Celtic had another historic season in Scotland. The Hoops beat Rangers to the title and qualified for the Champions League yet again. Even with the departure of now-Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers, Neil Lennon kept Glasgow’s green and white on course and kept the Scottish Premiership trophy on the green side of Glasgow.
Celtic’s final SPL game on Sunday, however, was a glimpse of its future. Having already wrapped up the title, Neil Lennon elected to start with a youthful side, starting five players under the age of 22 against Hearts. A sixth player who was brought on at halftime was much younger.
Karamoko Dembele is just 16 years old, and he may well be the next superstar to grace the pitch at Celtic Park. Born in London but moving to Scotland when he was just a baby, Dembele is eligible to play for Ivory Coast, Scotland or England, and he’s represented the latter two countries at the youth level.
At Celtic, he began his career playing for the Hoops U-20s at 13. At 15, he signed his first professional contract with Celtic. Finally this year he was able to make it into the first team and play a few minutes.
At 5-3, his diminutive frame allows him a low center of gravity, and paired with lightning pace and dribbling ability, he will be a formidable opponent for any outside back.
At 13, Karamoko Dembele looked skilled enough to fit in at u17 or (after physical development) possibly even u19 level.
Now 16, he made his first team debut for Celtic today and looks comfortable among fully fledged pros. Certainly one to keep an eye on.pic.twitter.com/4Y8OpWJmmJ— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) May 19, 2019
When he came on against Hearts, he didn’t look a step out of place. He even collected an SPL winners medal at the trophy lifting ceremony.
Dembele is a player Celtic will want to hold onto for as long as it can, because sooner or later, the bigger clubs will be trying to pull him away.
Karamoko Dembele making an Arya Stark-style list of defenders he will destroy next year. pic.twitter.com/VjB57VyLNT
— Dominik Diamond (@DominikDiamond) May 19, 2019
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