Ange Postecoglou was appointed Celtic manager in 2021. Almost immediately after his unveiling, the Australian alluded to his desire to tap into markets that had otherwise been untouched by Scottish clubs prior to his arrival in Glasgow. In his 20 months in the Parkhead hot seat so far, Postecoglou has more than kept to his promise.
Since his arrival at the club, Celtic have signed a total of 26 players, 10 of whom have been from non-European clubs. In other words, 38% of players signed by Postceoglou for Celtic have been from either Asia or the Americas. This alteration in recruitment marks a refreshing change from years gone by when the Hoops would predominantly explore the British and European markets. For example, in the summer transfer window of 2020, Celtic brought in six new players, all of which were from European or British clubs.
This enticing change in where the club buys their players has brought several positives. Whether it be the quality they bring to the pitch, the inordinate value they provide, the widespread growth in exposure and fan base for which they have allowed, or the vast marketing opportunities their presences have provided, the players Celtic have signed from far-fetched lands have brought a plethora of prosperity. This piece will delve into all of the positives of Celtic exploring relatively obscure markets as well as looking at how it may have been a catalyst for change across the Scottish Premiership.
It is fair to say that the several concealed markets that Celtic have recently begun to explore have provided the Hoops with players of optimal standard for a relatively budgeted price compared to other shop windows.
