It was an interesting season for Celtic’s backline during the 2024/25 campaign.
Despite an incredible start by the defence, including new signing Kasper Schmeichel conceding only four goals in Celtic’s first 20 Premiership matches, things changed.
It all started to go wrong in 2025, including Liam Scales and Auston Trusty struggling to cement their place in Celtic’s XI.
When fit and ready, Cameron Carter-Vickers has always started, but whenever he is on the sidelines, and he has had injury issues, then his absence has been apparent.
Then you have someone like Maik Nawrocki, who hasn’t done much wrong when starting, but has mainly been sidelined by the manager.
So, who do Celtic play as a centre-back, alongside Carter-Vickers, next season?
Kieran Tierney could ‘easily’ play centre-back for Celtic
Everyone has heard the news of Kieran Tierney’s return to Glasgow, as he puts on the green and white colours again.
With Greg Taylor set to leave, when his Celtic contract expires at the end of June, many expect their returning hero to don his usual place at left-back.
But Ross McCormack thinks that Tierney can ‘easily’ play as a centre-back for the champions of Scotland, especially in the Premiership games, as he told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.
“It depends on the conversations Greg (Taylor) has had with the manager,” said McCormack. “For me, looking at it, Kieran Tierney, I watch him for Scotland, and I know he plays on the left-hand side of a back three.
“But, for me, in the games in the SPL. Kieran Tierney could 100% play left centre-back, and that’s also a big issue with Celtic.
“You have got to remember, a lot of Celtic fans weren’t happy with Scales and Trusty as well.
“Kieran Tierney could easily play left centre half, especially in the games in the Scottish Premiership.”
How many games has Tierney played at centre-back?
Tierney has played in a back three for Scotland, on the left-hand side, with captain and Celtic fan Andy Robertson as the left-sided wingback.
If you include that role, throughout Tierney’s career, where he has picked up 12 trophies, this is how many games he has played at centre-back, and how he has fared.
| Games at centre-back | Goals conceded | Clean Sheets |
| 45 | 65 | 22 |
Those who want Taylor to stay would argue that, on top of Tierney’s injury issues and playing him next to Carter-Vickers, the former Kilmarnock man should stay because it increases his chances of playing.
But Taylor clearly has already made his mind up, or else, fans would have heard about him extending that contract by now.
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