Celtic have taken a cheeky pop at rivals Rangers by insisting the Sydney Super Cup has got 'bigger and better' following the conformation that Everton will take part.
The tournament sparked controversy last year when it was announced Rangers and the Hoops would collide Down Under in what is being described as Parkhead boss Ange Postecoglou's homecoming. Eventually the Light Blues were forced to pull out of the tournament under fan pressure with A-League duo Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC also set to participate.
Following Rangers' withdrawal the search for a replacement to take part in the November tournament has been ongoing with Frank Lampard's men now set to participate in the inaugural event which will take place once again in 2025 and 2027. The Hoops released a statement following the latest update.
It read: "The Sydney Super Cup just got bigger and better. Celtic will play Everton at Sydney's Accor Stadium on November 20, 2022.
"The Bhoys will also play Sydney FC on November 17 in one of the first major matches to take place at the brand new Allianz Stadium."
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A statement was also released on the Celtic official website.
It read : "Sydney will host an exciting match-up between English Premier League club Everton and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic as they kick off the newly created Sydney Super Cup. The England v Scotland football rivalry will be on full display as these two iconic clubs face off in Sydney on Sunday, November 20, 2022
"The match will be played at Sydney’s Accor Stadium and sees the return of Celtic Manager Ange Postecoglou to the venue of one of his most famous coaching wins, when Australia won the AFC Asian Cup in 2015. The clash against Frank Lampard’s Everton, brings two of UK football’s powerhouses to Sydney.
"Everton are one of English football’s oldest and longest-serving top flight clubs having competed in the highest division for a record 119 seasons. They are a club that is close to many Australian football fans’ hearts after the successful career of Socceroos legend Tim Cahill at Goodison Park."
The statement continued: "Everton will be led to Sydney by their manager Frank Lampard – one of the biggest names in world football in the last 20 years, having made over 600 English Premier League appearances and receiving over 100 caps for the England national team. Lampard will be taking charge of his first full season as the boss of the Blues.
"The Australian link with Celtic has recently become even stronger with Socceroos legend Harry Kewell joining Postecoglou’s coaching staff at Celtic for the upcoming season as they look to build on the success of Postecoglou’s first season in charge that saw Celtic claim both the Scottish Premiership title, and the Scottish League Cup. The Everton v Celtic clash will be part of a blockbuster three-match series that will also see Celtic take on Sydney FC on November 17 at the newly-opened Allianz Stadium.
"And Everton take on Western Sydney Wanderers on November 23 at CommBank Stadium. The series is part of the new Sydney Super Cup, an event designed to bring Europe’s top football teams to NSW.
"After the inaugural event this November, the Sydney Super Cup is confirmed to take place again in 2025 and 2027."
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