Celtic’s Early Eighties Classics – Retrospective

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·8 January 2026

Celtic’s Early Eighties Classics – Retrospective

CELTIC’S EARLY EIGHTIES CLASSICS – RETROSPECTIVE…

George McCluskey scores for Celtic against Real Madrid in the European Cup quarter final first leg at Celtic Park on 5th March 1980. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The Early Eighties Classics series has looked at several of Celtic’s classic European matches from the early 1980s, starting with the tie against Real Madrid in March 1980 and ending with the three matches against Rapid Vienna at the end of 1984.

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Photo imago GEPA Pictures. Opening Rapid Museum, Vienna Austria 14 Dec 2011. A Showcase to the Cup Winners Cup in Old Trafford 1984 against Celtic Glasgow

During this period, Celtic had a squad of highly talented young players which could compete against the very best sides in Europe. However, the stark fact is that after their heroics against Real Madrid in March 1980, Celtic were eliminated from European competition before Christmas in all the years that followed.

The overall sense of this period is one of unfulfilled potential, especially given that other Scottish teams did enjoy some success in Europe at the time. Aberdeen won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983 and Dundee United reached the European Cup semi-final in 1984.

10 May 1983. Photo Imago Color Sports Alex Ferguson Aberdeen Manager, Aberdeen Training Session Winners Cup Final, 1983 Gothenburg

Why did such a talented Celtic side prove unable to emulate the European achievements of their New Firm rivals?

The first reason is Celtic’s lamentable away record in Europe during the period. From season 1979/80 to season 1984/85, Celtic played a total of 13 away matches in European competition. Only TWO of these were won – the magnificent 2-1 victory over Ajax in 1982 and the 4-1 win over Aarhus of Denmark in 1983. EIGHT matches were lost, including those against such teams as Partisan Tirana, Diosgyeori Miskolc, Politechnica Timosoara and Ghent. Celtic managed only TWO draws on the road, one against Dundalk and the other, more creditably, at Nottingham Forest.

Nottingham Forest v Celtic, 23/11/1983

Celtic’s failure to win away in Europe can be explained primarily by their failure to score goals. They drew a blank in NINE of the 13 matches, a scant return for a team whose main strength was its attacking prowess. Celtic did not appear to recognise the importance of scoring goals away from home, especially at a time when away goals could prove decisive in ensuring progression to the next round. Failure to score also added additional pressure on the team’s defence, which essentially had to keep a clean sheet if it was to return home without defeat.

A second explanation of Celtic’s underachievement in Europe was the basic imbalance in the way Celtic played.

An over-emphasis on attacking football made it difficult to adjust to the demands of facing opposition of a higher quality in Europe. In most matches against Scottish opposition, Celtic was a side naturally suited to playing open, attacking football. The Celtic players therefore enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and goalscoring chances.

02/11/83 Uefa Cup 2nd Round. Celtic v Sporting Lisbon (5-0). Celtic’s Brian McClair (right) celebrates his goal with teammates (l to r) Frank McGarvey, Paul McStay and Davie Provan. Photo The Celtic Wiki

One result of this was that Celtic’s players could be confident that even if they missed chances, more goalscoring opportunities would come along.

Another result was that Celtic’s defence was rarely subjected to any sustained pressure from domestic opposition. Whilst rarely a problem in Scottish football, these traits would prove critical in European matches, where Celtic would not create as many chances, nor would their defence have such a relatively easy time.

READ THIS…Early Eighties Classics – Celtic versus Real Madrid

Celtic’s emphasis on attacking football too often came at the expense of defensive organisation and discipline. This was in stark contrast to both Aberdeen and Dundee United, who were admirably organised in defence and patient in waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

Unsurprisingly, the cautious tactical approach of both New Firm rivals transferred much more easily to the European arena than did Celtic’s gung-ho attacking style.

Celtic’s lack of tactical awareness was evident in several European games, where they would defend well for most of the match only to lose late goals due to lapses in concentration. It was also shown in their inability to adjust tactically to the unfolding situation on the field, particularly in the home matches against Real Sociedad and Nottingham Forest.

READ THIS…Celtic in the Eighties – Celtic v Juventus, European Cup, September 1981

These matches again showed the importance of scoring away from home, as both the Spanish side and Forest struck huge psychological – and irrecoverable – blows by scoring first at Celtic Park.

Davie Provan and Frank McGarvey at Celtic’s 1980 Scottish Cup final win over Rangers. Photo The Celtic Wiki

A third explanation was the underlying inconsistency of the Celtic team at this time. In his final book Celtic in the Eighties, the late David Potter highlighted the basic unpredictability of Celtic’s domestic performances, even in seasons when Celtic won the Championship. Excellent and, on occasion, brilliant displays were often followed inexplicably with truly dreadful performances, which sometimes continued for several matches. The Jekyll and Hyde nature of the team was also apparent in Europe, where the extreme contrast between home and away performances was usually striking.

