
Ex-Celtic star who's seventh on club's most-decorated list says beating relegation would be ‘greatest achievement'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A FORMER Celtic star who won 18 trophies at Parkhead could complete his "greatest achievement" this weekend.
Nir Bitton may be seventh on the list of the club's most decorated players but his dream has been to keep Ashdod in Israel's top division since returning to his boyhood club in January.
3
Nir Bitton is seventh on Celtic's most-decorated players list
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
3
The Israeli left Parkhead in 2022 after nine years and 18 trophies
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
3
The 33-year-old is now battling relegation with his boyhood team
Credit: Kenneth Ramsay
On Saturday, the 33-year-old will lead them in a season-defining game against relegation rivals Maccabi Petah Tikva.
Ashdod stood in second bottom place when Bitton returned to the club 12 years after leaving for Celtic.
The former Hoops midfielder, who has been holding the fort in central defence this season, has shored things up at the back with Ashdod extending their unbeaten league run to seven games with a 0-0 draw at Bnei Sakhnin last weekend.
Victory for the Port City team would see Ashdod move three points clear of Petah Tikvah ahead of the final round of fixtures with their 10-goal difference advantage almost certain to keep them up.
And that accomplishment would top winning eight Premiership titles, four Scottish Cups and six League Cups during his illustrious spell in Glasgow.
Bitton said on the day he rejoined: "If we manage to stay in the league with Ashdod, it will be the greatest achievement of my career."
He came through the ranks at Yud-Alef Stadium before moving to the Hoops in 2013 and regrets that he wasn't able to lift silverware with his hometown club.
But avoiding relegation, something Bitton has never personally experienced anywhere during his professional career, will spark joyous scenes in the city where his parents still live and he calls home.
Meanwhile, Celts have announced a bumper new kit deal with Adidas.
The existing deal, which was signed in 2021, was set to run out in the summer.
Next season will be Brendan Rodgers' LAST as Celtic manager says Robert Grieve
But the happy parties have now agreed a continuation of the sponsorship for beyond the next five years.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
URC considers shock US expansion as it waits on WRU decision over cutting teams
URC considers shock US expansion as it waits on WRU decision over cutting teams The URC is considering further expansion The United Rugby Championship could look very different in the future (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The United Rugby Championship is considering expanding into the US, with Chicago and Miami potential destinations for two new franchises, WalesOnline has learnt. There is a big push to improve rugby in the US given the fact they are hosting the World Cup in 2031, and the URC could include two American sides in the future. The URC is no stranger to expansion having initially started as a Celtic league before inviting Italian and South African teams into the competition. Georgian outfit Black Lion have also been in negotiations with the URC but the US route is being seriously considered. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Were the URC to allow two US sides into the competition there would have to be a significant financial uplift to its current shareholders, while the cost of travel and player welfare would also have to be taken into consideration. News of the US interest comes as the URC are engaged in ongoing talks with the WRU over how many Welsh teams will participate in the competition going forward. The union is strongly considering cutting down to three or even two professional clubs after serving notice on the current status quo of four equally funded sides. If the WRU does decide to cut teams, a potential expansion into the US could be more attractive to the current URC shareholders. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Article continues below While the quality of the sides competing in the URC cannot be questioned it is often criticised for its excessive travelling, especially since the introduction of teams from South Africa. There is already a professional league in the US called Major League Rugby which was only founded in 2017 with 11 teams in total but it is nowhere near the level required if the US are to compete with tier one nations. 'As the URC, we have always had expansion in DNA," said URC CEO Martin Anayi in a press conference last week. "We have been the Celtic League, and we moved, and we have tried to grow each time. And we have done that. "I think we have genuinely made it a better league. 'I think it is important that we continue to look outwards. But also, the bar is very high because, for every game you add, there is a player welfare issue to engage with. 'And that is something you have to make sure you aren't compromising. "You have logistics, especially when we are transcontinental, and then you have the sporting element, and we want it to be as competitive as ever. 'So I would never say never, but I think the bar is very high to do that. "We play less rugby with the URC model and format. We don't have home and away games in every match. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. 'And it also allows us to not play across international weekends. "We have almost 320 internationals playing in the league, which is almost double what you have in the Premiership or Super Rugby. Article continues below 'If we do expand in the future, it has to be in the right way, and we don't fall into the traps of those who have done it in the past, and it hasn't been successful."


Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Celtic book medical for striker as Kyogo set for emotional homecoming
The Scottish champions are beginning to motor ahead with the transfer plans Teenage Fulham striker Callum Osmand could become one of Celtic 's first summer signings. Brendan Rodgers is in the market for attacking reinforcements after losing promising starlet Daniel Cummings to West Ham. The Hoops have also yet to sign a replacement for Japanese goal machine Kyogo, who departed the club for Rennes in January. Now, CeltsAreHere reports that the Scottish champions are on the verge of landing rising Welsh star Osmand from Craven Cottage. It's claimed that a medical has already been booked for the 19-year-old who has caught the eye of Parkhead scouts. Osmand - who netted 10 goals in 17 Premier League 2 appearances last season - is out-of-contract at Fulham, meaning the Double-winners will be able to land him for a modest cross-border compensation fee. Barring any medical hitches, the talented goalscorer is expected to join Celtic's senior squad for pre-season, giving Rodgers a chance to take a closer look. Meanwhile, former Celtic idol Kyogo is back on holiday in his homeland and is set for an emotional return to former club Vissel Kobe. Kyogo has endured a miserable spell in France since his shock £10million winter move to Rennes, failing to score in six appearances. He's found himself bombed out under new boss Habib Beye and has already been deemed surplus to requirements by the Ligue 1 club. That's led to inevitable rumours of a quick-fire return to Glasgow, but it's unlikely Rodgers will sanction a return for the fans' favourite. Bournemouth have also been linked with his services, but for now, Kyogo will make an appearance in familiar territory this weekend. It's been announced that the 30-year-old will be in the stands for Vissel Kobe vs Nagoya Grampus on Sunday and will greet the fans in a special half-time bow at the Noevir Stadium Kobe. Elsewhere, reports in Greece suggest that Greg Taylor's switch to PAOK is far from a done deal. Multiple stories on Monday suggested that Taylor had agreed a two-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months to join the Greek outfit. Taylor is currently a free agent after talks over a new deal at Celtic Park hit the skids. The Scotland international, 27, is holidaying in Dubai with his family and SDNA claims PAOK are no further forward in their pursuit of the left-back, with talks said to be "frozen".


BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Lam to be at Bears for 'foreseeable'
Director of rugby Pat Lam will be at Bristol Bears for the "foreseeable" says club chief operating officer Tom Tainton. Lam has been linked with the Wales head coaching role but is under contract at the Premiership club until 2028. Bristol were beaten 34-20 by Bath on Friday night as they fell one match short of reaching their first Premiership final. "I think it's testament to what Pat has achieved here at Bristol Bears that he's in the conversation," Tainton told BBC Radio Bristol."In terms of that Wales role I can say with absolute confidence that Pat Lam is contracted to Bristol Bears and will stay that way. "We know that there is a lot that we have still got to achieve for the remainder of his contract up until 2028."I'm certainly happy to say that Pat is going to be at Bristol Bears for the foreseeable." Lam has been with the Bears since 2017, taking them to promotion from the Championship during his first season in charge. They topped the Premiership table in 2021 and this season is the third time they have reached the play-offs. However, the club are still to reach a Twickenham final or win any silverware. The 56-year-old said following defeat at the Recreation Ground that he was "excited" by the prospect of next season and that he has lost no motivation to continue pushing for a title with added: "[The] ambition is for us to be at the top table of domestic and European rugby and the ambition is for us to win silverware." 'Intentionally gone with smaller squad' Bristol have just 31 players on their books for 2025-26 - a reduction on this season by seven players - and an additional 19 in their senior back Tom Jordan, winger Max Pepper and second row Pedro Rubiolo are the headline signings but Tainton said the club had made a decision to cut back on numbers."At the moment and where we've been over the past 18 months, we think that it's right that we cut our cloth accordingly, we put our focus and our energy and time into young players," Tainton said. "We've intentionally gone with a smaller squad, we've trusted in our academy and those young players."It's really bore fruit for us this year and we want to be a club that gives opportunities to homegrown players."We believe that we have a squad next season that is more than capable of competing for the top four, as this group has done this year." Tainton pointed to the development of homegrown players such as prop George Kloska and second rows Joe Batley and Joe Owen as evidence their strategy was working and helping the club progress."I'm really proud of the brand of rugby that we play, I'm really proud of some of the results that we've had, particularly away from home this season and who can forget the result against Leicester Tigers in December - and I think we can reflect and say there's been genuine progress for Bristol Bears this season."