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Fullname: Patrick John Joseph Roberts
aka: Patrick Roberts, Paddy Roberts, Pat Roberts.
Born: 5 January 1997
Birthplace: Kingston Upon Thames, London
Signed: (i) 1 Feb 2016 (from Man City, 18mth loan deal), (ii) 29 Aug 2017 (12mth loan)
Left: 31 May 2018 (end of loan, moved back to Man City then on loan to Girona)
Position: Right-Wing, Midfielder
Debut: Celtic 3-0 Inv CT, League, 20 Feb 2016
Squad No.: 27
Internationals: ? [which international team played for]
International Caps: ? [complete at end of career]
International Goals: ? [complete at end of career]
Biog
| “I’ll always be a Celt and I’ll always have this club in my heart.” Patrick Roberts |
His talent felt like from another age, and he was willing to dribble the ball along the wings before cutting in for a fine chance. He had some talent, and was even once dubbed “Mini-Messi” when he played at Fulham. His speed and close control were exceptional, and given a run against any defence, few were able to mange to contain him, he was unplayable. Scrawny looking, but he had pace and was not afraid to take on anyone, most of whom found it impossible to tackle him easily and many feared him.
It took him a few games to get going, but a double v Hearts in April 2016 in a 3-1 victory clearly showed his burgeoning talents, and some felt he could be the man who could help manager Ronnie Deila turn things around. Ronnie Deila was having a poor second season, and was grasping at anything to help turn things around. Paddy Roberts entrance could have been the gem that Deila was looking for but it was asking a lot of the youngster, especially with the senior players in the side at a low ebb.
Paddy Roberts won plaudits early, showing off his fine skill, and an upcoming match v Sevco in the Scottish Cup was felt to be a good platform to show his worth. However, his youth & inexperience was shown up in this first major test. He was to have a low profile in the match v Sevco, and missed a clear chance with Celtic to then lose on penalties at the end. He wasn’t ready to lead, but had time on his side for further development. The valuation tag on his head should not be a burden to any young player.
Paddy Roberts had a few more goals to the end of the season, but was one of the few bright lights in an otherwise diminishing season with Deila already announcing his departure, although with the league title in the bag, there was something to build on.
Season 2016/17 (the InVIncibles season)
With the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, things were to take a positive turn for Paddy Roberts as it did for many others.
Paddy Roberts was to be one of the stars of the show in an incredible season. His often jinking runs up the wing, taking on defenders, jinking past them with some cheeky moves; he just oozed class. He was a born entertainer, and one that made the ticket price worth just to see him. He set up goals and won penalties, but as happens he was to be targeted by the hatchet men in the opposition sides.
Season 2016/17 was to be a dream season, and Celtic under Brendan Rodgers’ management went onto win the domestic treble undefeated. Not the main man in the squad, with Scott Brown, Armstrong, Dembele and Sinclair stealing the limelight, but often Paddy Roberts stole the limelight with a special darting run in a game. He was a favoured son.
One of the inevitable moments was when Celtic were to be drawn against his parent club in the European Cup, Man City. An uncomfortable proposition, but he still he put in good performances, and scored against his parent club in a 1-1 draw away which brought into the foreground in England. He also played in the 3-3 draw earlier against them (at Celtic Park), so remained unbeaten against them, and raised his profile beyond Scotland.
Paddy Roberts’ performances during the second half of 2016/17 came to the fore as he set up goals and took chances from all angles showed a growing confidence and maturity, and the support were simply in awe of his precocious talent. His long range efforts from outside the box clearly illustrated his accuracy and skill, and defenders were often unable to handle his runs, leading to unnecessarily conceded free kicks penalties (e.g. TheRangers’ Beerman on Paddy Roberts in the second 5-1 victory). Sadly meant he was targeted for some vicious tackles and fouls too, on occasion beyond accepted levels.
Problem was that despite the talent he was a loanee. To the surprise of all, James Forrest was rejuvenated under Brendan Rodgers, and as a permanent player he was given the nod often ahead of Paddy Roberts. Often they were in contention for the same role on the right wing. Sympathisers for both players could debate the positives of both players, but as time rolled on, the argument grew weaker to play Paddy Roberts.
