After weeks of waiting, the 2024/25 Premiership crown was eventually won at Tannadice, with many checkpoints along the way missed, but the thrashing of Dundee United finally got the job done.
It so happens to be that Celtic’s first game since becoming champions will be against their most-hated rivals, and that in their backyard.
There is talk that Liverpool could be given a guard of honour, after they were crowned champions of England last Sunday, for their four remaining matches, including against Chelsea and title rivals, Arsenal.
But will Rangers, in the hotbed of Glasgow, offer the same respect and recognition to Scotland’s most successful club?
What Brendan Rodgers said about Celtic-Rangers guard of honour after watching Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘class’
Back in 1955, Manchester United were the first club to give a guard of honour to then-champions Chelsea, and that trend has always continued with the 20-time champions.
Including with the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, when Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea had won the title, they were respected with such an honour at Old Trafford.
In 2021, when the manager of Leicester City, and amid talk of whether Celtic would give Rangers a guard of honour, Rodgers was asked about that situation, as he referenced Sir Alex when talking to Sky Sports.
“My feeling always has been that you should always show humility, and class and be a sporting team,” said Rodgers in 2021, whilst the Leicester City manager.
“I can never forget when I was at Chelsea as a young coach, and that first season, when Jose was in, they won the title. I remember going to Old Trafford to watch the game that evening. I will never ever forget. I am sure the Manchester United players didn’t want to do it.
“But I am sure Fergie insisted on it that they did it, and that must have been really, really difficult, but it showed you the class of Sir Alex, and it showed you the humility of him that another competitor came in and took the title.
“It was also sporting that they did that, but it can provide you with great motivation going forward. It’s something, for me, despite the rivalry, despite how difficult it is, it’s something that you should, and then use it as a motivation going forward.”
The best way not to give a guard of honour?
The truth of it all is, no matter who you are, what league or what country, you don’t want to be giving a guard of honour to the opposition.
Whether they are your most-hated rivals or just another club in your division.
But, at the end of the day, if you don’t want to provide one, then simply become champions of your country, like Celtic have done time and time again.
55x Scottish champions, including 14 out of the last 15 seasons.
