On This Day in 2019, Celtic beat FK Sarajevo 3-1 away from home as Neil Lennon recorded a win in his first game as permanent Celtic manager, for a second time. Goals from Mikey Johnston, Odsonne Edouard and Scott Sinclair set Lennon’s team up to progress into the next round.
Celtic skipper Scott Brown was excellent in the midfield as the Bosnian Champions were brushed aside.
Fortunately, Celtic will go straight into the Champions League Group Stages after winning the Premiership. This means that there are no early season trips to places like Bosnia. This is ironic as this season Celtic have been proactive under Ange Postecoglou in getting their business done early this window.
Also On This Day, Celtic beat Perth Glory in a pre-season-friendly Down Under. Ten years later, Celtic would have an Australian manager and an even larger prescence in the country which has resulted in the club being signed up to return in November for The Sydney Cup (‘AKA Ange’s Homecoming Tour’).
This date is also the birthday of ex-Celt Jonny Hayes. The versatile left-sided player turns 34 today. Brendan Rodgers signed the Irishman in 2017 after impressive performances for the Reds; however, the main man in the granite city found himself playing a lesser role with the Scottish Champions. Hayes made inroads into the Celtic first team and was appearing to establish himself as a permanent fixture when a leg break at Dundee on Boxing Day hampered his progress.
Regardless of that injury, Hayes returned and was part of the Treble Treble side. Hayes lived the dream and played for Celtic. In 62 appearances for the Scottish Champions, Hayes’ highlight was probably his goal at Ibrox, which sealed Celtic’s 2-0 win over Steven Gerrard’s side.
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