Celtic learn Champions League seeding fate as Hoops discover who stands in way of £30m bonanza
Brendan Rodgers' side suffered a bruising Scottish Cup Final defeat but have landed a huge European boost
Celtic will be seeded for next season's Champions League playoffs after Dinamo Zagreb were dethroned as the Kings of Croatia.
The Hoops face a two-legged qualifier to reach the £30million promised land after Scotland slid down the coefficient table.
The four-in-a-row champions have benefited from automatic qualification with the big boys over the last three years.
However, as Scotland dropped down to 14th in UEFA rankings, the Scottish Premiership lost its guaranteed spot.
Celtic are one of ten teams who will compete via the Champions Path, but due to their coefficient standing, had to rely on other results to secure a seeded space.
Dinamo Zagreb (56.000), Bodo/Glimt (49.000), FC Copenhagen (44.875), Red Star Belgrade (44.000) and Ferencváros (39.000) were all above Celts (38.000) in the pecking order.
And with the Norwegian, Serbian and Hungarian title-winners all wrapped up, the Parkhead side had to rely on either Dinamo Zagreb or FC Copenhagen finishing runners-up in their respective leagues.
Fortunately for the Hoops, Rijeka pipped Zagreb to the Croatian title on Sunday night - despite finishing level on points.
A bizarre sorting rule in the Croatian Football League states that first place will be decided by head-to-head record in the final round of fixtures if they are tied on points, taking precedence over the difference in goals scored and conceded between the sides.
That meant Rijeka simply had to defeat Slaven Belupo - or better Zagreb's result - to be crowned champions for the first time in eight years.
And they did just that, as Niko Jankovic and Toni Fruk scored in each half to secure the title and, in turn, guarantee Brendan Rodgers' troops a seeded position for the Champions League play-off round draw.
It means Celtic will now face one of five unseeded teams in the winner-takes-all playoff over two weeks on August 19/20 and 26/27.
Swiss side Basel, Austrians Sturm Graz, Romanian giants FCSB, Polish champs Lech Poznan or Rijeka could lie in wait.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp, where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
8 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Former Celtic midfielder explains why he left for Birmingham
The midfielder made a deadline-day switch to the League One side, where he thrived in his first season. Iwata scored eight goals and was nominated for the League One Player of the Season award, helping Birmingham win the division. Read more: He has now opened up on why he left Celtic, admitting he did not know who manager Brendan Rodgers was. He was quoted by Soccer Digest Web as saying: "Manager Rodgers was a famous coach in Scotland, but I didn't know of him at all. "At first, I wondered, 'What kind of person is he? "The team actually got going, and the football they were trying to play was interesting. "But there were some areas where I wasn't able to fully showcase myself. "It was partly because there was an absolute player in Callum McGregor in the same position, but honestly, I feel like I could have done more." He also revealed that the lack of minutes played a big part in his decision to leave. The 28-year-old said: "I wasn't impatient, but more than that, I couldn't help but feel the regret that I, a soccer player, wasn't playing in the games. "At that time, I had a very strong desire to play soccer. "Seeing my wife taking care of our children in a foreign country where I was not familiar with them, cooking meals and doing housework, I couldn't help but feel the emotion. "Birmingham made me an offer as soon as the off-season began, and they patiently waited until August 31st, the final day for transfers. "I thought to myself, 'If they feel that way about me, I want to go,' and immediately packed my bags and headed for my new home. "I didn't have any negative feelings about it being in the third division, and my biggest motivation at the time was wanting to show my family that I was working hard. "In addition, the manager, Chris Davies, had previously been a coach at Celtic and had recently been a coach under Ange at Tottenham. "The two managers had heard about me and offered me the position with confidence that we could work together, so I was able to go with peace of mind." Iwata will now play his football in the Championship with Birmingham City in the 2025/26 season.
