In 1981 it was Tommy Burns. In 2008 it was Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. In 2022 it was Giorgos Giakoumakis.

That it happened to be the Greek striker who added his name to Celtic’s very own Tannadice roll of honour was quite fitting.

Giakoumakis, like Celtic, started this season slowly. Giakoumakis, like Celtic, has also proved to be pretty unstoppable since clicking into gear.

The Greek now has 15 goals in 1,541 minutes of action this season. That's a goal every 103 minutes – or, to put it another way, his 15 strikes have come in the minutes equivalent of a little over 17 games.

Within that, six of his 11 league goals have either put Celtic ahead or drew them level. His perfect hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Dundee and his three-goal-one-assist performance in the 4-0 dismantling of Ross County would ordinarily be the moments he is remembered for; now, like Burns and Vennegoor of Hesselink, he has that Tannadice title-clinching goal as well.

The match itself was something of a slog. In stark contrast to the party atmosphere in the stands, the highly-structured and disciplined hosts made a decent attempt at suffocating the champions in the first half before both scoring and hitting the woodwork (twice) in the second.

Giakoumakis's headed finish gave Celtic the point they needed though – both proving himself spot on in his mid-season assertions and stretching the team's lengthy unbeaten league run to 31 games in the process.

Just netting the decisive goal is impressive enough but putting it into context makes it even more so. Burns' Tayside clincher gave the Hoops a third title in five years. Vennegoor of Hesselink's gave them a third in a row. Giakoumakis's made sure it was a 10th in 11 seasons; but more than that, it put the seal on the club's restoration and completed the consecration of Ange Postecoglou in his first year in the job.

The now well-worn point that Celtic were sixth after seven games (they were actually there after eight, too) following three early defeats still holds water due to the manner in which the Greek-Australian has since led them on a remarkable run of domestic form which included picking up the League Cup as well as the Premiership trophy along the way.

READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Giorgos Giakoumakis goal seals 52nd league title

Accompanying that acknowledgement you will usually find words such as 'miracle', 'fairytale' or 'unbelievable'. The truth is there is nothing miraculous about this title win, this group of players or this manager. This title win is down to two things: hard work and belief. To label it miraculous or unbelievable or the stuff of fairytales is to tacitly undermine just how much has gone into making it possible.

How else do you explain a points tally better than any Celtic side since Brendan Rodgers' Invincibles? Or the club's longest league unbeaten streak since, well, Brendan Rodgers' Invincibles?

"It’s fair to say it’s taken every ounce of me," Postecoglou said after the match. "I’ve put everything into it because I knew how big a challenge it was. Now we’ve done it the overriding emotion is one of relief and satisfaction. You feel drained because we’ve had to be really focused this year and not get distracted.

"To play in this city it’s very easy to get distracted by other teams and issues. There’s a potential to take you away from what’s important and we’ve been concentrating so hard.

"We’ve shown resilience, character and a strong mentality to overcome obstacles. Those things you can only learn by going through it. Now the pleasing thing is this group getting rewards."

Traditionally in Postecoglou’s career, the second season brings with it a peak. It was thus at Brisbane Roar with his record-breaking unbeaten run, at Yokohama F Marinos with the J1 League championship and with Australia, where he won the Asia Cup a year after a World Cup campaign. With that in mind, it’s fair to say the rewards for this Celtic side have probably only just begun.

In 1981 it was Billy McNeill. In 2008 it was Gordon Strachan. In 2022 it was Ange Postecoglou. You get the feeling, like the others, that this title win won't be all he's remembered for.