Celtic and the 'other 10': how history can be made on Sunday

By Euan Davidson

December 17, 2020

Celtic could seal history this season in two ways. On Sunday, the Bhoys could win a historic quadruple-treble; a domestic sweep that’s never been seen before.

Perhaps even more importantly, Neil Lennon’s side are chasing 10IAR, a haul of consecutive titles that has never been achieved.

However, 10 is the magic number in another way. Celtic could equal Rangers for trebles. Both clubs would be on 9, and Celtic supporters will be desperate to snaffle the ‘other 10’ before too long.

Treble Treble: unheard of until Celtic did it / (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Here come the numbers

Whatever your stance is on (The) Rangers and their history (BBC), this is a chase that applies to new club, old club, whatever. In their ‘classic’ form, our city rivals won Trebles in 1929–30, 1933–34, 1948–49, 1963–64, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1992–93, 1998–99 and 2002–03.

Celtic, on the other hand, have won 8, and have a habit of making them consecutive. The Bhoys managed two-in-a-row over 1906–07 and 1907–08, then rather famously over 1966–67 and 1968–69. Martin O’Neill managed it in 2000–01, and our most recent 3 could become 4 on Sunday.

And people say the Scottish game is a duopoly!

Now, you could argue that there’s no competition for 10, but I’ve no doubt that our rivals will be aiming to spoil our party and throw everything at getting to a ’10’ before us. However valid it would be is at your discretion.

Obviously, with Celtic crashing out of the Betfred Cup, and Rangers following suit last night, 20-21 won’t be the year either can achieve the ‘other 10’. You can bet, however, that this’ll be a contest that rumbles on in years to come.

Now, here are some lads who liked a Treble. / (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

Keeping it in perspective

Nobody is even close to Celtic and Rangers in terms of domestic trebles in the men’s game. The next most belong to Linfield with 5 trebles (if you include the Country Antrim Shield), while PSG have achieved four domestic trebles (Transfermarkt).

In women’s football, Olympique Lyon Féminines have won 5 domestic trebles, and are a truly dominant force in the game.

If you were ever in any doubt of the size of Celtic’s achievements in recent years, this should put it into some perspective. Building a treble-winning team is no easy feat – to have built several speaks to our quality from our first match in 1888 to the Class of 2020.

If you weren’t right up for Sunday already, maybe this will help a little.