The transfer window is still upon us and with the speculation surrounding players joining the club slowing down, I thought it would be interesting to have a look at former Celts from the legendary Invincibles season that are still looking for a club. [inspired by Football Scotland].
The 2016/17 season will live long in the memory of the Celtic support.
An Invincibles season in all domestic competitions is something the modern-day support have never witnessed and, let’s be honest, who would have foreseen that after the disastrous 1-0 Lincoln Red Imps defeat in the Champions League qualifiers.
However, that year will be remembered, I think, by the goal that sealed the Treble.
Tom Rogic in the 92nd minute.
And that is where we will start.
Tom Rogic
The Australian was a firm fan’s favourite and after nine years at the club winning 7 league titles, 5 Scottish Cups and 5 League Cups, this Quadruple Treble legend will go down in recent history as one of Celtic’s most successful players.
Instrumental in the Hoop’s domination of Scottish football over his time at the club, Rogic made 272 appearances, scoring 46 and creating 49 goals but it was his majestic control of the ball and his ability to carve open defences that made the Celtic support take him to their hearts.
After his announcement that he was leaving the club this summer, it was thought he would be snapped up as a free agent but as of yet, he has still to find a club.
Scott Sinclair
Brendan Rodgers first ever signing, the £3.5m capture from Aston Villa became an instant hero with the Celtic fans with a debut winning goal against Hearts on the opening day of the Invincibles season.
Over his three and a half seasons at Celtic, Sinclair made 167 appearances, scoring 62 goals and creating 33.
His most prolific season was his debut season where he averaged a goal every two games. 50 appearances. 25 goals. 10 assists.
Sinclair eventually left the Hoops to join Preston in January 2020 and after 78 appearances was released by the club this summer.
Leigh Griffiths
The most controversial of the three players, Leigh Griffiths is probably the one player that frustrated the fans the most.
It wasn’t until after the arrival of Brendan Rodgers that Griffiths struggled to keep his place as Celtic’s main man.
The signing of Moussa Dembele instantly made Griffiths the club’s second-choice striker even after his record-breaking 40-goal season under Ronny Deila.
In the Invincibles season, Griffiths’ goal-scoring return was still up there with 18 in 37 appearances but cracks did start to appear and Griffiths was given time off to deal with personal issues.
The COVID lockdown brought its issues with the striker returning overweight to pre-season training which led Neil Lennon to send him home from the training camp in 2021.
The Scotland striker never really recovered from that and after an unsuccessful loan spell at Dundee, he was eventually let go by the Parkhead club.
Griffiths did sign for Falkirk permanently in February this year but was let go at the end of the season.
Three Celtic legends. All free agents. Hopefully, they will find a club soon to get their careers back on track.
Call yourself a true Celtic fan? How well do you know the European Cup winning season? Take the quiz and challenge your friends and family to beat your score.
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