Celtic's 'relentlessness' spearheaded by skipper McGregor
Celtic are eyeing up records aplenty in Saturday's Scottish Cup final, as is Callum McGregor.The Celtic skipper has 13 victories in 13 finals at Hampden - eight League Cups and five Scottish Cups. He even even four out of four Youth Cup finals at the national stadium.His superb Hampden record was continued in fantastic fashion when Brendan Rodgers' treble-chasing side thrashed St Johnstone 5-0 in the semi-final... which McGregor kicked off with the opening goal.From there, they scored four goals in 12 stunning first-half minutes, preserving Rodgers' own unbeaten run in Mount Florida.Superlatives are running thin for Rodgers, McGregor and Celtic but the one that keeps coming back is "relentless"."As soon as they go into another game, what's happened previously doesn't matter, this is the most important game," said former Scotland and Celtic goalkeeper Gemma Fay on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast."It's only by having that mindset can you do what they've done, it's a relentlessness."In the semi-final versus St Johnstone, you thought St Johnstone were doing okay and then within 10 minutes, it was done. "That's what Celtic can do to you and they have the capability of doing that against any team in Scotland."
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BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Is America making Scottish football great again?
The American takeover of Rangers represents a significant shift at Ibrox but it also marks a broader milestone for Scottish football. With the arrival of US-based consortium, including Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises in Glasgow, half of this season's 12 Premiership clubs now have substantial investment from the United the latest development in a trend which has been building quietly for over 10 years and one which reflects similar changes across Europe. So, what's driving this wave of transatlantic interest? And what might it mean for the future of Scottish football? A decade in the making American involvement in the Scottish game began back in 2013, when Texans John Nelms and Tim Keyes took control at Dundee, with a vision centred on youth development and player trading. Five years later, across the road at Tannadice, Mark Ogren bought Dundee United. He has since invested an estimated £13m during what has been a turbulent but committed tenure. Since then, the US footprint has expanded. Bournemouth owner Bill Foley acquired a significant stake in Hibernian, St Johnstone were bought by businessman Adam Webb, and Aberdeen brought in a group of US investors via Scotland-born, US-based Dave Cormack. There was also interest in Motherwell from former Netflix ex-vice president Erik Barmack last year. More bang for your buck in Scotland than England? In England, following Dan Friedkin's recent acquisition of Everton, half of the 20 Premier League clubs are now under US ownership, including Manchester United and Liverpool. Nine more clubs in the English Football League have also attracted American investment. The reasons are varied, but value is a key factor. While the average NFL franchise is valued at around $6bn, and an NBA team commands roughly $4.6bn, Everton reportedly sold for just £400m. For investors used to those numbers, European football clubs can seem like a bargain - especially when they come with global brand recognition, loyal fanbases, and historical why Scotland?"They love the sport and the cost for getting involved with sports ownership in the states is significant," said Cormack, Aberdeen's is cheaper, but the potential rewards - particularly through European competition - are very real. While Everton's new owners may have limited expectations of reaching the Champions League, those backing Rangers will expect to be there regularly. That offers a route to financial growth, global exposure, and an increase in brand value. There's also a growing focus on player trading. Celtic have shown how effective this can be, developing talent and selling at a premium. US investors see Scotland as a shop window. Les Alan, an LA-based investment banker, helped broker the Rangers takeover and thinks the attraction was obvious. "If you're looking at the investment from a financial point of view, the figures speak for themselves," he said. "Rangers' enterprise value is probably around £150m. For that you could probably buy a very small fraction of the 49ers, you could buy a fraction of an English Premier League club."Yet Rangers offer you one of the top two teams in Scotland, with a 38-acre training facility, a magnificent stadium in the heart of Glasgow and the possibility of top-tier European competition every year. "So from a financial point of view, the comparisons I believe are compelling. In fact, in the US, here in LA, a women's team just traded for $250m, without the background, the history or the trophy winning past of Rangers." The rise of multi-club ownership The attraction and acquisition fits into a wider model now common across world football. Many American investors own more than one club - often across different Black Knight group has stakes in Bournemouth, Lorient and Auckland. Webb holds a share in Cambridge United. Rangers' new owners also control Leeds insist the goal is to share best practices, not