Kenny Dalglish and Roy Keane are two of the greatest players of their generation.
Celtic were blessed to have those two don the famous green and white colours, with the only shame being that Roy Keane wasn’t in Glasgow long enough.
Despite that, Keane still picked up two trophies in six months in 2006, whilst Dalglish picked up nine honours during his eight years at Celtic.
Dalglish was discussing his footballing career, alongside Keane, Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville, and Ian Wright, as Celtic, understandably, came up during their conversation.
Kenny Dalglish and Roy Keane on Celtic expectations
There are times when those outside of Glasgow don’t understand the pressure that comes with playing for Celtic.
Keane asked Dalglish, when he was coming through at Parkhead as a teenager in the late 60s and 70s, what the demands were like.
They both agreed that, from those days to the present day, and remember this wasn’t long after the famous Lisbon Lions, the expectations have always been as demanding as ever.
Keane: “Was there an expectation at Celtic to win every week? The demands.”
Dalglish: “We were only in the reserves (as a youngster).”
Keane: “But when you got involved and started getting into the first team? The expectation was there like it is now.”
Dalglish: “It has always been the same. It hasn’t been anything different. Always the same.”
Keane: “You were fine with that? Even as a young player. You just thought, ‘it’s part of the gig.'”
Dalglish: “We had a good start. The first game we got was the Glasgow derby, for the big game for myself. I would have been 19 or 20.
“We are winning 1-0, and we get a penalty kick. Billy McNeill was the captain. He came over and grabbed me, he said, ‘you take it.’ I went, I can’t repeat it. He said, ‘go on, you take it. You took them for the reserves.’
“I said, ‘Billy, there are more photographers here than what was there at the reserve game.’ He said, ‘no, but you take it.’ I went, ‘oh, Jesus.’ So, I was a bit nervous.
“But I walked up. My dad used to take me up to watch Rangers a wee bit. The goalkeeper always went the same way. For any penalty I saw. I am saying, ‘oh, please. Go this way.’
“I get up, put the ball down, I stop and tie my lace. It wasn’t even loose, I just tied it. I ran up and slotted it to his left. He did what he normally did. That was me. If I had missed that, I might not be here.”
Scotland’s most successful club and counting…
There is a reason why, in 2025, Celtic are Scotland’s most successful club, including missing out on the Treble by a kick of a ball last season.
Before the start of the campaign, the expectation at Celtic is to win a Treble. Not because of arrogance, but due to how dominant the Hoops have been for two decades now.
The trophies speak for themselves, and nobody else in Scotland can better them.
- 55 Premiership titles
- 42 x Scottish Cup trophies
- 22 x League Cup winners
- 1 European Cup
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