€117 million market value disparity
It was a disastrous night in the celebrated history of Celtic as they failed to qualify for the Champions League following a humiliating defeat to Kairat Almaty. The Kazakhstan team pulled off a stunning upset, triumphing 3-2 on penalties after both matches ended in a 0-0 draw. This is undeniably the worst result in Celtic’s history and comes with significant financial repercussions, as the club’s management misses out on a €40 million Champions League bonus.
The aftermath has already begun in Glasgow, with Celtic fans expressing their outrage over the lack of summer signings, having invested only €3.53 million—far less than the 225 other clubs that have spent more during this transfer window. Manager Brendan Rodgers is also facing considerable criticism, as Celtic should have comfortably advanced against Kairat, especially given the disparity in squad value; Celtic’s squad is valued at €117 million more according to Transfermarkt. While the full extent of the shock from Celtic’s elimination is hard to gauge, it stands as the second-largest upset in Champions League history based on UEFA rankings.
The Most Shocking Champions League Eliminations Based on UEFA Rankings
Celtic is currently placed 57th in UEFA’s rankings, while Kairat Almaty sits in 244th place, resulting in a 187-spot gap between the two clubs—the second largest in the history of the Champions League (including qualifying rounds). As shown in the graphic below, Sheriff Tiraspol’s elimination by Iberia Tbilisi in 2019 holds the record for the largest differential, with a staggering 208 places between the teams based on UEFA rankings.
Kairat Almaty appears again on the top ten list after defeating Slovan Bratislava to secure their playoff match against Celtic. This marks the first time the Kazakhstan club has advanced to the Champions League group stage, and major European teams will have to make a long trek to Almaty, which is situated in Asia. Notably, Marseille is the only team from a top five league to feature in this list, having been knocked out by Panathinaikos in 2023.