READ THIS…Celtic in the Eighties – Celtic v Ajax, European Cup, September 1982

A fourth factor explaining Celtic’s underperformance in European football is the extent to which the team relied on a small core of the same players during the period. The team for the Real Madrid match in March 1980 included names such as Danny McGrain, Roy Aitken, Tom McAdam, Davie Provan and Murdo MacLeod. Pat Bonner and Tommy Burns were also on the bench.

All SEVEN of these players would play against Rapid Vienna at Celtic Park in November 1984. This core group of players would be strengthened by the purchase of Frank McGarvey in 1980, the emergence of Paul McStay and Charlie Nicholas in 1980/81 and the arrival of Brian McClair from Motherwell in 1983/84. Significantly, none of these were defensive players.

Charlie Nicholas scores for Celtic in the 1982 League Cup Final against Rangers at Hampden. Photo The Celtic Wiki

This over-reliance on a relatively small group of players reflects the consistent lack of ambition on the part of the Celtic Board during the 1980s.

READ THIS…Celtic in the Eighties – Ajax v Celtic European Cup, September 1982

Defensive frailties were a consistent theme under both Billy McNeill and Davie Hay. These were never addressed by serious investment in the squad, especially in defenders. This caused enough problems in domestic football but these were even more obvious in European matches.

In his 1989 book Twists and Turns, the late Tommy Burns argued that what Celtic needed more than anything during this period was a “defensive organiser”. He identified Willie Miller of Aberdeen as the solution, stating, “Miller has an almost telepathic understanding of where trouble is going to occur next for his team and he would have left a lasting mark on Celtic if the initiative been taken.”

Unsurprisingly, the initiative was never taken by the Celtic Board.

Celtic v Juventus, European Cup First Round , Celtic Park. 16 September 1981. Photo The Celtic Wiki

A final factor to bear in mind is that Celtic were relatively unlucky in drawing strong clubs in the early rounds of European competition. Juventus in 1981, Ajax and Real Sociedad in 1982, Nottingham Forest in 1983 and Rapid Vienna in 1984 were all excellent sides.

READ THIS…Celtic in the Eighties – Celtic v Sporting Lisbon, UEFA Cup, November 1983

In the early Eighties, Celtic came agonisingly close against sides who went on to reach the European Cup semi-finals (Real Madrid and Real Sociedad), the Cup Winners’ Cup final (Rapid Vienna) and the UEFA Cup semi-final (Nottingham Forest).

Whilst being drawn to play in the first or second round against some of the weaker teams would have been no guarantee of progression, it would have helped a young Celtic side gain experience and therefore probably assisted the players in their efforts to reach the latter stages of European competitions.

A very poor away record, a lack of defensive organisation and an over-reliance on a small group of players are all therefore factors which help explain Celtic’s relative underperformance in Europe in the early 1980s.

READ THIS…Early Eighties Cheating Masterclass – Rapid Vienna v Celtic

However, the positive aspects of this period should also be celebrated. The first of these was the enormous appetite of the Celtic support for European football. At a time when crowds of 20,000 were not uncommon for league matches, European nights at Celtic Park were almost guaranteed to draw huge attendances of over 50,000. Indeed, the games against Real Madrid and Nottingham Forest were 67 000 capacity sell-outs.

A second significant positive feature of the period was the usually excellent level of home performances against European teams. Celtic recorded some truly memorable victories over the very best sides in Europe. The defeats of Real Madrid, Juventus, Sporting Lisbon and Rapid Vienna were fantastic results and brilliant spectacles.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Even the incredible 2-2 against Ajax in September 1982 must rank as one of the most entertaining matches ever seen at Celtic Park. No doubt the fanatical backing of the massive, passionate crowds played its part in regularly inspiring the Celtic players to reach new heights.

READ THIS…Early Eighties Classics – Celtic v Rapid Vienna, the second leg

Finally, tribute must be paid to that small group of players mentioned earlier who featured in most of Celtic’s European matches between March 1980 and December 1984. Danny McGrain, Roy Aitken, Paul McStay, Davie Provan, Tommy Burns and Frank McGarvey all produced their very best form on European nights at Celtic Park.

3/9/1983 Scottish Premier League. Rangers v Celtic. Murdo McLeod. Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

However, special mention must be made of Murdo MacLeod who made a habit of scoring in these classic European matches. “The Rhino” scored against Juventus, Real Sociedad (twice), Aarhus, Sporting Lisbon, Nottingham Forest and Rapid Vienna. A truly remarkable achievement for a man who normally played in midfield!

Although ultimately a source of disappointment and frustration, Celtic’s European exploits in the Early Eighties also produced some amazing matches and many fantastic memories.

The Late Eighties would be a different story altogether…

James McDevitt

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