All Time Celtic UCL XI - The Defenders

Vote Now: Who’s Features in Your All-Time Celtic Champions League Back 4?

Now we’re getting into the heart of the team.

After kicking things off with the goalkeepers, we move onto the defenders – and it’s fair to say this catagory is fuller and more complex than keepers. Spanning over 20 years of UEFA Champions League group stage action, the list is long, the choices are tough, and this is where, if looking at a 4-3-3 Brendan system, tactical headaches are real.

A quick scroll through the names and you’ll find Champions League stalwarts like Mikael Lustig (25 apps) and Stephen McManus (23), modern mainstays like Greg Taylor (20) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (15), cult heroes like Valgaeren, and the odd “wait, what?” inclusion (yes, Nir Bitton (10) is here as a centre-half – because of course he is). You’ll also see players like Agathe (16) and Sylla (6) who will pop up again in the winger category. Positional purity wasn’t always a thing at Celtic, especially in Europe.

Your task? Pick a back four to fit Brendans’ 4-3-3. And that means more than just picking your favourites.