The demands of Celtic’s football season seem to grow with each passing year. In addition to the standard 38-game Scottish Premiership season, Brendan Rodgers’ team frequently makes it to the finals of both the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup. This means that Celtic often play over 50 games per season, not even considering any European fixtures.
This past season, Celtic faced off against some of Europe’s top teams in the Champions League, including a tense two-legged match against Bayern Munich that went into extra time. This exhausting schedule led Celtic captain Callum McGregor and goalkeeping legend Kasper Schmeichel to be highlighted in a recent FIFPRO study on professional football players’ workload.
Despite not participating in the FIFA Club World Cup, Celtic’s players have logged significant playing time compared to some of the biggest names in football. PFA Scotland noted that Scottish Premiership players have some of the most minutes played worldwide over the past five years, emphasizing the need for adequate recovery time.
The FIFPRO study revealed that McGregor, Schmeichel, and even Harry Kane have been putting in substantial minutes on the pitch. McGregor outranked Kane in playing time last season, despite the Celtic captain’s retirement from international duty. Meanwhile, Schmeichel’s continued success at 39 years old is truly impressive.