Even without the class of Paddy Roberts, Celtic had easily won the league prematurely in 2015/16 so giving room for the manager to play who he wanted without pressure. That meant less need for Paddy Roberts, but Paddy Roberts was growing as a player and it was difficult to keep him out in season 2016/17. For James Forest frustrating but in some ways the competition helped him become a better player.
One of the humorous aspects to his stay at Celtic, was his close friendship with Kieran Tierney. Both of a similar age, they were to be good close mates, and the wits humoured both about it, but it was good to see the bon homie at Celtic in the squad.
Celtic fans were singing at the end of the season after a wonderful double v Partick Thistle in a 5-0 win in May 2017, “Sign Him Up Sign Him Up”. Was it possible? Affordable? At the then quoted levels, it was beyond Celtic’s reach.
He was what the fans wanted. Paddy Roberts could jink round players and score round them, or drive across the outside of the box before taking a long range effort into the back of the net, or simply lay it off with little effort for his team mates. You could see his joy. There was a desperation for him to be signed up.
Season 2017/18
Celtic managed to retain him for a further season in season 2017/18, frustrating the support as a further loan but then was ruled out for chunks of the season. This actually lent James Forrest the opportunity to make the role in the side for himself, and following some great performances, Paddy Roberts was to be little missed.
In fairness, the fair on the pitch wasn’t as entertaining as in the previous season, but as Celtic were heading towards a second treble in a row, the support was still happy. The loss of Paddy Roberts was a reason but not the full explanation for Celtic’s slip in form in season 2017/18. When back, he alternated with Forrest, and won a penalty that helped cement a victory over Sevco in the Scottish Cup, a 4-0 victory. His sleight of foot again winning penalties against clueless Huns. He really gave the first team new options when offered by anyone.
James Forrest was now the favoured man, and there was actually less of a call for Paddy as there was a year beforehand. As a crude measure, Paddy Roberts only scored one goal in the whole of season 2017/18 compared to 11 the season before, albeit in a special 3-0 victory away v Anderlecht. So was Paddy Roberts really a luxury?
Critics were complaining that Paddy Roberts’ magic was waning and that the perceived excessive cost for Paddy Roberts was a wasted effort that season which was harsh as Paddy Roberts still gave his all in the matches he played, and still performed. Forrest though had become more than match for him in terms of value at least.
However, it was clear that the run was coming to an end at Celtic. His name kept on popping up as being used as part of a transfer package to Leicester in Man City’s efforts to buy players, which was disrespectful to Paddy Roberts. The fees for a full transfer were likely beyond Celtic, and in any case with a packed out midfield and a rejuvenated Forrest, Paddy Roberts was becoming surplus to Celtic’s needs.
Anyhow, after 2.5 years at Celtic, he clearly wanted a new challenge down south. Disappointing as Celtic could offer so much more than just bread and butter domestic games as the lower sides in England would, but he was to again move on loan this time to Girona (Spain). It was a cash-cow loan system that was allowing major league clubs to hoard players and make a mint from them by loaning them out. It wasn’t helping anyone apart from the mega-clubs.
It was great to have had Paddy Roberts for his time at the club. A joy at many times to watch.
He had his own journey now. Maybe some day he’ll find his way back.
We imagine he will look back upon his experience at Celtic as a positive one (and possibly definitive), and one that helped make him in his career.
Post-Celtic
At Girona he played little in a system that little helped him develop, and then moved to Norwich again on loan for more of the same. Manchester City were League Champions and there was little chance of breaking into their first team, so a move away was for the best, but repeat loans were not the answer. If anything it proved what a scam for some of the major league clubs this loan system was in practise. These loans were becoming fruitless for him.
He later had further unsuccessful loan moves out to Norwich and Middlesborough, and then when at loan at Derby County he was helping them in the relegation play-offs at the bottom of the second tier alongside ex-Celtic Colin Kazim-Richards.
At the end, whilst Manchester City were newly crowned league champions in 2021, Paddy Roberts was dumped onto the transfer list as a free, so a £12m transfer fee fully written off by his parent club (with just one league appearance, and two in the lesser appreciated league cup). French club Troyes took him on a loan for his final season under Man City.
