When Fergus McCann took control of Celtic in March 1994, it became obvious that Lou Macari's days as Celtic manager were numbered. To be fair to Macari, his performance as Celtic boss wasn't quite as bad as may be remembered. His side finished only eight points adrift of Rangers in season 1993-94, albeit in fourth place.
Contrast that with Billy McNeills' sides, who finished 10, 17 and 14 points behind the Ibrox club in his 3 seasons following the Centenary year. Likewise, Liam Brady's Celtic finished 10 then 13 points behind Rangers in his two full seasons. When Brady resigned in October of his third season and Macari took the reigns, the team were 4th bottom of the league.
Having said that, the style of Macari's football was atrocious - as were his signings. Wayne Biggins and Carl Muggleton will never be forgotten.
Macari was eventually sacked in June 1994, with Tommy Burns becomming Celtic's ninth manager. Burns had enjoyed a successful couple of years as manager of Kilmarnock, and promised to bring good football back to Celtic Park.
The season started encouragingly, with an 11 game unbeaten streak that left Celtic joint top of the table with Rangers, and into the League Cup Final, where they would play first division Raith Rovers. But on beating Hibs at Celtic Park in late September, another 11 game run would follow - this time without a league win. That run left Celtic in 5th place, a massive 17 points behind Rangers and closer to the bottom than the top. In the middle of this run came a soul destroying defeat to Raith in the League Cup Final. It seemed like we would never win a trophy again.
But 1995 saw a change in fortune. The signing of Dutch striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk gave Celtic fans some hope, and a Scottish cup run saw us take to the field at Hampden in the final at the end of May and lift our first trophy in six years.
Clips
Contrast that with Billy McNeills' sides, who finished 10, 17 and 14 points behind the Ibrox club in his 3 seasons following the Centenary year. Likewise, Liam Brady's Celtic finished 10 then 13 points behind Rangers in his two full seasons. When Brady resigned in October of his third season and Macari took the reigns, the team were 4th bottom of the league.
Having said that, the style of Macari's football was atrocious - as were his signings. Wayne Biggins and Carl Muggleton will never be forgotten.
Macari was eventually sacked in June 1994, with Tommy Burns becomming Celtic's ninth manager. Burns had enjoyed a successful couple of years as manager of Kilmarnock, and promised to bring good football back to Celtic Park.
The season started encouragingly, with an 11 game unbeaten streak that left Celtic joint top of the table with Rangers, and into the League Cup Final, where they would play first division Raith Rovers. But on beating Hibs at Celtic Park in late September, another 11 game run would follow - this time without a league win. That run left Celtic in 5th place, a massive 17 points behind Rangers and closer to the bottom than the top. In the middle of this run came a soul destroying defeat to Raith in the League Cup Final. It seemed like we would never win a trophy again.
But 1995 saw a change in fortune. The signing of Dutch striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk gave Celtic fans some hope, and a Scottish cup run saw us take to the field at Hampden in the final at the end of May and lift our first trophy in six years.
Clips
10/03/95 SC Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 0 (Quarter Final)
11/04/95 SC Celtic 3 Hibs 1 (Semi Final Replay)
13/05/95 PL Dundee Utd 0 Celtic 1
27/05/95 SC Celtic 1 Airdrie 0 (Final)
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