Is there still a place for Boli Bolingoli at Celtic?




In the summer of 2019, rumours were rife about the departure of Kieran Tierney from Celtic. The left back eventually moved to Arsenal on the 8th of August for a fee believed to be in the region of £25 million. Many weeks before this, Belgian full back Boli Bolingoli was brought in from Rapid Vienna. Celtic fans didn’t really know much about the then 23 year old but he did have a reputation for being an attacking left back. 

Bolingoli knew he would be in from the start in crucial Champions League qualifiers because he was the only fit left back at the club. This was proved when he started in Celtic’s trip to Sarajevo for the Champions League 1st round qualifier just three days after he signed for Celtic. The Belgian went on to play all but one of the Champions League qualifiers for The Hoops, the odd one out being the shock 4-3 defeat at home to Cluj. Boli’s league debut came in the form of a home game to St. Johnstone, a match which ended in a 7-0 win for Celtic. The Belgian then featured in all of Celtic’s league games until the end of October. A knee injury then seen him out for around 2 months; he made his return in a 2-0 win at home to Hibs in mid December. The now 25 year old started at left back in a crucial league game with Rangers at Celtic Park on the 29th of December. The visitors came away with their first league win at Parkhead in almost 10 years. This result prompted Celtic manager Neil Lennon to think again regarding his system over the winter break. 


And think again Lennon did, in Celtic’s return to league action against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park the Irishman deployed a 3-5-2. Bolingoli wasn’t part of the squad for this fixture and this was to be the case for the rest of the 19/20 campaign apart from 4 games. These were a trip to Motherwell, a home game against Kilmarnock and both legs of the last 32 Europa League tie against Copenhagen. Boli was on the bench for all of these games but never came on. It’s safe to say the form of Greg Taylor in Celtic’s 3-5-2 kept Bolingoli out of the team. The season eventually ended in March due to COVID with Celtic called winners of the Scottish Premiership for the ninth consecutive season. Throughout the 19/20 season Bolingoli made a total of 28 appearances, registering 4 assists and no goals. It wasn’t the most noteworthy first season for Bolingoli in green and white. 


Going into the 20/21 season, history was beckoning for Celtic. It was what the fans had been singing about for the last 5 or so years. 10 in a row. The season started with a formidable win over Hamilton Accies, 5-1 the score. Bolingoli was on the bench but never came on to the pitch. Celtic’s second league game of the season was a sign of things to come; dropped points at Rugby Park caused some concern among the support. Boli came on for the last 3 minutes of this fixture however he shouldn’t have even been in the squad at all. After the game, it was found out the Belgian took a disingenuous trip to Spain for a few days. Due to COVID regulations, the defender was required to quarantine for 14 days on return however he totally ignored such law and, as mentioned, made an appearance for Celtic in Ayrshire. In reaction to Bolingoli’s actions, Celtic issued a strong statement “unreservedly” condemning the players actions, calling them “irresponsible” and “stupid”. As a result, Celtic’s next two games were postponed causing title rivals Rangers to race ahead only a couple of weeks into the season. Bolingoli was then shipped out to Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir on loan for the rest of the season where he has made 18 appearances. 


The 25 year old’s loan spell hasn’t been the most successful, he was injured from around the end of December to April. His team, Istanbul, didn’t have the greatest campaign either. The Turkish champions were forced into a relegation fight at the foot of the table however they eventually retained their Super Lig status. During the season (around April to be precise), Bolingoli rubbed salt in Celtic’s wounds. The Belgian posted a picture of himself in Dubai on Instagram with the caption “It’s hapnin’ again”, referring to Celtic’s fabled warm weather training camp debacle. The Belgian is due back at Lennoxtown in just a few days for pre season so will there still be a place for him at Celtic?


Without question, Celtic have a major rebuild on their hands this summer. There is only one senior left back at the club excluding Boli Bolingoli in Greg Taylor. The club will in all likelihood not renew Diego Laxalt’s loan so there could definitely be a chance for the Belgian to break in to the side especially under a new manager and coaches. Some fans and pundits labelled Bolingoli’s actions last summer as unforgivable however would Celtic’s utter implosion have happened without this saga? In all likelihood, yes. This though, doesn’t take away from the fact that he betrayed the club and supporters especially in a time where footballers had to act with utmost responsibility. I’m sure Celtic fans would much rather see an academy graduate like Adam Montgomery be given a chance rather than a troublesome 25 year old who has never proved himself at the level required to play for Celtic. 

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