A curious point is that he was school friends with Matt O’Riley who signed for Celtic in January 2022. The day after Matt O’Riley signed for Celtic, Paddy Roberts agreed a six-month contract at third-tier English side Sunderland to finally leave Manchester City. A painful contrast.
It had been reported that soon after Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at Celtic, he did discuss with Paddy Roberts about a return for him to Celtic, but Postecoglou was not ‘convinced’ by his ‘single-mindedness’. With the success of Abada and the Japanese players who came in during the season, it could be argued that it was the right call for Celtic. Even in later seasons, with the success of Kuhn and the evergreen form of Forrest, there were rarely any calls for a return for Roberts.
However, things turned for the good in time at Sunderland and after promotion he was awarded a two year contract, and finally won a consistent run of games playing under ex-Celtic manager Tony Mowbray. He then went on to be a long-term regular & popular player for the club.
[….]
Quotes
“He should be earning hundreds of thousands a week playing in the Premier League and living the life that his talent deserves, and yet he was playing in League One for Sunderland.”
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray on his player Paddy Roberts (2023)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2015-16 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Goals | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016-17 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 47 |
| Goals | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| 2017-18 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 52 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 82 |
| Goals | 15 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18 |
Honours with Celtic
Domestic Treble (League, League Cup & Scottish Cup)
Scottish League
Scottish League Cup
Scottish Cup
Pictures
KDS
Links
Articles
Patrick Roberts: Celtic was perfect loan move for me
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/patrick-roberts-celtic-was-perfect-loan-move-for-me-1-4428392
By ANDREW SMITH
Published: 22:45 Monday 24 April 2017
The ability to go at a rate of knots and change tack deftly might have allowed Patrick Roberts to do more than help a supreme Celtic sink Rangers without a trace in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final. The treatment meted out to the winger in the early stages at Hampden could also play a part in Brendan Rodgers’ men having captain Scott Brown on board when they set course for Ibrox at the weekend.
Inside three minutes the 20-year-old Manchester City loanee was wiped out when Andy Halliday flew in on him with a wild, late lunge that brought only a yellow from referee Willie Collum. Meanwhile, whether Brown plays on Saturday in the sixth and final Old Firm derby of the season will be settled by an SFA appeal on Thursday over the automatic two-match ban he received for the straight red card shown him by Don Robertson. That dismissal came for a challenge on Liam Boyce against Ross County the Sunday before that appeared to be a lesser offence than that committed by Halliday.
Roberts was asked if the difference in card colour for the two transgressions gave him hope that Brown might be successful in his appeal – the triggering of which at the Easter weekend allowed him to play in the semi-final.
“Yeah. If that’s only a yellow why was Scott’s a red card?” the Englishman said.
“I don’t want to say too much but it was a bad tackle and thankfully I didn’t get hurt. It’s an Old Firm game and maybe the ref thought about it like that and gave a yellow. I felt the ref was pretty good and thankfully we won.”
Roberts wasn’t interested in finger-pointing towards the officials or opponents in the wake of the most incisive displays of his 18-month loan period, something that was reflected in his assessment of the fact that it wasn’t just Halliday who could have walked for attempting to stop Roberts in crude fashion in the opening stages. Teenager Mylde Beerman was booked for a heavy challenge and then in the immediate aftermath was not penalised for deliberately tripping the winger.
“Beerman is only young and I know what it feels like to be young and playing in a big game under pressure like that,” Roberts offered in magnanimous fashion. “It’s tough and my job was to keep getting at him and force him into mistakes. I felt I did that at times, although he did pretty well against me. He showed good experience at times and he’s a good young player who can do well in the game.”
Sunday was Roberts’ first start against Rangers this season. The player has seen more action through the middle as an emergency striker of late than the flanks, with Scott Sinclair and James Forrest the preferred wing options. In the semi-final, though, Roberts was given the nod over Forrest, and fully capitalised on the opportunity.
“It’s tough to get in the team. We have had a great run this year and there is a lot of competition for places. The standard is high and whoever the manager puts in does a good job. It was a good team performance more than anything.
