Celtic have begun planning for the 2025/26 campaign and are beginning to organise their pre-season schedule.
We are not even halfway through the current term, but the Bhoys are already making moves ahead of next year.
Indeed, the Daily Mail reports that the Hoops will welcome English Premier League outfit Newcastle United to Celtic Park on Saturday, July 19, 2025, for a glamour friendly.
It will be one of Celtic’s final games before the start of the new campaign, and the club are also said to be weighing up offers to travel to Ireland and Portugal for pre-season, much different to prevous destinations over the past two years such as the USA and Japan.
Adding an intriguing dynamic to the Newcastle friendly is the presence of Eddie Howe in the opposition dugout.
Eddie Howe
Soccer Football – Premier League – Newcastle United v Liverpool – St James’ Park, Newcastle, Britain – December 4, 2024 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks on Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
The Englishman, of course, was heavily linked with the Celtic job in the summer of 2021 off the back of the Covid season.
Howe, who has now been in charge at St. James’ Park for over three years, recently responded to claims he ‘bottled’ taking the Celtic job, stating that his inability to get his backroom staff together to come to Scotland was a key reason he didn’t make the move.
Now, though, he will finally get the opportunity to come to Parkhead, albeit for a pre-season friendly.
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