Roy Aitken
The Bear: A commanding figure who captained Celtic through six Scottish Premier Division titles.
Robert Sime 'Roy' Aitken is a Scottish former football player who made over 480 league appearances for Celtic. He played as either a centre back or defensive midfielder and first captained the team in October 1977. Supporters nicknamed him The Bear due to his large frame and commanding presence.
- Role
- Midfielder / Defender
- Honours
- Scottish Premier Division (6), Scottish Cup (5), Scottish League Cup (Player & M
- Status
- Club Legend
- Affiliation
- Celtic FC
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Aitken signed for Celtic as a youngster at 16 and broke into the first team as a teenager. He was particularly noted for his contributions in the club's double-winning 1987–88 season. His playing career included stints at Newcastle United, St Mirren, and Aberdeen before he transitioned to management.
In Their Own Story
Aitken made the third-most appearances in Celtic's history. He captained Scotland at the 1990 World Cup and earned 57 international caps, scoring once. After his playing days, he managed Aberdeen from February 1995 until November 1997, leading them to a Scottish League Cup win in 1995–96.
Reader's Guide
Beyond Celtic, Aitken coached at Leeds United and Aston Villa, serving as caretaker manager for the latter in July 2006. He also held roles with the Scotland national team and Birmingham City before becoming Director of Football at Al-Ahli in Dubai.
Did You Know?
- Supporters nicknamed him 'The Bear' because of his large frame and commanding presence.
- He first captained Celtic in October 1977 while still a teenager.
- Aitken made the third-most appearances in Celtic's history with over 480 league games.
- He captained Scotland at the 1990 World Cup, leading them in 27 of his 57 international caps.
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