Pierre van Hooijdonk’s claim that Celtic “would be in the mix immediately” if they had Premier League television money is not as outlandish as some in England would like to believe.
The former Hoops striker is really pointing towards something far more obvious. Celtic already possess the support, infrastructure and global reach of a major European club.
What they do not possess is access to the financial ecosystem England’s top flight enjoys. And van Hooijdonk uses that argument to definitively state how Celtic could easily compete in the Premier League if they did.
How would Celtic fare in the Premier League if they were in it?
Van Hooijdonk sees what many in England still ignore about Celtic
Speaking recently, Van Hooijdonk said: “But in terms of fans, in terms of how many people in the world support Celtic, that is immense.
“No, that is really all over the world. And I do agree with you that if Celtic, and that actually applies also to Rangers, if they were admitted to the Premier League along with the television money. Well, then they’d be in the mix immediately.”
This is not the first time Van Hooijdonk has made this argument about Celtic. The Dutchman previously described Celtic and Rangers as “sleeping giants” whose growth is restricted by the financial limitations of Scottish football.
It is difficult to argue against that when Celtic continue posting an average attendance of around 58,500, numbers that surpass many established Premier League clubs.
That level of support does not happen accidentally. Celtic remain one of the few clubs outside Europe’s richest leagues capable of generating elite-level matchday demand every single week.
Celtic are operating with Premier League-sized support on Scottish football money
The real issue has never been about whether Celtic are a big club. The real issue is the financial landscape surrounding them.
Premier League television money dwarfs anything available in Scotland. Even the bottom side in England receives revenue figures Celtic can only approach through Champions League qualification and player trading.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Premiership’s broadcasting model simply cannot generate comparable income streams. Celtic are competing financially with one hand tied behind their back despite operating at a scale larger than many clubs south of the border.
That is exactly the point Van Hooijdonk is making. Give Celtic access to the same economic environment and the gap closes rapidly.
Too often, discussions like this get dismissed as fantasy football debates about league reconstruction. That misses the actual point entirely.
Van Hooijdonk is really highlighting how unusual Celtic’s position is in modern football. Very few clubs maintain this level of support, atmosphere and commercial pull while operating in such a financially restricted domestic environment.
Celtic are already punching above the economic level of Scottish football. That is why outsiders repeatedly recognise the club’s untapped ceiling.
Van Hooijdonk understands that because he understands Celtic. The club’s biggest limitation has never been ambition, support or stature. It is the financial environment surrounding them.
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