Celtic Women’s Team

Celtic are 5-0 up, btw

 

Looking like Hibs gonna be champions, well deserved tbh but our womens team needs a real shake up next year. Manager and new faces.

 

Hibs holding on, c'mon, 1-0 up at Ipox... so close for the title to be heading to Edinburgh...

 

Celtic 6-0 FT, confirmed finished 4th on 62 points... 15 points behind Hibs who are champions, and City have beaten Hearts, to get ahead of Sevco, so City will quality for Europe as R/Up behind Hibs as Champions.

Hopefully City can do the business next week against Sevco in the Scottish Cup Final also.

 

Only * thing is we haven’t seen footage of Kathy Hill punching walls.

Which I have no doubt she has done by now.

 

Celtic FC Women can confirm the departures of Murphy Agnew, Kit Loferski, Luana Muñoz, Colette Cavanagh, Lucy Ashworth-Clifford, Bruna Lourenço and Mathilde Carstens following the expiry of their contracts this summer.

During their time with the club, each player made and played their part in history for the Ghirls, from winning a first-ever SWPL title to reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage.

Having joined the club in the summer of 2022, Ashworth-Clifford spent three years with the Hoops, making 70 appearances and scoring 15 goals.

Despite suffering a serious injury early in her Celtic career, the winger bounced back and played her part in some massive moments in the club’s history.

Kit Loferski’s arrival at Celtic came during the same season, joining the Hoops in March of the 2022/23 campaign.

The electric forward made a bright start to life at Celtic, winning a Scottish Cup in her first season, which was followed up by an SWPL title the following campaign.

The following summer seen the arrival of Murphy Agnew, Luana Munoz and Colette Cavanagh at Paradise.

Cavanagh, who has had three separate spells having come through the Academy with the Celts enjoyed another successful spell in the East End of Glasgow.

Going on to make over 73 appearances on her return, this time, the midfielder became a league winner, whilst having some memorable moments including a last-minute winner over Glasgow City in the 2023/24 season.

Another player who created her own piece of history is Murphy Agnew, scoring 20 goals during her time in Scotland.

One of those goals being one of the most memorable in recent times, scoring the club’s first-ever UWCL goal against Chelsea at Paradise.

Although Luana Munoz would only make 10 appearances in her two years with the Hoops, her impact was felt on and off the pitch.

The early stages of the defender’s time with the Ghirls was impacted by injury but is a player who still very much played her part in a historic two seasons.

Both Bruna Lourenco and Mathilde Carstens may have only spent just one season at the club, but it was a memorable one with some brilliant moments.

The Portuguese defender made her mark during her debut at Celtic Park, scoring her only goal for the club in 32 appearances.

While Carstens also played a big part with six goals in 34 appearances across her time in green and white.

Everyone at Celtic would like to sincerely thank all the players for their contributions during their time at the club and wish them all the very best in the future.

The club remains in discussions with Kelsey Daugherty, Abi Harrison and Celya Barclais, whose contracts expire this summer.

 

Celtic FC Women are pleased to confirm the appointment of Stewart McGuire as the team’s new Operations Manager.

Stewart joins the club with over two decades of experience in Scottish football, bringing a deep understanding of the game both on and off the pitch.

His most recent role with Dunfermline FC and the Pars Foundation saw him play a key part in building strong ties between the club and the local community.

Prior to that, he held the roles of CEO and Assistant Manager at Hibernian Women, where he was instrumental in the club’s progress domestically and inEurope.

In his new position at Celtic, Stewart will play a crucial role in setting and delivering strategic direction and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Women’s Football department, providing strong support to Head Coach Elena Sadiku and her backroom team.

Everyone at Celtic wishes Stewart the very best in his new role and looks forward to an exciting new chapter for Celtic FC Women.

Stewart McGuire, Celtic FC Women Operations Manager:

“I’m delighted to come on board as Operations Manager of Celtic FC Women at such an exciting time for women’s football at the club.

'Despite a challenging end to last season, the women’s side have achieved great heights in recent seasons, winning the league and reaching the Women's Champions League group stages.'

"I’m looking forward to helping build on that success and supporting Elena and the team in every way I can, both on and off the field moving forward.”

