Precisely 34 days on from that sun-blessed afternoon against Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden Park, the squad is gearing up for another campaign which promises yet more intrigue and plotlines, but perhaps not as many late goals.
Martin O’Neill is in charge and will embark upon his sixth full season as Celtic manager after successfully guiding the club to a league and cup double last term.
Appointed as permanent boss last month, the 74-year-old is expected to shape the squad in his own image, and could make some noticeable tactical tweaks for the 2026/27 campaign.
There are still 38 days until the champions kick off their title defence against Dundee on August 3 at Celtic Park.
Over a month of preparation lies in wait as O’Neill and company seek to pick up where they left off.
The players returning today
“We want the team to be cohesive, so that when we arrive to the first game, we’re ready to go,” captain Callum McGregor told club media on the first day of pre-season last year.
“It’s a combination of a lot of different things, but can we get up to speed as quickly as we possibly can?”
Callum McGregor and the Celtic squad return for pre-season training today. (Image: Stuart Wallace / Shutterstock)
McGregor is one of several senior Celtic players who will be in the building today. The likes of Arne Engels, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Reo Hatate will all filter back to Lennoxtown while a vast array of others remain on the international stage.
Benjamin Nygren (Sweden), Daizen Maeda (Japan), Sebastian Tounekti (Tunisia), Kieran Tierney (Scotland), Anthony Ralston (Scotland), Auston Trusty (United States), Yang Hyun-jun (South Korea), and Alistair Johnston (Canada) are all still at the World Cup.
Of the nations Celtic players are representing, only Tunisia and Scotland appear to be heading home before the knockout stages.
That said, Tounekti, Tierney, and Ralston will still earn extended breaks, with their other international competitors not due back until after their respective countries are eliminated.
Still, O’Neill has a hefty squad at his disposal today.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been training individually ahead of pre-season. Fresh off signing a new contract last term and getting married in Italy over the summer, Luke McCowan is raring to go for 2026/27.
A full pre-season will serve Callum Osmand – who only returned to full fitness in the final weeks of May – well.
Carter-Vickers has not played since injuring his Achilles against Sturm Graz last October.
The central defender returned to team training towards the end of last season and also carried out his own individual conditioning work after sessions. Yet to feature under O’Neill, Carter-Vickers’ return provides a timely boost.
Conversely, fellow long-term absentee Jota won’t feature in pre-season. The Portuguese winger has endured setback after setback and isn’t expected to be available until at least the end of October.
Numerous academy players will join the first team setup in the early days of pre-season to boost training numbers. O’Neill is then expected to take a select few on trips to Ireland and Portugal.
He was impressed after watching the B team beat Brentford under-18s 4-0 in April. But while O’Neill is keen to bridge the growing gap between academy and first team, he recognises the inherent difficulty of developing youngsters in an incomparably demanding environment.
What day one of pre-season looks like
The first few days of pre-season do not involve much football.
Tim Williamson (head of physiotherapy and medical services) will work alongside Alejandro Lorenzo Olivares (head of strength, conditioning, and development), William Currie (head of sports science), and Andrew Boles (head of fitness) to examine each player’s condition after over a month’s break.
“The first week is all about gathering information,” Williamson told club media this time last year.
“Before we jump into training intensity, we want to know how each player’s body is functioning.
“From mobility and injury history, to recovery status, it’s a full physical MOT to make sure we’re starting on the right foot.”
Read more:
Akin to most in the modern game, Celtic’s medical and fitness departments rely heavily on data.
In pre-season’s infancy, they will collate information on high-speed running, sprints, player load, heart rate, and more.
“The data gives us the benchmarks that we’ll refer back to all season,” Williamson added.
“But we also know our players very well, so we’re alert to any red flags with any injuries, or areas they’ve struggled with in the past.
“It’s about tailoring our approach from the start. These baseline scores give us a reference point for every player.
“If someone gets injured, we’re not guessing. We have their own pre-season numbers to guide their return. It also helps us monitor fatigue, adapt training, and reduce the risk of overuse injuries as the season progresses.”
Injuries plagued Celtic last campaign. Ensuring players are not overloaded in pre-season while adequately building their fitness is a fine balance.
The squad, however, often return having carried out their own individual work in the days and weeks prior.
“The players understand the demands of elite sport and most come back in excellent shape,” explained Williamson.
“They’ve looked after themselves over the break and that gives us a strong foundation to build from without rushing or taking risks.
“They’re very professional in their approach and they understand what is coming in the months ahead.”
Martin O’Neill will lead Celtic into the new season. (Image: Stuart Wallace / Shutterstock)
Once Williamson and his team collate the requisite data for each player, they compose individualised training plans that include on-pitch drills and gym work.
He said: “We sit down as a multi-disciplinary team: medical, coaches, and performance. We use the data to individualise training and conditioning plans.
“Some players might need to build strength, others improve mobility, or manage a previous injury. The goal is to get everybody to peak safely and confidently for the start of competition.”
Celtic’s pre-season schedule
Celtic’s first pre-season friendly is scheduled for Tuesday, July 7 against Shelbourne at Tolka Park in Dublin.
In past campaigns, a game against second-tier domestic opposition has been played on the preceding Friday night, which this year falls on July 3. Nothing has been confirmed for 2026 yet.
After the Shelbourne match, Celtic face Sporting CP at Estadio Algarve on Tuesday, July 14.
English Championship side Middlesbrough visit Celtic Park on Saturday, July 18, with AC Milan in town the following Saturday, July 25.
A bounce game in Portugal could be organised between the Shelbourne and Sporting CP games.
Celtic are expected to be based at the Benfica Campus in Lisbon, as they were last summer.