necessarily move players around. But, for fans, there is unease. Supporters are proud of their club's identity and traditions - and wary of becoming a satellite in a wider footballing and passion won't allow fans to entertain the notion of their club existing to feed the parent company's bigger offspring but with scouting and analytics playing such a key role in football, collaboration in some form is inevitable."Every team is just as important as the next team but we need to have ways of avoiding the heavy transfer payments that you have in football and at least if you have transfer payments, we're paying ourselves instead of paying a third party," said Foley."So, I understand sometimes there's apprehension about multi-club ownership - Manchester City has proved it works for them and we feel it works for us with the size of club we are and we respect every team that we own a part of."I was only allowed to buy 30% of Hibs but if larger ownership percentages are allowed, you'll see many more Americans investing in Scottish football. I have no doubt about that." With great power comes great responsibility What evidence do we have of success so far? Dundee have yet to realise the dream of becoming a conveyer belt for young Scottish talent, but their US owners have brought stability to a club that was unpredictable. Their neighbours at Tannadice have steadied the club financially, but fans might be forgiven for expecting more. It's perhaps a similar story at Hibs, and St Johnstone's new owners couldn't prevent the club being relegated for the first time in 16 years. We also have to acknowledge when fans didn't welcome fresh investment from the US. In 2024, Motherwell fans, the club's majority shareholder, voted against a club takeover by Barmack. The episode at Motherwell shows there are also cultural differences to navigate. In the US, sport is often positioned as entertainment - a product consumed by families, sponsors, and corporate clients. In Scotland, football is deeply personal. American investors entering the Scottish game may find the passion and expectations here very different from what they're used to. And while financial backing is welcome, it comes with a responsibility - not just to balance the books, but to honour what the club means to its supporters. "Each club has different but deep histories no matter if you're Stenhousemuir or Rangers," said Alan. "If we're out there in the investment banking world and you're selling two semi-conductor companies, how do you differentiate from the two? But football clubs, even in the same league, have deep and different cultural pasts." Scottish football may benefit from US investment. But if it's to succeed, it must be done with care, respect, and a clear understanding of the culture it's entering.
BBC News
an hour ago
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Motherwell linked with A-League manager
New name in the frame for Motherwell manager's job, Celtic linked with moves and possible interest in Rangers forward... Central Coast Mariners boss Mark Jackson is a surprise candidate to become the new Motherwell manager. (Scottish Sun), externalCeltic are expected to rekindle interest in 18-year-old Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller and have also been keeping tabs on Hearts left-back James Penrice. (Daily Record), externalLennon Miller, also linked with Sunderland, Eintracht Frankfurt and Royal Union St Gilloise, insists his focus is more on pre-season with Motherwell than speculation over his future. (Daily Record), externalCeltic are interested in Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig, with the 23-year-old former Hibs player having made his Scotland debut against Liechtenstein on Monday. (talkSPORT), externalSweden winger Benjamin Nygren is a possible target for Celtic as the 23-year-old enters the last six months of his contract at Nordsjaelland. (Scottish Sun), externalRangers forward Hamza Igamane, 22, is being tracked by French quartet Lens, Lille, Rennes and Strasbourg, along with clubs in England. (Foot Mercato - in French), externalBrentford, Everton and West Ham are keen on Rangers forward Hamza Igamane. (Football Insider), externalNigerian striker Uchenna Ogundu is a transfer target for Hearts but the 19-year-old who played in the Turkish second-tier with Sanliurfaspor last season is attracting interest from all over Europe. (Edinburgh Evening News), externalDundee have agreed a deal to sign former Cambridge United midfielder Paul Digby, 30, as a free agent. (The Courier, external - subscription required)But Antonio Portales and Mo Sylla are set to leave Dundee, who remain confident of keeping Josh Mulligan. (Courier - subscription required), externalLas Palmas want to offload Scotland centre-half Scott McKenna, 28, as they look to cut their wage bill after being relegated from La Liga. ( external - in Spanish)Boss of Latvian side RFS Gregory Vignal dreams of returning to Rangers as manager one day and thinks his current side would finish in the top three of the Scottish Premiership. (Daily Record), externalAnd Vignal says former Chelsea and Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was interested in the Rangers vacancy before Russell Martin was appointed head coach at Ibrox. (Glasgow Times), external
Press and Journal
9 hours ago
