Interim boss Neil Lennon urged Celtic fans to savour the moment after the Hoops clinched their eighth successive Ladbrokes Premiership title with a 3-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Right-back Mikael Lustig scored with a diving header five minutes before the interval with further goals after the break by centre-back Jozo Simunovic and French striker Odsonne Edouard wrapping up the championship with two fixtures remaining.
The Parkhead club can win the domestic triple treble in the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Hearts at Hampden Park on May 25 with the fans on a quest for what would be a record-breaking 10 successive titles.
Celtic’s Neil Lennon celebrates after the final whistle during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen.
Former Celtic skipper and manager Lennon, who was brought back in February until the end of the season when Brendan Rodgers suddenly left for Leicester City, admitted it had been “the toughest piece of management I have had in 10 years of management” but also wanted the title achievement enjoyed.
The Northern Irishman said: “On the outside it probably looks easy but on the inside there was a lot of discontent and agitation around the club at the time. You had to keep calm.
“You need the hide of a rhinoceros and big cojones. I’m not sure I have got them but I certainly have a rhino hide. You need to bat it away and concentrate.
“Some of the performances weren’t great but we are unbeaten in 11 games so the standard and expectation is very, very high.
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“We need to take some time, even the supporters, to take stock and enjoy the moment. This is eight titles, it has not been done for a very long time.
“So it is a special group of players and the fans should engage in that and not think about nine and 10.
“Just enjoy the moment and then look forward to next week, going there (Ibrox) as champions and the cup final as well.”
Lennon also paid tribute to Rodgers, who secured the two previous titles before moving back to England.
He said: “It is a privilege to manage this club, it is the second time of doing it. I am so proud of the players at the way they handled the occasion.
“I have to give Brendan a huge amount of credit, I can’t forget that. I don’t want to miss him out.
“He obviously left the foundations and his legacy is very much intact here. From manager to manager, we owe him a great debt of thanks.”
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes sat in the stand serving a one-game ban for gestures made to the Celtic fans after being subject to sectarian chanting during the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden Park last month.
Brendan Rodgers, who laid the foundations for Celtic’s latest title success before departing for Leicester (Martin Rickett/PA Images).
The former Rangers midfielder claimed he had heard the song again from the Celtic fans who had travelled to the Granite City.
“Of course I heard it because I have been hearing it for years,” said McInnes, who rued missed chances in the first-half..
“It is not if I hear it, that is not the question, the question should be are other people hearing it?
“The biggest surprise would have been if I had not heard it today, as you all know so it is what it is.
“There has been a missed opportunity to send out the right message.
“I served my punishment today and I will be back in the dugout next week”
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