Celtic vs Rennes 2011: Where are they now?

By Connor Gordon

November 27, 2019

Celtic and Rennes square off again in the Europa League at Parkhead on Thursday.

The first time they did so was back in 2011 in a less than half-full Celtic Park. Neil Lennon’s men defeated the Ligue 1 outfit by three goals to one in the second match between the two.

The Hoops took the three points eight years ago, but where are the players now?

Celtic players on different journeys after Rennes tie

Probably a good example of the club’s differing attitude towards the Europa League can be shown through the starting 11 that night. The Irishman went for a mixture in experience and quality for the bitter cold evening.

Celtic trio celebrating goal against Rennes in 2011. (Photo by GRAHAM STUART/AFP via Getty Images)

Fraser Forster was as first choice keeper then as he will be now when the pair meet again on Thursday.

Cha Du-Ri tried to get over his comical own goal in the first game in the Parkhead tie. The South Korean finished football four years later with FC Seoul following a German stint.

Daniel Majstorovic was a rock at times for Celtic but his speed was his ultimate weakness in Hoops. He finished playing in 2013 with this season’s Europa League opponents AIK Stockholm.

Despite a rocky start, fans were sad to see Glenn Loovens leave for Spain in 2013. Last season, the Dutchman played for Sunderland and hasn’t picked up a club since.

Glenn Loovens during his time at Celtic. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Adam Matthews was a top performer and always reliable when he arrived from Cardiff City. However, Mikael Lustig eventually took over and now he is plying his trade with Charlton Athletic, aged 27.

Where are the midfield men?

Everyone knows about Victor Wanyama’s rise and fall from grace since he moved to Spurs. The Kenyan international is a squad player for Spurs but many Hoops fans would love the 28-year-old back.

Beram Kayal was a stand-out player until an awful tackle by Lee McCulloch in a Glasgow Derby. The Israeli found form again with Brighton but is with now with ex-Hoops teammate Matthews at Charlton on loan.

Beram Kayal up against Udinese in the same Europa League group. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

James Forrest is still at the club and is one of the first names on the team sheet. Forrest is expected to get on the pitch again against Rennes on Thursday where he’ll hope to add to his Lazio strike.

The ultimate European cult hero Georgios Samaras left the Hoops in 2014 after six years with the club. Big Sammy stopped playing in 2018 following a year long stint in Turkey with Samsunspor.

The Irish forward two

Speaking of cult heroes, one man who runs Samaras close is the ‘Derry Pele’ Paddy McCourt. McCourt left the Hoops in 2013 and played for a host of lower league English sides before going back to Ireland. The Northern Ireland international last played in the Republic with Finn Harps in 2018.

Anthony Stokes scoring his second goal against Rennes in 2011. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Lastly, Anthony Stokes, a goal scorer in the Rennes match, has had his fair amount of off the field troubles. Nevertheless, Stoksey continues to play football in Turkey with Adana Demirspor. The striker left the Hoops in 2016 but can still be seen at matches and Celtic bars in Glasgow with fans to this day.