Celtic did it. After all the talk, all the hype, all the expectation, Brendan Rodgers’ side delivered the treble at Hampden on Saturday in a wonderful Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen.
The Hoops have gone the entire domestic season unbeaten in three competitions, the first side in Scotland to ever achieve the feat. The last hurdle was the most difficult of all as Derek McInnes’ side put up a hell of a fight to try and win Aberdeen’s first Scottish Cup for 27 years.
After the two sides exchanged blows early on through Jonny Hayes and Stuart Armstrong, it wasn’t until injury time at the death of the game that saw Celtic come through victorious.
Tom Rogic received the ball 45 yards out before surging into the Aberdeen box, beating his man and slotting the ball into the net at Joe Lewis’ near post. The goal sparked scenes of delirium at Hampden, a reaction to what was perhaps Celtic’s biggest ever Scottish Cup goal.
Celebrations followed all afternoon and evening in Glasgow, fans basking in the glory of what is a monumental achievement.
Here are FIVE iconic photos of the win at Hampden that are sure to be remembered for a long time…
The glory of Rogic
With the rain lashing down at Hampden and lightning striking in the skies above, the Australian midfield wizard Tom Rogic became the man that will go down in history as the player who delivered the invincible treble for Celtic.
His surging run and finish was worthy of winning any Scottish Cup final and his celebration was as passionate as any Celtic fans have seen down the years. Pulling at his shirt, running through the rain, he crashed into supporters going ballistic, sharing the moment with Hoops fans.
It was his fourth goal against Aberdeen this season, also netting in the League Cup Final of course. He’s a big game player with bags of ability and it all culminated in a perfect Celtic moment.
You can’t keep Tierney down
Kieran Tierney is a Celtic warrior and proved it in the Scottish Cup final, returning to lift the trophy after taking a trip to hospital to receive treatment for a mouth injury.
The left-back took a sore one from the arm of Aberdeen striker Jayden Stockley and, having to receive emergency treatment, many thought the youngster would miss out on the treble celebrations before he surprisingly appeared in the stand to receive his medal and lift the trophy, to some of the loudest cheers of the day.
You can’t keep the young Bhoy down and he showed the passion and desire that has summed up his time playing for the Hoops so far.
Two leaders
Brendan Rodgers and Scott Brown are Celtic leaders, two men that have taken the club into uncharted waters this season to deliver unprecedented consistency and success. At the end of the game they embraced in a photo that will remind Celtic fans of a similar image of Tommy Burns and Paul McStay after the 1995 Scottish Cup Final.
The two icons have built up a special relationship this season and Scott Brown credits his manager with reigniting his football career, admitting that at one point last year he felt his career at the top level might be coming to an end.
He’s had his best ever season in a Celtic shirt and continues to get better and better, proving all his doubters wrong.
Invincibles
This Celtic team and squad will go down in the club’s history as one of the greatest ever. Perhaps behind the teams of the 1967 season and the Seville season, many Hoops fans will point to this one as the best.
There have been outstanding stars but perhaps the most impressive thing is that their success has truly been a team and a squad effort. Six players have reached double figures for goals, 19 players have made over ten starts across the campaign, 35 players have featured at some point throughout. Rodgers has utilised the entire squad and they can all be proud of their efforts whether they are Scott Sinclair or a young player coming through like Anthony Ralston.
The squad of course led the celebrations after the final whistle, directing the supporters through songs and dancing.
Becoming a legend
It hasn’t taken long for Brendan Rodgers to become a genuine Celtic legend but in delivering an unbeaten treble, that’s definitely what he’s become. He’s only the third manager in Celtic’s long history to win a domestic treble and nobody has done with as much style as the Irishman.
He takes his place alongside Martin O’Neill and Jock Stein as a treble winner and supporters are now eagerly anticipating whether or not he can also reach the heights of those two in Europe in the seasons to come.
After signing a four year contract, it’s clear he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon and that can only be a great thing for the club.