UEFA in nod to Celtic’s Lisbon Lions as Manchester City and Real Madrid attempt to make history
It’s not very often you hear of Celtic getting a mention from UEFA when the Champions League reaches the final stage. But this weekend, that’s exactly what Europe’s governing body did.
As Manchester City and Real Madrid shoot it out for a place in the final in Istanbul on June 10th, UEFA recognised that both clubs have the potential to achieve a Treble should they get passed each other and then defeat one of the Milan giants in the final.
But when reporting this, UEFA gave a little nod to Celtic as the only club ever to win a Quadruple of major trophies including the European Cup.
Jock Stein’s men won every domestic honour in 1967 as well as lifting Europe’s top prize after defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in the final in Lisbon.
UEFA wrote, “Celtic’s Lisbon Lions – in 1966/67 – are the only team to date to have lifted a quadruple of European Cup, domestic league, domestic cup and domestic league cup in the same season.
“League Cups are played in a minority of countries, including England, Portugal and France, although the latter competition has not taken place since 2019/20.” [UEFA.com]
Indeed, Celtic also won the Glasgow Cup that season to make it a Quintet of trophies but let’s not split hairs here.
And although neither Man City or Real Madrid can join Celtic in the exclusive club, they are looking to complete a treble this season should either club lift the trophy.
Manchester City look on course to win the English Premier League after overhauling a huge points deficit to overtake Arsenal. They are also set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3rd.
Real Madrid’s case is slightly harder. They trail Barcelona in La Liga by 11 points. But with four games to go the likelihood of them lifting the title is extremely slim, but not mathematically impossible. The Galacticos did manage to lift the Cope Del Rey last weekend after defeating Osasuna 2-1 in the final.
A European Treble has only ever been done on nine occasions with Bayern Munich achieving the feat in 2013 and 2020.
But Celtic still remain the only club to have won every major domestic honour in the same season as winning the European Cup. Not bad for a team made up of players from in and around Glasgow.
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