“It’s been the perfect loan move for me. I honestly couldn’t have asked for any more. I have come to a big club where there is a lot of expectation and you are playing under big pressure. It’s huge and we have managed to have a lot of success. It’s worked out really well for me.
“I see a big difference in myself. I am a lot more mature and I’m just really happy with my progress.
“Last year was good and I’ve now played over 50 games for the club. I have got three medals already and I now have a treble in mind too. I want to win everything and I want to finish the season really strongly. There is still a lot to play for. Winning the Scottish Cup would just top it all off. This season has been great under the manager. I’ve learned a lot, scored goals, created them and also played in a lot of big games. It’s been a great loan spell at Celtic.”
The greatest possible end seems certain to elude Roberts, though. He proved an integral member of the England under-20 squad that last month qualified for the World Cup finals that will take place in South Korea next month. Starting in the middle of May, England are scheduled to play their third and final group game against the hosts on 26 May – the day before Celtic will meet Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final that is the one more victory they require to complete the club’s first domestic clean sweep since 2000.
The fact the Roberts is forever circumspect when asked about the scheduling clash tells its own story about where he sees himself in Scottish Cup final week – on the other side of the planet as a, by then, former Celtic player who received a good grounding before hoping for a crack at the highest level of the English game with parent club Manchester City.
“I can’t really say too much about that at the moment. We just have to see what happens. All I know is that it’s not up to me,” said Roberts, Celtic being obliged to release the player to the England FA for the Fifa tournament.
“I can’t really say anything more. I’m just glad that Celtic are in the final.”
Patrick Roberts: I’ll always be a Celt
http://www.celticfc.net/news/12730
By: Jo Hendry on 30 May, 2017 16:47
PATRICK Roberts may have taken his final bow for Celtic but he did so in considerable style, finishing what has been an incredible season as a winner of an ‘Invincible’ treble.
The Englishman joined the Hoops last year on an 18-month loan deal from Manchester City, and is now due to return to the English Premier League side for the beginning of the new season.
The 20-year-old has made 60 appearances since joining the Bhoys last February, netting 17 goals along the way, and the winger admits he couldn’t have asked for more from his time in Paradise.
Speaking to the official Celtic website, he said: “Perfect is the exact word I’d use. To be ‘Invincible’ is one thing, but then to go and win the treble is really something else. We’ve done it and it’s full credit to all the boys.
“It just feels unbelievable. We had our tasks to do this year and we’ve completed all of them. It’s been a great season and I’m thankful for it.”
Last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final ensured the last piece of silverware required to secure the domestic clean sweep was bound for Celtic Park.
The game looked to be heading for extra-time with the two sides locked in a 1-1 draw before Tom Rogic stepped up in the 92nd minute and made his mark on history. After beating two defenders, the Australian slotted the ball under Dons goalkeeper, Joe Lewis, before Hampden erupted in a sea of green and white.
“I was ecstatic when the ball hit the net,” Roberts admitted. “I kept looking at the clock and could see that time was running out, but I knew we could do it. When Tom hit that ball and it went in the net, there was a massive sense of relief.
“It was a tough game against Aberdeen, though. They’re a good side and we knew that – that’s why they’re second in the league. But we stuck to our guns and in the end, thanks to our perseverance, we got there. To win the treble has been amazing, and there’s no better feeling than scoring in the last minute. It was a good game and a tremendous occasion.”
While the England Under-20 star was ecstatic when the final whistle sounded at Hampden, signifying that the momentous treble was in the bag, there was one person missing from the celebrations.
Kieran Tierney, who had started against Aberdeen at left-back, had his final endeavour of the season cut short by the arm of Jayden Stockley in the first-half of the game.
However, Roberts made sure the defender wasn’t forgotten as he held the No.63 jersey aloft in tribute to his friend and team-mate, who made it back from hospital just in time to lift the cup.
“I think he was hoping to get back for full-time,” Roberts said. “But when the final whistle went we were cheering and, obviously, he wasn’t there so I thought he’s Mr Celtic, and he’d want to be here.
