Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic Legacy: Hits, Misses, and the Curious Cases of McCarthy and Ralston
Ange Postecoglou enjoyed a remarkable two-year spell at Celtic, where he delivered major silverware and left an enduring mark before heading to England. The Australian tactician secured the Premiership title in both seasons and capped off his time in Glasgow with a domestic treble in his final year.
A major factor behind Postecoglou’s success was his strong recruitment record. The signings of key figures like Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi, Joe Hart, and Cameron Carter-Vickers proved pivotal. Among these, Jota stood out as perhaps the most successful acquisition, joining permanently for £6.5m after an impressive loan spell. His value skyrocketed, with Celtic selling him to Saudi club Al Ittihad for a reported £25m before he returned to Europe with Rennes and then rejoined in January for £8m.
However, not every Postecoglou signing turned out to be a triumph. One of the more puzzling transfers was that of James McCarthy, who arrived on a free from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021 alongside Joe Hart.
The Enigma of James McCarthy
When the double signing of Hart and McCarthy was announced, Postecoglou expressed optimism, praising their experience and expected impact. Hart delivered, keeping 64 clean sheets in 153 matches over three seasons and consistently proving his worth.
McCarthy, on the other hand, struggled from the outset. He featured in 22 matches during the 2021/22 campaign, totaling just 739 minutes. The following season, he made just five appearances, playing only 62 minutes due to injury issues.
Since then, the Irish midfielder has vanished from the first-team picture. He hasn’t played a senior game since the 2022/23 season, and has only appeared twice for the B team in the Lowland League. Reports from *The Scottish Sun* earlier this year revealed his mysterious omission from the club website and team photos, despite no official announcement of his departure.
According to Salary Sport, McCarthy is still drawing a salary of £728,000 a year, with his contract reportedly running until the summer of 2025. The club has remained silent, leaving fans puzzled over a deal that continues to cost them significantly with no return on investment.
Ralston’s Disappearing Act Mirrors McCarthy’s
Now, another Celtic player is beginning to draw comparisons to McCarthy—right-back Anthony Ralston.
Ralston, according to Salary Sport, earns £14,000 per week—the same as McCarthy—putting him ahead of other regular contributors like Kasper Schmeichel (£13k), Nicolas Kuhn (£12k), Paulo Bernardo (£11k), and Luke McCowan (£8k).
This is despite Ralston’s limited involvement on the pitch this season, especially when contrasted with the form of Kuhn, who has notched an impressive 18 goals and 14 assists from the right flank. Schmeichel has also proven his value as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
While Ralston hasn’t reached the same level of invisibility as McCarthy, his high wages combined with minimal impact are beginning to raise similar concerns among supporters and pundits alike.
As Celtic look toward the summer transfer window, questions around high-earners who aren’t contributing on the pitch—like McCarthy and Ralston—are becoming increasingly urgent to address.
