After a painfully long wait to celebrate winning the Scottish premier league the Celtic players and fans were well with in their rights to keep the party going for a good few days and weeks after the final whistle was blown on the last day of the 1997 / 98 football season. Not long after the last bottle of booze was finished news broke that the manager & mastermind of the title triumph was no longer in charge of the newly crowned champions. The departure of Wim Jansen not only left a gaping hole in the clubs plans for the new season, but it also exposed the toxic relationship between General Manager Jock Brown and the clubs management team.
The change at management level ushered in the arrival of the likeable and dignified figure of Dr Jozef Venglos. Dr Jo was a largely unknown quantity amongst Celtic fans, but had a strong pedigree in coaching long before he was unveiled at Celtic Park, the good Doctor was given the impossible task of following up on a long awaited championship success. Celtic fans were still in a state of confusion and surprise as our first championship flag in 10 years was unfurled in front of our newly completed stadium. The 60000 sell out crowd watched on as Dunfermline were dismantled 5 - 0 in Celtics first home start to the league since 1988.
The match proved to be something of a one off in the opening months of the season. Inconsistency in results meant that the hangovers from the championship win started to hit hard on the fans. The performances, results and injury list highlighted the fact we needed more players, but any new signings always seemed to be a few weeks away, especially under the frugal watch of Jock Brown.
When the purse strings were loosened, a rather unknown Slovakian thought to be in the twilight of his career was paraded in front of the Scottish sporting press to much derision. Lubo Moravcik had to wait over a week before taking a bow in front of the Celtic faithful. However, before he took his first touch for the club, the air of gloom that had hung over Celtic Park since the end of the previous season was lifted in a truly joyous moment when General Manger Jock Brown left the club. Lubo made his debut serving up a masterclass that had many in the Scottish press eating their words. That performance gave an insight to what was to follow later in the month.
On the 21st November 1998 Rangers made the trip to Celtic Park already with a healthy lead in the league, however a Lubo inspired Celtic team simply tore apart the visitors scoring our biggest margin of victory over our city rivals in over 30 years. Moravcik helped himself to two goals, including a wonderful strike after 11 minutes to open the scoring. Henrik Larsson scored two and a young Mark Burchill wrapped up the scoring in the final minutes. In truth that victory may have been the highlight of a difficult season, Dr Jo was replaced at the end of the season, but the little magician he signed from Duisburg continued to grace The Hoops for another 3 seasons.
Lubo cast a spell on Scottish football, mesmerising defenders and enthralling fans around the country. His genius was used to devastating effect in the early Martin O'Neill years when Celtic conquered all in front of them sealing the Treble before displaying his skills on primetime viewing in the champions league.
Lubo Moravcik was one of the most technically gifted and skilful players to have pulled on the hoops for almost 30 years, he arrived as an unknown quantity but will forever remain a Celtic hero.