“The fans love him and he’s the golden boy, so I thought I would get his shirt and show them he’s a big part of Celtic. I was hoping he’d make it back because I couldn’t take the trophy to hospital.
“I’m glad he was there in the end, though, and he’s alright. He’s a tough cookie. He tells me he’s a Lanarkshire boy and he’ll just get on with it. I’m sure his jaw will fix itself.”
The winger added: “I just want to say thank you to the supporters for everything that they’ve given to me. All the support that they’ve given me on and off the pitch has been tremendous.
“I’ll always be a Celt and I’ll always have this club in my heart. This year has been massive for me, as well as for the club, and I’ll always remember it.”
Celtic star Patrick Roberts has shown a lack of ambition by returning to Scotland – Gordon Parks
[Bitter Hun writing from the Sunday Mail, not a parody incredibly]
The winger opted for a second stint in Glasgow rather than trying his hand abroad.
Sunday Mail BYGORDON PARKS
06:00, 3 SEP 2017
The great Jackie Chan takes the credit for the truism: “Great success comes only with great ambition.”
Wise words in a week when Patrick Roberts opted to chop another year off his career by re-signing on loan with Celtic.
An inconvenient truth it may be but he has chosen to step back into his comfort zone rather than showing a belief he can push himself to a higher level. The mutual affection is one thing but how does this benefit a 20-year-old who should be desperate for new challenges?
Champions League games aside, the Englishman has sidestepped the prospect of going one on one with some of the best left-backs in Europe. The well established trend of talent flowing away from Scottish football has been bucked by Roberts and it raises a question mark.
Patrick Roberts backs Celtic pal Tierney to become world class star
An assessment of his previous 18 months in Glasgow is of it being a slow burner, lightweight, in and out of the side before an impressive burst late on.
But why turn down the chance to play a season in La Liga with Girona or head to France with Nice instead of plying his trade at Firhill, Dingwall and the plastic of Hamilton and Kilmarnock?
Absence makes the heart grow fonder but the clamour from Celtic fans to get Roberts back said everything about their starvation of genuine star names being recruited.
And this has been a week which couldn’t have highlighted better the climate change within football for speculating on young talent.
Roberts will know Leroy Sane well from Manchester City and the 21-year-old’s development has set the bar for where his mate’s ambitions should lie.
Bayern Munich’s £28m recruit Renato Sanches is younger than Roberts and has accepted the challenge of a season at Swansea while 20-year-old Ousmane Dembele has signed with Barcelona for £96m.
These are the fees being paid for top young players – and they’re operating in a different footballing stratosphere.
Bluntly, our game is where bigger names arrive for career rehabilitation or last resort.
It is a better place with someone as good as Roberts but the suspicion remains that it’s a development stunter for a kid who should be
showcasing his skills in football’s biggest arenas.
As Paddy and his pal Kieran Tierney are about to discover, Paradise is no place to reach for the stars.
Patrick Roberts: I’ll always feel part of the Celtic Family
By: Tony Connelly on 26 May, 2018 10:01
Celticfc.net
PATRICK Roberts arrived at Celtic as a relatively unknown 18-year-old, but during his two-and-a-half-years in Glasgow, he established himself as a huge talent who became a firm favourite with the Celtic supporters. He may now have bid farewell to the Hoops, but Roberts admitted that a piece of his heart will forever remain in Paradise. The 21-year-old winger played his last match in the Hoops at Scott Brown’s Testimonial where he offered a parting gift of a goal before receiving a standing ovation when he was substituted. “I’ve had a good two-and-a-half years here,” said Roberts in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve won trophies, I’ve met a lot of good people and I’ve loved every minute of it. “It’s obviously sad that my time here has come to an end but everything comes to an end and I have a lot of really good memories of playing here. The success this season has been incredible and I’m happy that the Celtic fans have had that, because they’ve been amazing.” The dear green place became something of a home away from home for Roberts. Much of that can be attributed to the way Celtic fans received him and the love they have shown for the youngster, who left his home and family to come up to Scotland build further his career. “The Celtic fans are second to none. It’s like a family up here and I’ll always feel part of the family,” he said. “Celtic’s been good to me and I hope I’ve been able to repay the fans, the board, staff and players. “They’re the reason why I wanted to come back here. I’ve had ups and downs but the fans have been there for me throughout it all and I’ll always be thankful for that.” His gratitude towards the fans, his team-mates, staff and the club is centred on his appreciation for all that Brendan Rodgers has allowed him to achieve and the way the manager, as he has done with so many young players, has helped develop his game. “I’ll definitely cite Brendan Rodgers as a big factor in my development as a player,” said Roberts. “He’s improved my game in a big way. I’m grateful to Ronny bringing me in and then to the manager for continuing that and showing the faith in me throughout these two years. “He’s been incredible and I’ll be thankful to him for that forever. Hopefully it puts me in good stead for the rest of my career. Having a start here at Celtic has meant a lot and I’m thankful to everyone involved.”