Celtic FC Women Head Coach Elena Sadiku:

“We’re delighted to welcome Stewart to the club. His understanding of both the football and operational sides of the game in Scotland will be a great asset to our team, and I’m looking forward to working closely with him to bring success to the women's team.”

Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson added:

“We are delighted to welcome Stewart to Celtic, he is someone with real experience and pedigree in women’s football and we are sure he will be a great asset in shaping all our strategy and driving forward on our objectives for Celtic FC Women.”

 

I’m gonna miss Cavanagh more than any of them

Her vibe was great and I thought she would be a player for us for years if given time.

 

I'm gonna miss LAC

 

Lol just * retire the team at this rate

 

So the manager is staying. That's depressing

 

Well, this is disappointing to say the least. Of the players released, can't help but think that one or two of them have left because of conflict with the manager. LAC for instance, was one of the better players last season and yet I suspect that she allowed her contract to run down and so to depart for a free rather than continue with Sadiku.

And I get the impression that the club is also doubting Sadiku, which is why they have made the Stuart McGuire appointment, to oversee more closely, and likely be far more involved in the signings and rebuild that the team needs.

Sadiku's ability to spot talent and transfers has been seriously undermined after the whole Carstens episode. The twins were brought to the club last summer, with Sadiku bringing them from her former club, and even still they struggled to make much of an impression. Signe left the club less than 6 months after arriving and her sister Mathilde has now also departed. Meanwhile, Bruna got her chance to partner Kelly Clark at CB following the departure of Caitlyn Hayes - and one thing was evidently true - she was no match for what Hayes had to offer the team.

The only 2 players that Sadiku brought in that have been worth the signing have been Noonan and Lawton. And considering that Lawton was a very late arrival right at the end of last summer's window and purely the only reason was signed was because of Chloe Craig picking up an ACL injury that pretty much wiped her out for the entire season. Lawton was deservedly named SWPL POTY, but goes to show how illogical and unaware those that vote for the Celtic award are that she never got near the Celtic POTY award. But her signing or the season she had wasn't due to Sadiku.

With Craig hopefully back for the new season, either she will slide in alongside Clark at CB or will go back to RB and Lawton will be moved forward to RM/RW.

With both Agnew and Loferski departing and Harrison still not re-signed (and in honesty, she didn't make much of an impression when she did get opportunities), that really leaves Soairse Noonan as the only real quality ST now, so this will need some serious recruitment this summer, but again, wouldn't be surprised if there were personnel clashes happening here also. Admittedly, the Ghirls did not score nearly enough nor proved to have that genuine cutting edge, but that does both have to ask questions of the lack of service as well as the constant switching of formations and system following the split that was a total disaster - and that fault lies with Sadiku.

So, no mention of Natalie Ross amongst those names departing or still in talks with... which means that the veteran CM, who will be 37 or 38 this season still driving the MF without adequate cover from the likes of Cavanagh or even Carstens, so that means a whole lot of work needed done to rebuild the MF, and provide the legs that Ross probably won't be able to. She has experience and quality on the ball, and can still add to the squad, but lasting 90min has already been an issue for Ross, let alone making the same sort of impact against the likes of City, Hibs or in the CL.

Barclais still being 'in talks' doesn't bode well either. Maybe she wants a return to France, but if she goes, then that leaves another big headache, as with LAC leaving, that is the entire first choice left side (LB & LM/LW) needing to be replaced.

Same with Kelsey Daugherty, being very clearly the first choice GK, and the best that has been said is that they are in talks.

TL;DR

As things stand, we need a first choice GK, the entire left side (LB & LM/W), fit Lawton and Craig (presuming she is ready to go) both in to get the best out of them both, not to mention a complete overhaul of the MF, and literally have just 1 first team striker left on the books. Let alone the fringes, that is 7-9 first team ready players that are needed.

So, it's no wonder someone has been brought in to oversee this, as mentioned, I don't think that the club have much faith in Sadiku's ability in this regard. I am genuinely surprised, especially considering how poor the team was in the second half of the season, and to go from being in a 4-way tie at the top of the table with 10 games to be played, to finishing 15 points off the pace and very nearly being overhauled by Hearts in 5th as well.

Across the entire division, only semi-pro Motherwell (0, in the top half) and two of the relegated sides, United (3) and Queens Park (4) picked up fewer points than Celtic in their respective 10 post split fixtures.

A lot of work to be done.