Daily Mirror
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Bryan Mbeumo back-up plan gathers pace as Newcastle target Premier League rivals
Manchester United are keen to sign Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo as part of their summer rebuild and now appear to have a free run at the forward after one of their rivals admitted defeat Newcastle are plotting a double swoop for Joao Pedro and Anthony Elanga after losing out on Bryan Mbeumo. The Magpies had been linked with a move for the Brentford forward this summer. He had been identified as an ideal addition ahead of Newcastle 's return to the Champions League next term. But they faced serious competition from Premier League rivals Manchester United, with the Red Devils now looking likely to secure his signature after Mbeumo expressed his desire to move to Old Trafford. That decision has forced Newcastle to look elsewhere with a number of Premier League stars having been identified as alternatives. According to The Telegraph, Eddie Howe 's side will step up their pursuit of Brighton forward Pedro. The Newcastle boss has been tracking the Brazilian since his days with Fluminense and his profile is seen as an ideal addition to the squad. Brighton are now braced for bids but the Seagulls are expected to ask for around £60m for the striker following a season in which he scored ten goals in all competitions. Away from Pedro, Newcastle have also been linked with a move for Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga. The Magpies are understood to have submitted an enquiry for the winger, with discussions at an early stage. Forest would demand a lofty fee for the former Man United man having previously rebuffed a £35m approach from Newcastle in January. Regarding Mbeumo, United still have to agree terms with Brentford over the forward, with Thomas Frank having warned the Bees have a very lofty asking price in mind. Speaking earlier this month, he said: "It is clear that if he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount. It is a lot. Really a lot. Then it is clear that it is impossible to replace him one for one. It cannot be done. "There is a reason why he costs x number of million pounds, and we do not have x number of million pounds to buy for." He added: "I would say that I would be surprised if a lot of big clubs don't look at him. I would be surprised with what he has to offer. "How many wingers score 20 goals for a mid-table club? And then with seven assists plus his work ethic. And his character. All these things mean that he has a lot, so he is a good player.' Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The National
26 minutes ago
- The National
Iwata in key Rodgers admission as reason for Celtic exit revealed
The midfielder completed a deadline day switch to the English third-tier outfit. Iwata has thrived in his first year south of the border, scoring eight goals and finding himself nominated for League One's Player of the Season award. Read more: He recently lifted the lid on his Celtic exit, admitting that he had no knowledge of Brendan Rodgers when he rejoined the club. "Manager Rodgers was a famous coach in Scotland, but I didn't know of him at all," Iwata told Soccer Digest Web. "At first, I wondered, 'What kind of person is he?' The team actually got going, and the football they were trying to play was interesting. "But there were some areas where I wasn't able to fully showcase myself. It was partly because there was an absolute player in Callum McGregor in the same position, but honestly, I feel like I could have done more. "For players in the front line, the numbers are clear, but my strengths are my one-on-one strengths and my ability to steal the ball. "At Celtic, it's difficult to show that. The teams that are overwhelmingly strong in Scotland always have the ball and take the lead. "I would take it positively that I was able to concentrate on the offensive side, but I can't show my strengths much and I don't get much playing time. "The level of the Scottish first division is a little lower than the top five European leagues, so I often felt that it was a difficult environment for me." The 28-year-old's lack of minutes, along with his family life, was a key factor in his exit: "I wasn't impatient, but more than that, I couldn't help but feel the regret that I, a soccer player, wasn't playing in the games," he said. "At that time, I had a very strong desire to play soccer. Seeing my wife taking care of our children in a foreign country where I was not familiar with them, cooking meals and doing housework, I couldn't help but feel the emotion. "Birmingham made me an offer as soon as the off-season began, and they patiently waited until August 31st, the final day for transfers. "I thought to myself, 'If they feel that way about me, I want to go,' and immediately packed my bags and headed for my new home. I didn't have any negative feelings about it being in the third division, and my biggest motivation at the time was wanting to show my family that I was working hard. "In addition, the manager, Chris Davies, had previously been a coach at Celtic and had recently been a coach under Ange at Tottenham. "The two managers had heard about me and offered me the position with confidence that we could work together, so I was able to go with peace of mind." Birmingham won League One last term, and Iwata will play his football in the Championship in the forthcoming 2025/26 season.
