Late Eighties Decline – Celtic v Borussia Dortmund, 1987

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·23 janvier 2026

Late Eighties Decline – Celtic v Borussia Dortmund, 1987

LATE EIGHTIES DECLINE- CELTIC v BORUSSIA DORTMUND, 1987…

In 1987, after 23 seasons in European competitions, Celtic had NEVER been drawn against a team from West Germany. This was remarkable given the relative success of both Celtic and West German club sides during this period.

3rd March 1976: Celtic 1-1 Sachsenring Zwickau, Kenny Dalglish is denied a goal by a brilliant save. Photo The Celtic Wiki

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17 March 1976: Zwickau 1-0 Celtic. Photo The Celtic Wiki

17 March 1976: Zwickau 1-0 Celtic. Paul Wilson in action. Photo The Celtic Wiki

17 March 1976: Zwickau 1-0 Celtic. Kenny Dalglish in action. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic’s only tie against any German side had come in 1976 when they were eliminated by Sachsenring Zwickau of East Germany in the quarter final of the Cup Winners’ Cup. At last, in 1987, the draw for the UEFA Cup first round pitched Celtic against Borussia Dortmund to finally set up a meeting in West Germany.

European football was the last thing on the mind of any Celtic supporter at that stage. Celtic ended season 1986/87 trophyless and in total disarray. FOUR players left after the expiry of their contracts and Danny McGrain was released on a free transfer without fanfare or thanks. In addition, on 28 May 1987, the sensational news broke that manager Davie Hay had been sacked, and Billy McNeill was back as Celtic manager. Celtic would have a new manager and a new team for season 1987/88 and European football was clearly not the top priority.

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McNeill quickly set about the massive rebuilding job in the summer of 1987. Remarkably, Davie Hay had been allowed to buy centre half Mick McCarthy for £500 000 just a week before he was sacked as manager!

Fortunately, McNeill knew the player from his time at Manchester City and the purchase worked out well. McNeill was also fortunate that all his initial signings were to prove inspired, playing especially well in the season ahead. Chris Morris, Andy Walker and Billy Stark came first and were joined later by Frank McAvennie in October and Joe Miller in November. The side was also boosted by a rejuvenated Mark McGhee, looking his fittest at any time since he had joined Celtic.

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Surprisingly, with so many new players under a new manager, Celtic’s early season form was encouraging. By the time of the first leg against Borussia Dortmund, Celtic had played seven, won five, drawn one and lost one in the league.

The victories included a significant and morale-boosting 1-0 win over Rangers, in a match where Graeme Souness was sent off after a scything tackle on Billy Stark. The sole defeat was an unlucky one at Dunfermline. In the League Cup, Celtic had beaten Forfar and Dumbarton before exiting the competition by losing 0-1 at Aberdeen.

Murdo MacLeod (BVB) 26.08.1987 Photo: imago/Claus Bergmann

Despite the promising early signs, it would be fair to say that most Celtic fans did not entertain high hopes for an extended run in Europe. They were excited about the prospect of playing West German opposition for the first time, and by the chance to welcome Murdo MacLeod back to Celtic Park, although this time Murdo would be wearing the yellow and black of Dortmund.

The first leg took place on 15 September 1987 at Celtic Park in front of a 41 404 crowd. Murdo was given an excellent ovation from the Celtic fans and the familiar chimes of “Murdo, Murdo” were heard several times during the match.

Celtic made the perfect start when Andy Walker scored a typical opportunist goal inside the six-yard box after only 4 minutes. “It was the kind of opening manager Billy NcNeill had been praying for,” reported The Times (London). In the rest of the first half, Mark McGhee came close with three efforts but Celtic could not add to their lead.

As expected, Dortmund came much more into the game in the second half. Raducanu missed with a clear header after 62 minutes before the Germans equalised in 68 minutes. It was a poor goal to lose, coming immediately after a Celtic attack was cleared and a long ball was sent around 40 yards into the edge of the Celtic penalty area.

Aitken and Mill both chased but the latter won possession, cut back into a more central position and fired a fierce shot between Aitken and Morris and past McKnight in goal.

Celtic again took control and enjoyed the bulk of play for the rest of the match. They managed to grab a second goal one minute from time to give them hope for the second leg. Dortmund’s defence failed to clear a long cross from the left which eventually broke to Derek Whyte, who drove the ball home from a few yards out.

Celtic had been the better side but had failed to take their chances when on top and had conceded yet another soft goal in a home European match.