Celtic cult hero details moment which sparked Parkhead love affair and goal that brokered Guardiola meeting
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-cult-hero-details-moment-which-sparked-parkhead-love-affair-and-goal-that-brokered-guardiola-meeting-8810034
Celtic fan favourite sits down with The Scotsman discuss his successful two-and-a-half year spell at Parkhead.
By Graham Falk
Sports Writer
Comments
Published 20th Jul 2026, 15:26 BST
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Patrick Roberts has lifted the lid on the ‘uproar’ that ignited his unforgettable Celtic journey and cemented his lifelong affection for the Parkhead club he followed as a boy.
The 29-year-old winger spoke exclusively to The Scotsman about his time in Glasgow, where he became a firm fan favourite during his two-and-a-half seasons at the club, playing a key role in their 2016/17 invincible treble season and winning a total of seven trophies with Celtic.
Joining the club on a loan deal from Manchester City in January 2016, his exceptional close control, low centre of gravity and ability to drift past full-backs with ease endeared him to the Celtic support almost instantly and saw him dubbed ‘mini-Messi’ by sections of the support at the age of just 18.
Sign up to The Scotsman’s FREE daily for part two, three and four of our exclusive Patrick Roberts interview, where he reveals his thoughts on re-joining the club in the future, and which player he rates as the best he played with during his time at Celtic Park
“My brother and I had Celtic shirts as kids,” said Roberts. “I still have a picture of it, me wearing the green and white. Originally, I was meant to go somewhere the summer before. But they liked what they saw of me in pre-season, so they kept me there for six months. I played in a League Cup game against Sunderland, but I was just training really. It got to January, and I needed to go out on loan. Celtic were really close with City and would send players over there to play.
“They had a lot of good players, but it was an opportunity to play games. I didn’t know what to expect. It was a year before Rangers came back, so we were scrapping with Aberdeen and the like. But they had the lure of the Champions League. I loved my time at Celtic. I had affection for Celtic as a club anyway, but to get the appreciation that I did from the fans was amazing. They are fans who like to get off their seat and see great football. They obviously like to win as well – and we did a lot of that during my time there! I played some of my best football. They always stuck by me.”
Now playing for Birmingham City in the EFL Championship, Roberts had been brought to the club by Ronny Deila in the 2016 winter transfer window, originally on an 18-month deal, but the Norwegian was replaced by Brendan Rodgers that following summer. Roberts recalls the disappointing moment he was left out of Rodgers’ first starting XI and the conversation that followed, which placed him on course for success with Celtic.
“I had signed for Ronny Deila the season beforehand”, recalls Roberts. “I was there before Brendan came in, and his first game was a Champions League qualifier against Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar, and I didn’t play. We played on the Astro, and we lost 1-0. There was uproar. People were fuming. The home leg, we came back and he played me. We won and I scored, and he came over to me and said ‘you’re not bad, are you?’. It was his way of saying that he didn’t really know what to think, but once he played me in games he saw I could do well. Brendan was great.
“To hear that was a big plus. I did well the previous year, but when a manager of his pedigree comes in and he doesn’t really quite know what you’re about, but then he takes to you, you have a manager that believes in you, and young players. It was huge. I learnt a great deal from him, he was an excellent manager. Chris Davies [current Birmingham manager] was his assistant, and it made it easier to come here [Birmingham]. We had a connection for ten years, I was young then and he was great with me. You can see how much he has learned as a coach since. Brendan and Chris were a great duo.”
