Mo Salah’s Tribute Sparks Celtic Pride After Tottenham’s Europa League Triumph

The football world turned its attention to Bilbao on Wednesday night, where Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United battled it out for the UEFA Europa League crown. While the spotlight was on two of England’s biggest clubs, the echoes of Celtic Park could be felt thousands of miles away.

For many Celtic fans, this was more than just another European final. It was a moment of pride, nostalgia, and quiet vindication. Their former manager—now steering the ship at Tottenham—had just guided the London club to European glory. And as the full-time whistle blew, sealing Spurs’ 1-0 victory over Manchester United, there was another voice joining the chorus of admiration: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.

Though Salah had earlier contributed to Spurs’ disappointment by helping knock them out of the League Cup, the Egyptian forward showed genuine class by taking to social media immediately after the final. His message was short but loaded with meaning: “He did say he’d win in his second season. Congratulations!”

The comment was a direct reference to something the Tottenham boss had confidently declared back in September—“I always win in my second season”—during a period when pressure was mounting. At the time, the statement seemed bold, maybe even overconfident to some. But after Wednesday night, it felt prophetic.

Celtic fans will remember that kind of assuredness. During his time in Glasgow, the former Parkhead boss captured the hearts of many with his fearless football and unshakable demeanor in front of the media. He didn’t just win matches; he commanded respect. Under his leadership, Celtic dominated domestically, securing a historic treble and reestablishing their identity with high-octane, attacking football.

But when he left for Tottenham in 2023, criticism followed him across the border. Many in England questioned his credentials, dismissing his success in Scotland as insignificant. “Anyone can win at Celtic,” they said. “It’s a one-team league,” others argued. But these takes often ignored the immense pressure that comes with managing a club like Celtic, where expectations are sky-high and every result is scrutinized.

What made Wednesday night’s win even more satisfying for Celtic supporters was how Tottenham achieved it. Known for his attacking style, the manager showed his adaptability in the final. Rather than sticking stubbornly to possession-heavy tactics, his Spurs side delivered a defensive masterclass. It was a disciplined, measured performance—exactly the kind critics claimed he couldn’t produce at the top level.

In doing so, he answered every doubt thrown his way over the past two years. He didn’t just win; he evolved. And in that moment, with silverware in his hands and praise flowing from even rival players like Salah, he proved that success at Celtic was no fluke—it was the foundation for something greater.

For Celtic fans watching from afar, it was a proud reminder of what once was—and perhaps, a glimpse of how far one of their own could go.