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Prior to the second leg in Dortmund, both clubs indulged in mind games. The Germans claimed that both their main strikers were injured and unlikely to play. For his part, Billy McNeill claimed that Stark, Whyte and McCarthy were all doubtful. In the event, all five played in the match. Mick McCarthy finally made his first team debut, having played only one reserve match in the previous eight weeks due to injury. Allen McKnight again started in goal as Pat Bonner was recovering from a virus.

Roy Aitken (Celtic) and Frank Mill (BVB) shake hands before the Dortmund v Celtic second leg match in 1987. Photo IMAGO / Kicker/Eissner

The second leg in Dortmund was a 53 000 sell-out. Three thousand fans travelled from Scotland, but the away support was also boosted by a sizeable contingent of Scottish servicemen stationed with the British forces in Germany. In those days, there was an unwritten agreement that Scots service personnel in Germany would turn out to support any Scottish side playing in Germany. This was the first occasion that this had benefited Celtic.

Dortmund were a different proposition on their own turf and enjoyed much the better of the return leg. Despite this, Celtic created a couple of chances in the first half but failed to take them. In the second half, Dortmund simply piled on the pressure. Then, as The Glasgow Herald reported: “Celtic’s resistance to a strong German side finally gave way in the last 18 minutes. Up to that point they had coped admirably and contained the Germans well with possession football.”

Torwart Allen McKnight (Celtic Glasgow) kassiert einen Treffer beobachtet von Thomas Helmer (3.v.li.) und Frank Mill (beide BVB, 2.v.re.) Fußball EC 3 Herren DEUTSCHSPRACHIGE SPORTZEITSCHRIFTEN UND -ZEITUNGEN NUR NACH RÜCKSPRACHE 1987 1988 Totale Dortmund. IMAGO / Kicker/Eissner

The first goal came in 72 minutes, when a corner from Dortmund’s left was met by Dickel, whose perfect glancing header inside the area gave McKnight no chance. Dortmund would now qualify on the away goal, but they made absolutely sure in 86 minutes, when a clever passing movement split the Celtic defence apart and allowed Dickel to side-foot his second goal from only eight yards out. For the second time in three seasons, the Bhoys were out of Europe in the first round.

At the end of the game, some German fans invaded the pitch and made their way towards the Celtic section, throwing missiles. Order was quickly restored by the police and the Celtic fans were praised for their restraint. This was a surprising development because it could be argued that these matches marked the start of a warm friendship between the fans of both clubs.

Dortmund v Celtic 1987. Frank Mill (BVB) wins heads the ball against Celtic 30.09.1987. Photo imago/Kicker/Liedel

In Glasgow and Dortmund, the Scots and the Germans mixed freely in the bars and public spaces. This relationship was only strengthened by the popularity of Murdo MacLeod with the Dortmund fans in the years ahead and by another UEFA Cup meeting in September 1992. By 1995, German fans could be clearly heard chanting “Celtic, Celtic” during the live transmission of Dortmund’s home Champions League match against Rangers.

Roye Aitken (Celtic FC) with Gerhard Kleppinger (BVB), Dortmund v Celtic 1987. 30.09.1987. Photo imago/Kicker/Eissner

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In 1987/88, Dortmund would themselves be eliminated in the third round by FC Bruges. The Germans, 3-0 up from the first leg at home, would incredibly lose by 0-5 after extra time in Belgium. As for Celtic, their early exit from Europe was probably no bad thing as it allowed them to focus all their energies on the league championship.

At the time of the two Dortmund ties, McNeill’s side was very much a work in progress. It would be strengthened soon after by the arrivals of McAvennie and Miller. The team then continued to grow in confidence as it put together a six-month unbeaten run between October and April.

Just as important in the Centenary Season was the visible change in Celtic’s playing style as Celtic began to make themselves less vulnerable at the back. The key partnership of Roy Aitken and Mick McCarthy worked very effectively in central defence whilst, as noted by Tom Campbell and Pat Woods in The Glory and the Dream, “McNeill’s assistant, Tommy Craig …played a significant role in developing and perfecting a “pressing” game”.

Celtic Champions 1988. Roy Aitken and Billy McNeill with the trophy. Photo The Celtic Wiki

All these improvements arrived too late for the Dortmund game. Had Celtic survived in Europe until after Christmas, one can only speculate what this team might have achieved. As it was, the team went on to clinch a glorious League and Scottish Cup Double in the club’s Centenary season. Clinical finishing, solid defending and an indomitable team spirit all augured well for the season to come, when the Bhoys would again be back in the European cup. Surely this time, this new-look Celtic side could make a real impact?

Frank McAvennie of Celtic celebrates after the Scottish Cup Final match against Dundee United at Hampden Park. Celtic won the match 2-1. Photo Allsport UK /Allsport

James McDevitt

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