Approaching the first anniversary of his signing at Celtic, little could have prepared him for a moment which will remain etched in the memory of the Parkhead faithful. Drawn against his parent club in the Champions League group stage, Manchester City, Roberts found himself in the bizarre situation of being named in the starting line-up against Pep Guardiola’s side as they visited the Etihad Stadium in December 2016.
Able to feature due to a UEFA ruling which allowed loan players to be pitted against the club that owned them, the ball found its way to Roberts just outside of the area. After dribbling beyond Gael Clichy and finding himself within shooting range, the England youth international blasted a left-footed drive beyond Willy Caballero to give Celtic a shock lead after just four minutes.
While Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho – who played for Celtic last season – levelled the scores just minutes later, Rodgers’ side clung on to a valuable point, with Roberts placed into the unusual situation of being congratulated by both managers at the final whistle.
“It was a strange feeling,” recalls Roberts. “I remember when the draw came out, and we had City. It was crazy, but that was the rule. I didn’t play the home game, which we drew. We went back to the Etihad, and I started and scored. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. What a feeling. Not many people knew me at City; I hadn’t really kicked a ball.
“If I had been there ten years playing week in, week out, maybe it would have been different. But there was no reason I wouldn’t have celebrated it. I celebrate every goal we scored, especially my first goal in the Champions League! It was a big moment; I had no doubt I would celebrate. But it was a strange situation to be part of.
“I remember afterwards, Pep came over to me and told me to keep going, that it was a good goal, and I had played well. I was meant to be back with City the following summer. I hadn’t even met him at that point. I’d signed an 18-month loan deal at Celtic in January, and he didn’t move to City until the summer. So I was at Celtic when he came in, and I hadn’t met him. I didn’t speak to him again until I went back the next season. But it was nice to hear him say what he did, and good to see him after the game.
“He is the greatest manager of all time. I just thought, ‘wow, let’s kick on for the rest of the season’, let’s go flying in pre-season when I get back. That was the aim, but it didn’t end up that way. I wanted to win everything with Celtic, then go back with trophies.”
Patrick Roberts shares Celtic transfer return verdict as he delivers Hoops thank you and divulges Rangers miss
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/patrick-roberts-shares-celtic-transfer-return-verdict-as-he-delivers-hoops-thank-you-and-divulges-rangers-miss-8814786
By Graham Falk
Sports WriterComments
Published 22nd Jul 2026, 17:00 BST
In part two of our exclusive interview with Patrick Roberts he discusses his love for Celtic fans and his thoughts on a return.
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Arriving at Celtic as a teenager with only a handful of senior appearances to his name, former Parkhead cult hero Patrick Roberts would have been forgiven had the relentless, high-stakes pressure of the Glasgow goldfish bowl swallowed him up and spat him out without warning.
Signing an initial 18-month loan deal from Manchester City in the winter of 2016, Roberts arrived as a highly-rated 18-year-old who had shone so brightly as an English youth international; he’d coined the nickname ‘Mini Messi’ thanks to his effortless ability to bamboozle full-backs with his close control and nimble footwork.
Compared to the Argentinian footballing icon, he arrived with an impressive billing, but Celtic supporters have rarely judged on reputation. Their cult heroes are made on the pitch; judgement is made solely on what you showcase on the hallowed ‘Paradise’ turf – and Roberts admits it didn’t take him long to understand the responsibility that came with wearing the green and white hooped jersey, as he spoke exclusively to The Scotsman about his time at the club.
Patrick Roberts details moment which sparked Celtic love affair and goal that brokered Guardiola meeting
“If you’re a Scottish lad coming up through the academy, you’d expect a lot of love,” said Roberts. “But if you’re an English boy coming on loan, it’s different. I had affection for Celtic as a club anyway, but to get the appreciation that I did from the fans straight away was amazing. They are fans that like to get off their seat and see great football. They obviously like to win as well – and we did a lot of that during my time there!
“I played some of my best football there. They always stuck by me, and that was my experience of Celtic. We won an invincible treble. I felt I was quite integral in that; I was young and fearless. I appreciated it all, and that’s what made me want to come back a second time. I have a lot of love for Celtic fans. There were so many great moments.”
