Photo Special – Celtic’s emotional league title win at Tannadice for Tommy Burns

The Celtic Star

·22 May 2025

Photo Special – Celtic’s emotional league title win at Tannadice for Tommy Burns

On 22 May 2008, Gordon Strachan’s Celtic side travelled to Tannadice knowing that by matching Rangers’ result would give Celtic the league title…

Celtic players line up in honour of Tommy Burns before the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

After defeats to Rangers at the end of March and then Motherwell at the start of April, the league title appeared to be over. However, six wins in a row, including two over Rangers, pulled Celtic back into contention for the title.

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Rangers were 4 points behind with two games in hand. Although Walter Smith’s side lost the initiative at Fir Park the week before drawing 1-1, they won days later at Love Street to draw level on points with Celtic going into the last game. Albeit, Celtic had a superior goal difference. Celtic were away to Dundee United and on the same Thursday night Rangers were up at Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen, so difficult games for both sides with both of the New Firm determined to stop title celebrations on their home soil.

Everyone at Celtic was saddened by the death of club legend Tommy Burns during the title run in, and the players vowed to win the league for Tommy. It was to the ground that Tommy scored to help Celtic win the league back in 1981, Tannadice Park, Dundee.

Rangers were on their way to Pittodrie knowing that Celtic held the advantage over them. With the games taking place simultaneously on a Thursday night, there was a huge amount of nerves in the Celtic end (and those that smuggled themselves into the United end). The season had been extended for them as they had a Europa League Final in Manchester, which turned out to be riotous, to say the least.

A laboured first half with both sides creating chances heightened the drama but news filtered through after the hour mark that Aberdeen had taken the lead at Pittodrie sparking scenes of jubilation in the stands, with Celtic supporters dotted everywhere, without a hint of bother.

Tannadice erupted nine minutes later when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink rose to meet a Paul Hartley corner and head home to all-but confirm the league title for Celtic.

Five minutes later, Darren Mackie made it 2-0 in Aberdeen sending Tannadice into an ecstasy of celebration. After heartbreak on the final day in 2003 and especially in 2005, Celtic had inflicted some last day pain on Rangers whilst enjoying their league success.

The Bhoys said they would do it for Tommy Burns and true to their word, they duly delivered.

Here are the highlights of the game…

Here are the full 90 minutes of the game as well as celebrations at full time…

Celtic Champions 2008 Quotes

“It’s been one of the most memorable seasons I’ve ever had in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. We’ve achieved what we set out at the beginning of the season to do. Now I’m away, it’s only fair that I go now and be with people who supported and believed in us for the whole season.” Celtic manager Gordon Strachan (last bit at dig at the Scottish media

Celtic players hold aloft the Scottish Premier league trophy after the match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“It’s great. Obviously we had a lot of motivation for this game and we had to win ourselves and we managed to do that. Six or seven weeks ago there was folk all over the country writing us off, but we always believed we could do it and it’s been great to prove everybody wrong. There’s nothing better in football than proving people wrong.” Stephen McManus, Celtic captain.

Scott McDonald of Celtic attempts to run past Darren Dods of Dundee United during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“We loved him. He was just a gentleman at heart. God rest his soul. We did this for you Tommy – God bless.” Celtic striker Scott McDonald.

“When you look at last season, the majority of people would say we’d have won the league if we didn’t have all the games we had. When you consider those last two or three weeks, it was virtually impossible for ANY team. We had so many games before the league decider against Aberdeen. But we can’t sit here and make excuses. It didn’t work out and Celtic won the league ” Kris Boyd on Rangers losing the league in 2008. Delicious.

We’ve 30 great photos from that emotional night at Tannadice for you to enjoy starting ON THE NEXT PAGE…

Celtic players line up in honour of Tommy Burns before the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Barry Robson of Celtic attempts to move away from Willo Flood of Dundee United during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Aiden McGeady of Celtic in action with Sean Dillon of Dundee United during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Pop star and Celtic fan Rod Stewart watches the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink of Celtic attempts to run past Darren Dods of Dundee United during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image above to join.

PHOTOS CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE.…

Scott McDonald of Celtic in action with Gary Kenneth of Dundee United during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Samaras of Celtic celebrates with the crowd after the trophy presentation after the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink of Celtic scores during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Pop star and Celtic fan Rod Stewart watches the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Celtic captain Stephen McManus celebrates after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink of Celtic scored during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008 (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Shunsuke Nakamura of Celtic is fouled in the box by Danny Grainger of Dundee United, but no penalty was awarded, during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008 (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Mark Wilson and Stephen McManus celebrate after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink of Celtic scored during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image above to join.

PHOTOS CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE.…

Celtic fans celebrate after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink of Celtic scored during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Celtic players dance around the Scottish Premier league trophy after the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Massimo Donati and Neil Lennon of Celtic celebrate victory at the final whistle during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Samaras and Aiden McGeady of Celtic celebrate victory at the final whistle during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Andrés Hinkel of Celtic in action during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image above to join.

PHOTOS CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE.…

Massimo Donati of Celtic pours water over team mates Samaras and Vennegoor of Hesselink as they celebrates victory at the final whistle during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Celtic fans celebrate as their team does a lap of honour with the Scottish Premier league trophy after the Premier League match against Dundee United at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Celtic players do a lap of honour with the Scottish Premier league trophy after the Premier League match against Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Celtic players hold aloft the Scottish Premier league trophy after the match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Samaras and Vennegoor of Hesselink of Celtic celebrates victory at the final whistle during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Hope you all enjoyed that! What an emotional night that was.

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image above to join.

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Photo Special – Celtic’s emotional league title win at Tannadice for Tommy Burns | OneFootball