Celtic Park’s reputation needs no explanation, as we know.
Historically, the Celts’ home stadium has been a notoriously difficult place to go, with many European giants falling to defeat on their visits.
Unfortunately, this has changed in the last decade, but the reputation of Paradise remains, despite the club’s European struggles.
Real Madrid came to Parkhead three years ago, for the first time in the 21st century. In the Celts’ first Champions League group stage game in five years, the then-European champions won 3-0.
But despite the Hoops’ failure to score, Real and Germany legend Toni Kroos was left in awe of the atmosphere.
Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos shouts out Celtic Park
Kroos made almost 500 appearances for Los Blancos, joining them in 2014 after becoming a European champion at Bayern Munich.
In a stellar career, he also won the World Cup in 2014, scoring in Germany’s famous 7-1 win over Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.
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Celtic FC v Real Madrid: Group F - UEFA Champions League
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But in a discussion with the Icon League, he gave a shoutout to Celtic Park, naming it as the best stadium he played in.
Toni Kroos names Celtic Park as the best stadium he played in
That can be added to a long list of high-profile players to have been moved by the Celtic atmosphere, which is evidently unique in world football.
In Kroos’ case, he didn’t even witness a goal celebration as his side won the encounter comfortably.
The match was Ange Postecoglou’s first Champions League game, and highly anticipated after an incredible start to the season for the Hoops.
After a 9-0 away win over Dundee United and a 4-0 Glasgow Derby win over Rangers, there was a cautious optimism around the fixture among the Parkhead support.
But in the end, it was a story far too familiar, and the closest that the Celts got to scoring was Callum McGregor hitting the post in the first half.
Other players to have praised the atmosphere at Celtic Park
The most famous European night in Celtic’s modern history was *that* 2-1 win over Barcelona, after which Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta spoke of being stunned by the atmosphere.
Paolo Maldini also fell to a famous defeat at Paradise, later saying of the 2-1 defeat that he’d “never felt anything like it.”
Wayne Rooney described it as ‘inspiring’ – but not for his Manchester United team, who didn’t win in either of their group stage visits to Parkhead in the late 2000s.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Oliver Kahn… the list of players to have spoken about Celtic Park goes on.
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