City and Celtic: Played for both | OneFootball

City will kick off the 2024/25 campaign against Celtic with the first game of our preseason tour to the United States.

The two teams have only met in competitive fixtures when we clashed in the Champions League in 2016 with both games ending in draws.

Indeed the Scottish champions were the first to deny Pep Guardiola a victory after beginning his tenure at the Etihad Stadium with 10 successive victories before a 3-3 draw at Celtic Park.

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But there are plenty of links between the two clubs over a proud history for both.

Ahead of our game at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill at 00:30 (UK) on Wednesday 24 July, we take a look at those connections.

Joe Hart

The former England goalkeeper spent more than a decade at the Etihad Stadium and became one of the greatest number ones in our history.

Over 348 appearances between 2006 and 2016, he was a big part of ending our wait for silverware when we lifted the FA Cup in 2011.

A year later we won the Premier League in dramatic fashion and Hart memorably wheeled away in celebration after Sergio Aguero’s 94th minute winner on the final day.

Hart won the title again in 2014 as well as four Golden Gloves and after spells at Torino, West Ham, Burnley and Tottenham, he arrived at Celtic.

In Scotland he won three Premierships, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups before hanging up his gloves at the end of last season.

Craig Bellamy

The new Wales manager had a nomadic playing career but had enjoyable spells at both City and Celtic.

Bellamy spent five months on loan in Glasgow in 2004/05 and helped them to win the Scottish Cup.

Mark Hughes brought him to the Etihad Stadium in 2009 where he became something of a cult hero.

His high demands helped to transform City from a mid-table side to one competing for Champions League places and silverware.

Despite some injury problems, he made 51 appearances, scoring 16 times for the Blues.

Mick McCarthy

A strong central defender, big Mick spent four years as City captain and helped us to promotion back to Division 1.

Among his highlights at Maine Road was an astonishing long-range header in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

He joined Celtic in 1987 and enjoyed his time north of the border where he won the double in his first season and the Scottish Cup a year later and went onto have a successful managerial career.

Kolo Toure

He teamed up with brother Yaya during his time at the Etihad and played a big part in the early part of our recent success.

During his time at the Etihad, he won a Premier League title and the FA Cup before eventually moving on to Liverpool and then Celtic.

Kolo collected a double during his time in Scotland and returned to Glasgow as part of Brendan Rodgers’ successful coaching team.

Eyal Berkovic

The Israeli playmaker helped light up Maine Road during our glorious promotion campaign in 2001/02 under Kevin Keegan.

Alongside Ali Bernarbia, the dynamic duo helped City rip up the second tier as we scored 108 goals and collected 99 points in a scintillating season.

He had joined from Celtic where he spent two seasons winning the League Cup and left in 2004 after becoming a firm favourite.

Neil Lennon

Growing up a Celtic fan, he has had a remarkable time as a player and coach at the Club.

He has spent more than 16 years there over various spells with remarkable success.

Lennon began his career as a trainee at City with his only appearance in a 3-0 win at Birmingham in 1988.

Georgios Samaras

The Greek striker’s best moments came in Scotland after an uneasy time at City.

Signed from Dutch club Heerenven in the summer of 2005, he could only muster 12 goals in his 65 appearances for the Blues.

After an initial loan spell to Celtic, he made the move permanent in 2008 and won seven trophies including four titles.

Billy McNeill

A Celtic club legend as both player and manager, McNeill gave 27 years of his life to the Glasgow giants winning 31 trophies as well as being one of the Lisbon Lions that won the European Cup.

He became City boss in 1983, guided us to promotion in 1985, staying for one season before moving to Aston Villa and later returning to Celtic.

Dedryk Boyaya

The Belgian came through the City Academy system but couldn’t nail down a regular starting place in his six years at the club.

He made 35 appearances for City and after loan spells with FC Twente and Bolton before moving to Celtic in 2015  where he won the Premiership in each of his four seasons.

Patrick Roberts

The winger made just three appearances for City but his only goal at the Etihad came for Celtic in the Champions League.

Successive loan spells to the Scottish side proved successful and he was a popular figure with the fans.

Gerry Creaney

The striker spent seven successful years at Celtic Park before moving south to Portsmouth in 1994 where he would spend a season.

He joined City in a swap deal for the hugely popular Paul Walsh in 1995 and his return of just four goals in 21 appearances saw him loaned out.

Scott Sinclair

The winger joined after our first Premier League title but struggled to establish himself at City, playing just 19 times in three years.

But he enjoyed his time at Celtic Park where he scored 40 goals in over 100 appearances and won eight major honours as well as being named PFA Player of the Year in 2016/17.

John Guidetti

With just one appearance in six years, the Swedish striker had various loan spells during his City career.

Among them was a brief stop at Celtic where won the Premiership and Scottish League Cup.

Willo Flood

He scored a memorable volley against Norwich in 18 appearances for City between 2003 and 2006 and made just six appearances for Celtic.