AHEAD of his first campaign in the Parkhead hotseat, Ange Postecoglou could only take his men to Wales for pre-season due to Covid-19 restrictions.

A year on, the Hoops are preparing to visit Austria for a 10-day camp in advance of their Premiership title defence and a tilt at the Champions League group stages.

Here are all the key dates you need to know about Celtic’s pre-season plans and the campaign ahead…

Pre-season friendlies

  • Wed July 6: SC Wiener Viktoria @ Sportplatz Wiener Viktoria, Vienna, Austria (5.30pm)
  • Sat July 9: Rapid Vienna @ Allianz Stadium, Vienna, Austria (5pm)
  • Wed July 13: Banik Ostrava @ Mestsky Stadion, Ostrava, Czech Republic (5pm)
  • Sat July 16: Blackburn Rovers @ Celtic Park, Glasgow (12.30 pm)
  • Wed July 20: Legia Warsaw @ Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw, Poland (5pm)
  • Sat July 23: Norwich City @ Celtic Park, Glasgow (3pm)

Returning to Austria for the first time since Neil Lennon’s side spent pre-season there in 2019, there are games scheduled on July 6 and July 9 during the Hoops’ 10-day camp.

Before they return to Glasgow they travel to the Czech Republic to face Banik Ostrava at Mestsky Stadion in a friendly match to celebrate the Fortuna Liga side’s centenary year.

Once back home a Parkhead double-header against English Championship opposition beckons. First up is Blackburn Rovers on July 16 before Norwich City travel north a week later. Both of these games are included on the 2022-23 season ticket. 

In between those dates - on Wednesday July 20 - the club has announced they will send a team to face Legia Warsaw as part of plans to honour former goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

It is also worth noting that a Celtic B/under-23s side will be taking on East Kilbride at Lennoxtown on Saturday July 2 and Northampton Town at the University of St Andrews on Wednesday July 6. 

All kick-off times are in BST

Other key dates: Premiership, domestic cups, Champions League

  • June 10: Transfer window opens
  • June 17: SPFL Premiership fixtures released
  • July 31: SPFL Premiership opening match v Aberdeen @ Celtic Park (4.30pm)
  • Aug 25: Champions League group-stage draw
  • Aug 30-31: Celtic enter League Cup at last-16 stage
  • Sep 3: First Glasgow Derby of season @ Celtic Park 
  • Sep 6-7: Champions League group stage kicks off
  • Nov 12-13: SPFL breaks for the World Cup
  • Nov 17-23: Celtic play Sydney FC and Everton in the Sydney Super Cup
  • Dec 17-18: SPFL resumes after World Cup
  • Jan 2 2023: Glasgow Derby @ Ibrox
  • May 27-28 2023: SPFL Premiership final match 

The SPFL Premiership fixtures were released at 9am on Friday June 17. The champions will begin their title defence at home to Aberdeen on July 31.

With the World Cup taking place from November 21 to December 18, the season breaks on the weekend of November 12-13 and resumes on December 17-18. This also means the league campaign ends slightly later, with the final fixtures slated for May 27-28 2023 and the Premiership play-off final not ending until June 4 2023.

The Scottish League Cup kicks off on July 9 but Celtic – along with Rangers, Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell – will not enter the competition until the last 16 on August 30 and 31. The World Cup means the League Cup semi-finals and final are not until January 14-15 and February 26 2023 respectively.

Scottish Cup dates have yet to be confirmed but the Champions League group-stage draw takes place on August 25 with the competition proper kicking off on September 6 and 7.