It was a night to remember in Glasgow as Celtic FC celebrated their annual Player of the Year Awards, bringing together fans, players, and legends for an evening of well-deserved recognition. The event capped off a thrilling weekend for the club, with Martin O'Neill's men climbing to the top of the Premiership table after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hibernian. Meanwhile, Grant Scott's women's team booked their place in the Scottish Cup final with an exhilarating 3-2 semi-final win over Glasgow City at Hampden Park.
The awards ceremony, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central and hosted by Shebahn Aherne and Des Clarke, honored standout performances from both the men's and women's squads. Fans had their say in many of the categories, making the night a true celebration of the Celtic community.
One of the most touching moments came with the Special Recognition Award, presented to 101-year-old Celtic supporter Jackie Dow, who still attends matches at Celtic Park. The award was accepted on his behalf by club legends Martin O'Neill and Callum McGregor, drawing a warm ovation from the crowd.
In the academy ranks, young defender Hayden Borland was named Academy Player of the Year after a consistently impressive season with the B Team. The future looks bright for Celtic's next generation.
The fans' choice for Young Player of the Year went to Hyunjun Yang, the 23-year-old South Korean international who has been a key contributor this season with nine goals. His stunning strike in the New Year derby against Rangers was also voted Men's Goal of the Season—a moment that will live long in Celtic folklore.
On the women's side, Maria McAneny made history with her World Record goal against Hibernian, scored in just 4.1 seconds, earning her the Women's Goal of the Season award. It's the kind of lightning-fast strike that defines a season.
The adidas-sponsored Top Goalscorer of the Season awards went to Saoirse Noonan (women's team) and Benjamin Nygren (men's team), both of whom displayed remarkable consistency in front of goal throughout the campaign. Nygren wasn't done there—he also took home the Players' Player of the Year award, voted by his teammates. Similarly, attacker Morgan Cross was honored by her peers as the women's Players' Player of the Year.
The evening built to a crescendo with the final two awards, leaving everyone in attendance buzzing about what's been an unforgettable season for Celtic. From record-breaking goals to veteran fans still cheering from the stands, it was a true celebration of the Celtic spirit.