Graeme Souness, “Men Against Boys,” and One of Celtic’s Sweetest European Nights
Not even the most one-eyed Celtic supporter would ever dare deny that Graeme Souness was a colossal figure on the football pitch. As a player, he was the archetypal midfield general — aggressive, intelligent, and a born winner. Whether captaining Liverpool to multiple European Cups or taking the fight to opponents in the white-hot heat of an Old Firm derby, Souness could talk the talk and, more often than not, walk the walk.
He was, in the truest sense of the word, a footballing heavyweight.
But once the boots were laced for the final time, the Graeme Souness story entered a new chapter — one arguably just as combative and controversial. First, as a manager, and later as a pundit, Souness remained every bit as outspoken and defiant as he had been in midfield. In the dugout, he demanded high standards, took no prisoners, and didn’t shy away from voicing exactly what he thought. And in the punditry world, that same straight-shooting style often made headlines.
However, that unflinching nature — while admirable in many ways — sometimes spilled over into arrogance. And for Celtic supporters, one particular moment stands out as a classic example of Souness letting his mouth run ahead of the facts: a UEFA Cup clash in 2002 between Celtic and his then-side, Blackburn Rovers.
It was a tale of two legs. A battle between Scottish steel and English swagger. A clash that not only ignited national pride but also set the stage for one of the most satisfying rebuttals in Celtic’s rich European history.
The Context: Celtic and Blackburn Collide
In the early 2000s, Celtic were entering a golden period under Martin O’Neill. The Northern Irish manager had built a formidable side at Parkhead — one that didn’t just dominate domestically, but had the talent, tenacity, and belief to make waves in Europe. Players like Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, John Hartson, Paul Lambert, Neil Lennon, and Bobo Balde formed the spine of a team that combined quality with character.
Celtic Park had become a fortress. The atmosphere on European nights was electric, and there was a genuine belief among the fans that something special was brewing.
Blackburn Rovers, meanwhile, were in the Premier League and seen by many — particularly south of the border — as the favourites in the UEFA Cup tie. They had recently returned to the English top flight and were rebuilding under Souness, with household names like Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, and Brad Friedel among their ranks. It was an impressive side, if a little past its prime in places.
When the draw paired them with Celtic in the second round of the 2002 UEFA Cup, there was a buzz of anticipation. It was a battle of Britain — the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs — and both sides had a point to prove. For Souness, the added narrative of returning to Glasgow, where he’d famously served as Rangers player-manager in the late ’80s and early ’90s, only heightened the drama.
The stage was set.
The First Leg: A Tight Affair at Celtic Park
On October 31, 2002, the first leg took place under the floodlights of Celtic Park. In front of a typically raucous home crowd, Celtic edged a tight encounter 1-0 thanks to a goal from none other than Henrik Larsson — the King of Kings.
It was a professional performance. Celtic were solid, composed, and edged the match without needing to hit top gear. Blackburn had their moments, but the Hoops managed the game well and took a valuable lead into the return leg.
It should have been a moment for Souness to regroup and reflect. But instead, he reached for the mic and delivered what would go down as one of the most ill-advised post-match comments of his managerial career.
“Men Against Boys” — The Infamous Quote
In his post-match interview, Souness, despite his team losing, dismissed the result entirely and offered a withering assessment of Celtic’s performance:
“It was men against boys.”
The comment sent shockwaves through both the Scottish media and the Celtic dressing room. Not only had he insulted a team that had just beaten his, but he had thrown down the gauntlet in the most patronising way possible.
To call a team led by seasoned veterans like Sutton, Hartson, Lambert, and Lennon “boys” was not only laughable, it was disrespectful. It was, as John Hartson would later recall, a massive miscalculation.
John Hartson Remembers — And Reminds
Years later, speaking on Go Radio, Hartson shared his memories of that moment and the fury it inspired in the Celtic camp:
“I remember a Mr Graeme Souness once said about Celtic,” Hartson recalled. “He came to Celtic with Blackburn. Walked off with a 1-0 defeat, and then said, ‘it was men against boys’.
You can’t call the likes of Sutton, Hartson, and all these guys, ‘boys’. We went down to Ewood Park and we smashed his team 2-0. You don’t say that — ‘men against boys’.
The great Graeme Souness came a cropper that night.”
It’s clear the comment had stuck with Hartson — and you can bet it fuelled the fire when the team travelled to Ewood Park for the second leg.
The Return Leg: Statement Made
November 14, 2002. Ewood Park.
Celtic came out that night with fire in their eyes. There was a quiet fury about the way they went about their business. They pressed, harried, and outplayed Blackburn across the pitch. Souness watched on as his words came back to haunt him in spectacular fashion.
Chris Sutton — the former Blackburn title-winner, no less — opened the scoring with a powerful strike. Then Hartson delivered the final blow with a thunderous effort that ripped past Friedel to seal a 2-0 win on the night, and a 3-0 victory on aggregate.
It wasn’t just a win. It was a dismantling. A professional job from start to finish — the kind of performance that proved Celtic were not to be trifled with, especially by someone who had dared to patronise them.
Souness had talked. Celtic had answered.
The Legacy: A Moment That Lives On
Over 20 years on, Celtic fans still smile when they recall that tie. Not just because it was a brilliant win over a Premier League side. Not just because it helped propel the Hoops on a magical UEFA Cup run that would culminate in Seville. But because of the satisfaction of seeing a smug prediction get obliterated in real time.
“Men against boys,” Souness had said. But in the end, it was Celtic who looked like the adults in the room. The warriors. The winners.
And for once, the ever-opinionated Souness had nothing left to say.
If you’d like, I can turn this into a downloadable article or even format it as a blog post. Want it styled more formally or left in this tone?