Celtic Win Record 56th Scottish Premiership Title: Alistair Johnston Calls for Martin O’Neill Statue After Stunning Hearts Comeback

Celtic have claimed a record 56th Scottish Premiership title after overcoming Hearts 3-1 in a dramatic final-day encounter at Celtic Park, ending the Edinburgh club’s hopes of a first league championship since 1960.

The result was far from straightforward. Hearts entered the match knowing a draw would be sufficient to end a 66-year wait for domestic glory, and Lawrence Shankland gave the visitors an early advantage. Celtic were level before half-time, however, through an Arne Engels penalty, setting the stage for a breathless second period.

Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho was introduced at the interval and quickly made an impression, striking the post as Celtic pressed for a winning goal. The decisive moment arrived in the 87th minute when Daizen Maeda prodded home following a VAR review, before Callum Osmand added a third in stoppage time to confirm the championship. While Iheanacho did not get on the scoresheet, the Super Eagles forward was prominent in the celebrations that followed.

For Celtic, the victory means a fifth successive league title and, crucially, a new benchmark in the club’s domestic record — surpassing city rivals Rangers to stand alone as the most successful side in Scottish top-flight history with 56 championships.

Canadian international and Celtic defender Alistair Johnston was among the most vocal in his praise after the final whistle, speaking to Sky Sports in the aftermath. “It’s the greatest league win — it must be of all time. Never count us out. We just felt like we were going to find a way. Unbelievable,” Johnston said.

The 26-year-old reserved his highest admiration for manager Martin O’Neill, whose guidance steered Celtic through what had been a turbulent and uncertain title race. “[Martin O’Neill] is a winner. Build him a statue, it’s as simple as that. He just finds a way to win,” Johnston asserted.

O’Neill, who previously managed Celtic between 2000 and 2005 — winning three league titles, two Scottish Cups, and two League Cups during that tenure — returned to the club for a second spell and has now added further silverware to his legacy in Glasgow. His ability to engineer a comeback title win against a Hearts side that led the table for a significant portion of the season underscores his reputation as one of the more experienced operators in British football management.

For Hearts, the result represents a painful conclusion to what had been a promising campaign. The Tynecastle club had not lifted the Scottish Premiership title since 1960, and their position at the top of the table for much of the season had raised genuine expectations in Edinburgh. A single point on the final day would have ended that drought; instead, Celtic’s late surge denied them what would have been a historic achievement.

The title win also carries broader implications for Scottish football’s European representation, with Celtic’s continued domestic dominance ensuring their seeding position in UEFA club competition draws. Iheanacho, who joined Celtic earlier in his career, now adds a Scottish Premiership medal to his collection, having previously won the FA Cup with Leicester City in 2021.