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Aberdeen defender Jack Milne could follow £4.75million star's Pittodrie career path, says legend Brian Irvine
Signing Jack Milne on a long-term contract is a masterstroke by Aberdeen as the defender's career rise could mirror Scott McKenna's, says legend Brian Irvine. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin and the Pittodrie hierarchy recently tied centre-back Milne on an extended deal in April until summer 2029. A month-after committing his long term future to the club Milne played a key role in the Scottish Cup final triumph – in only his third start of the season. The 22-year-old delivered a stellar performance at Hampden as the Dons lifted the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990. Irvine netted the winning penalty in the 1990 cup win and was at the national stadium to watch Milne shine at the heart of a five-man defence. He reckons youth academy graduate Milne's performance proves he has the potential to emulate the Pittodrie career path of Scotland international McKenna. McKenna emerged through the Aberdeen youth system to become a first team star before securing a £3million move to then-English Championship Nottingham Forest in 2020. The figure Aberdeen banked for McKenna rose to £4.75m due to add-ons being achieved when he helped Forest earn promotion to the Premier League in 2022. Irvine said: 'Signing Jack Milne on a long-term contract until 2029 is a great move by Aberdeen. 'He delivered a fantastic performance in the Scottish Cup final that was extremely mature for a young player. 'Milne can take real confidence from how he played at Hampden and will benefit from that going forward. 'It could ultimately be another Scott McKenna situation where Milne gets a big move from Aberdeen in the future. 'McKenna was superb for Aberdeen for a number of seasons then went on to get the big transfer to England. 'At club and international level McKenna has had a fantastic career since coming through at Aberdeen. 'Milne could potentially mirror that.' Aberdeen's Scottish Cup final triumph has secured guaranteed European league action next season and a Uefa cash bonus of around £5million. The Dons will enter the Europa League play-offs with ties played on August 21 and 28. Should they lose the play-off, Aberdeen will parachute into the Conference League. Manager Jimmy Thelin has already began bolstering his squad in a bid to balance European league action with domestic commitments. Australian international striker Kusini Yengi, 26, has signed a pre-contract. Yengi will arrive on a free following the expiration of his contract with Portsmouth. Versatile left-back Emmanuel Gyamfi, 20, was signed from German Bundesliga 2 club FC Schalke 04 on a four-year-deal for an undisclosed fee. Australian winger Nicolas Milanovic was also secured for around £400,000 from A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers. The 23-year-old was recently named the A-League player of the year. Keeper Nick Suman, 25, was also secured and will join the Reds when his contract with Cove Rangers expires later this month. Aberdeen are in advanced talks with multiple transfer targets ahead of the summer transfer window. Irvine is confident the Reds will build on the Scottish Cup triumph. He said: 'All the Aberdeen players should take huge confidence from the cup win. 'Ultimately they lost out on that third-placed Premiership finish. 'But that was overtaken by qualifying for the Europa League play-off anyway by winning the Scottish Cup. 'It has been a great season for all the players and now they should build on that. 'Thelin signed a lot of players in his first season, with many Scandinavians, and it takes a little time to settle. 'They'll have more confidence and experience to take the next step in their Aberdeen career. 'There will be more new signings in the summer window. 'However, most of the players have been under Thelin for a year and we will see the best of them next season.' Pittodrie great Irvine famously scored the winning penalty as the Dons triumphed 9-8 in a spot-kick shoot-out against Celtic in the 1990 Scottish Cup final. Irvine was back at Hampden for further penalty shoot-out drama. Only this time he was watching as one of the 20,000 Aberdeen supporters who cheered the Reds to a 4-3 triumph on penalties. Aberdeen also won the Scottish Cup on Irvine's 60th birthday. He said: 'I was down on a supporters' bus that was arranged by the club, and left from Pittodrie. 'At Hampden, I sat in amongst the supporters – because I am one myself. 'I was there with my daughter's partner. 'It was a slightly different position from 35 years ago… but just as nervy! 'When we won the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990, it was a very emotional moment. 'I'm delighted for the players, the club and the fans. 'It was extra special because Aberdeen won the cup on my 60th birthday. 'A lot of supporters took selfies with me at Hampden, which I really enjoyed. 'On the journey home the music was pumping out with lots of songs sung. 'We got back to Pittodrie just ahead of the team bus which arrived just after 11. 'The night was probably still young for the youngsters, but 60-year-old me thought I had better go home. 'The unity between the club and city is strong at the moment which is fantastic to see.'
