List of Celtic F.C. players


Celtic Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Parkhead, Glasgow. The club was founded in 1887 and played their first match in May 1888, a friendly match against Rangers. The club played their first competitive match in September 1888, when they entered the first round of the 1888–89 Scottish Cup. Since playing their first competitive match, more than 200 players have made at least 100 appearances ; those players are listed here. Other players who have made fewer appearances are also included where they are regarded as having played a significant role for the club, with the reason for their inclusion indicated in the Notes column.
Celtic's record appearance-maker is Billy McNeill, who made a total of 790 appearances in major competitions over an 18-year playing career. Alec McNair holds the record at Celtic for most league appearances, and is also the oldest player to have competed for the club. Jimmy McGrory is the club's top goalscorer with 472 goals in major competitions. He is also the record goalscorer in British football, with a total of 550 goals in competitive first class matches. Henrik Larsson has more appearances for Celtic than any other player from outwith the British Isles. He is also the club's third highest goalscorer of all time, behind McGrory and Bobby Lennox, with 242 goals in all competitions. Jimmy Johnstone, part of Celtic's European Cup winning Lisbon Lions team alongside McNeill and Lennox, was voted by Celtic supporters in 2002 as the club's greatest ever player.
James Kelly was the club's first ever captain, playing in the club's inaugural game against Rangers in 1888. He later served as a director and then as chairman. He effectively founded the Kelly dynasty of directors at Celtic, who by and large controlled the club until 1994. Other club captains also went on to important roles at Celtic after the end of their playing careers, with Jimmy McStay, Jimmy McGrory, Jock Stein, Billy McNeill, Davie Hay and Neil Lennon all going on to manage the side. Scott Brown, who played 620 games for the club and was captain throughout the 2010s, is also the Celtic player to have captained the [Scotland national association football|football team|Scotland] international team the most times. Paul McStay, who captained Celtic during the 1990s, has won the most caps for Scotland whilst at Celtic with 76 appearances, whilst Pat Bonner of the Republic of Ireland has made the most appearances for his country whilst a Celtic player.

Notable players

Players are listed according to the date they first signed with the club. Appearances and goals are for competitive first-team matches in Scottish League, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and European Competition only; minor competitions and wartime matches are excluded. Substitute appearances are included.
For a full list of all Celtic players with Wikipedia articles see Category:Celtic F.C. players. For player appearance records see Celtic F.C. records.
Key
GKGoalkeeperDFDefenderMFMidfielderFWForward*Player currently contracted at Celtic

Appearances correct as of match played 29 January 2026
NameNationalityPositionClub careerAppearancesGoalsNotes
DF1888–18971434
MF1888–1890
1891–1892		3419
DF1888–18971004
FW1889–189712149
DF1889–18951020
FW1890–1895
1897–1903		221123
DF1891–18981376
FW1891–1903217171
GK1892–19021240
FW1892–189810238
DF1895–1897
1898–1905		1356
FW1897–191022062
DF1897–190721225
DF1900–191330330
FW1900–1917332217
FW1902–191226061
FW1902–1920516169
GK1902–19122910
DF1902–19081530
MF1903–191744315
FW1903–190815153
DF1903–191125719
DF1904–19256418
DF1908–191623319
DF1908–1920
1921–1922		38529
FW1910–192443972
|1783sortname|John|Browning|dab=footballer, born 1888fba|SCOsortname|Willie|McStay|dab=footballer, born 1894fba|SCOsortname|Jimmy|McColl|dab=footballer, born 1892fba|SCOsortname|Joe|Cassidy|dab=footballer, born 1896fba|SCOsortname|Charlie|Shaw|dab=footballer, born 1885fba|SCOsortname|John|McMaster|dab=footballer, born 1893fba|SCOsortname|Adam|McLean|dab=footballerfba|SCOsortname|William|Cringanfba|SCOsortname|Tommy|McInallyfba|SCOsortname|John|Gilchrist|dab=footballer, born 1899fba|SCOsortname|John|McFarlane|dab=footballer, born 1899fba|SCOsortname|Paddy|Connolly|Patrick Connolly fba|SCOsortname|Jimmy|McStayfba|SCOsortname|Hugh|Hilleyfba|SCOsortname|James|McGroryfba|SCOsortname|Alec|Thomson|dab=footballerfba|SCOsortname|Peter|Wilson|dab=footballer, born 1905fba|SCOsortname|Peter|Shevlinfba|SCOsortname|John|Thomson|dab=footballer, born 1909fba|SCOsortname|Peter|McGonaglefba|SCOsortname|Chic|Geatonsfba|SCOsortname|Charlie|Napierfba|SCOsortname|Peter|Scarfffba|SCOsortname|Willie|Hughes|dab=footballerfba|SCOsortname|John|Morrison|dab=footballer, born 1909fba|SCOsortname|Bertie|Thomsonfba|SCOsortname|Billy|Cook|dab=footballer, born 1909