Winning three league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups, his time at Celtic is remembered as a roaring success. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing, with Roberts famously missing an open goal in a Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers. The first time the two sides had faced each other in four years due to their rivals’ demotion to the fourth tier, an audible gasp was heard across Hampden Park when he somehow managed to fire wide from six yards out, unguarded, with the goal gaping.
With the scores locked at 2-2 after extra-time, the match headed to penalties, with Rangers prevailing 5-4 in the shootout to take a famous win and leaving a young Roberts distraught after suffering his first – and only – defeat in an Old Firm derby. He went on to win four of his next five games against Celtic’s fiercest rivals and Roberts, now an experienced pro with Birmingham City in the EFL Championship, looks back on his moment of horror as one of the most important of his career.
Roberts admits his open goal miss against Rangers at Hampden Park was one of the toughest moments of his career.
Roberts admits his open goal miss against Rangers at Hampden Park was one of the toughest moments of his career. | SNS Group
“That was probably the biggest lesson I’ve had,” admits Roberts. “As you get older, there are other obstacles and barriers to get past, but as a young boy when you’re given the freedom to play against your biggest rivals in God knows how long, then you miss an open-goal at Hampden…it was tough. It got the better of me. When you’re young, you think you’re clever and cocky, and you can put it away. Then you sit in the reality of it, you’ve lost the game.
“So it wasn’t entirely on me; we lost the game on penalties, but if we win that game it is a bit different. But we didn’t. I think [losing that game] is partly why they decided to change the manager [Ronny Deila], so if that doesn’t happen, is Brendan Rodgers there? I don’t know, but it did happen, and he was there, and it worked out the way it did.
“You can look at it two ways. It was horrible for me at the time; I didn’t leave the house for a couple of days. I went to training, then went straight home. No shopping or anything. It was tough as a young lad. But you’ve got to get back on the horse and go again, and I’ve carried that throughout my career. There’s a brighter side to it if you keep going. It’s the biggest game in people’s lives, and it happened, but it’s part of a long history now.”
Ended his loan stint at Celtic in 2018, went on to have a spate of loan spells before becoming a key member of a Sunderland squad that rose from EFL League One to the English Premier League, before moving on to Birmingham City last summer. In football terms, his trophy-collecting stint at Celtic is a long time ago. However, Roberts remembers it all as if it were yesterday.
“I wanted to go back to Celtic after the original 18-month loan,” recalls Roberts. “There were conversations around if I should go to different places, but I wanted to carry on at Celtic. I felt good, and I thought I could go on and we could do miracles again. I was at a big club in City; they put a lot into me. If I was to sign for Celtic again, it would have been back then; I would have signed permanently and done things a little bit differently.
“Could I have ever come back? Maybe a long time ago, before I went to Sunderland. I could have went, but it just didn’t happen. And when I signed back on loan for the second time, I was hoping it might have happened after that but it never happened. I had a bad last season at Celtic, so that didn’t come to anything.
“I still watch the games against Rangers if I don’t have a match myself, because you get the early kick-offs. Champions League or Europa League, whichever they are in. I don’t always get to watch an entire 90 minutes these days, with a young boy and games myself, but I sat down and watched the entire 90 minutes of the game against Hearts last season.
“Best game I’ve seen in a while, it takes you back to Celtic and when I was there – although I don’t think it was quite as dramatic when I was there. We had the league won a few weeks earlier, normally. The fans, the atmosphere, it is so amazing to play there. That is what you miss about Celtic. The European nights, the way the crowd gets behind you when there’s things to be won and you’re going for titles. I’m lucky to have experienced three of them.
“I love watching Celtic. I have a lot of admiration for Celtic, but if I was to go back it would have been when I was younger in my career. It wasn’t meant to be. I love where I play now, and I had the chance to play at Sunderland for four years – if I had come back, that might not have happened. Paths turn in different ways. But the two and a half years I had at Celtic were a pride, and a privilege. I wouldn’t go back now, but I’d love to go back and watch a game when I’m finished playing.”