Since the 2000/01 campaign, the Celtic FC Academy has developed and nurtured over 70 players who have eventually earned their way into the first-team squad.
Current Celtic captain Callum McGregor and the club’s most decorated player ever, James Forrest, are the two greatest success stories of the Academy. The likes of Kieran Tierney and Aiden McGeady also became Hoops heroes in the eyes of the fans.
Below, 67 Hail Hail provide you with everything there is to know about the Academy.
Celtic decided to professionalise their youth set-up during the 2000/01 season with the objective of creating a first-class Academy capable of developing Champions League level players.
72 players have graduated from the Academy and represented the first-team since then, which includes 22 Champions League players and 18 senior Scotland internationals.
The Academy is split into two sections for boys and girls, and has four main principles:
- Respect
- Commitment
- Integrity
- Support
Celtic B
Stephen McManus is the Celtic B head coach, and he is assisted by Jonny Hayes. Celtic B is the level below the first-team, and there are currently 20 players in the squad:
Goalkeepers
- Aidan Rice
- Marcus Gill
- Corey Shaw
- Joe Clarke (on loan at Partick Thistle)
Defenders
- Finlay Hale
- Cole Crawford
- Isaac English
- Hayden Borland
- Andrew Kyle (on loan at East Kilbride)
- Samuel Sedwell
- Ben McPherson (on loan at Partick Thistle)
Midfielders
- Kyle Ure
- Corey Thomson
- Jude Bonnar (on loan at Ayr United)
- Sean McArdle
- Francis Turley (on loan at Ayr United)
- Ben Summers (on loan at Ayr United)
- Robert Rachwal
- Ronan Ferris
- Kayden Daly
- Owen Hartington
Forwards
- Rhys Dargie
- Samuel Isiguzo
- Thomas Hatton
- Tom Pickford
- Filip Skorb
- Emmanuel Obidiwe
Celtic FC Boys’ & Girls’ Academies
Below Celtic B is the bulk of the Academy. There are four age strands:
- Professional (U18)
- Intermediate (U13 – U16)
- Junior (U10 – U12)
- Development (minimum 5 years old)
The Professional Academy train at both Celtic Park and Barrowfield, while the Intermediate Academy develop their players at Lennoxtown and St Ninian’s High School.
The Junior Academy train at Barrowfield, while the Development Academy are based in Glasgow (Toryglen), Grangemouth (Galaxy Sports Little Kerse) and Irvine (The Circuit).
Academy Staff
The Celtic FC Academy employ 26 coaches responsible for developing the club’s youth talent:
Head of Academy
- Chris McCart
Professional Player Pathway Management
- Steven Hammell
- Brian Meehan
Celtic B
- Stephen McManus
- Jonny Hayes
U18
- Adam Asghar
- Chris Hendry
Goalkeeping
- Colin Meldrum
- Ryan Marshall
- Robbie Thomson
- Tom McKay
Intermediate
- Michael O’Halloran
- Mark McNally
- Tom McCafferty
- Tony McGrory
- Mio Krivokapic
- John McStay
- Jose Romero
Junior
- Willie McNab
- Aidan Robertson
- Chris Hynes
- Stevie Chalmers
- Mark Farrell
- Michael McCahill
- Scott Murray
- Zeshan Ullah
