic, watched the game too.

Sebastian Tounekti at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“My opinion is that Red Star can get the better of Celtic if they concentrate on playing their own game. I am looking forward to the match.”

Celtic face Red Star, aka Crvena Zvezda next Wednesday night (24 September) in our Europa League opener at their Rajko Mitic Stadium and the match has an 8pm (CPT) kick-off.

Here’s Sebastian Tounekti speaking to The Celtic Star and the three other Celtic fan media outlets yesterday afternoon, watch the video below to hear all the questions and the new Celtic winger’s responses…

Conor Spence

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– Sonntag, 14. September 2025

Celtic in the Eighties is out now. It’s our fastest selling book ever and accordingly stocks are now very low indeed, so get it while you can with just a hundred copies remaining.

Celtic in the Eighties by the late, great David Potter is out now on Celtic Star Books. You can purchase your copy directly from Celticstarbooks.com for same day postage.