Brendan Rodgers and Celtic FC have enjoyed a remarkable week, achieving significant victories both in domestic competitions and on the European stage. This past weekend, the Hoops dominated Aberdeen with a decisive 6-0 victory in the League Cup, following it up with an impressive 3-1 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League. Much of the spotlight has been on Celtic’s offensive strength, having scored nine goals in just a few days. However, the team’s defensive solidity deserves recognition, especially with new recruit Auston Trusty making a strong impact. Trusty’s “phenomenal” performance, praised by former player Chris Sutton, and the steadfast presence of Cameron Carter-Vickers have bolstered the team’s backline.
Carter-Vickers has long been a defensive pillar for Celtic, often hailed as the club’s best centre-half since Virgil van Dijk. Former Northern Ireland international Ryan McLaughlin recently highlighted how Carter-Vickers has reached a level that few have achieved since Van Dijk’s departure. Over the years, several centre-backs have attempted to fill Van Dijk’s shoes, with varying degrees of success. Following Van Dijk’s move to Southampton in 2015 and later to Liverpool, Celtic brought in defenders like Dedryck Boyata, Jozo Simunovic, and Kristoffer Ajer. While each added value, none could quite replicate Van Dijk’s influence on the pitch.
One player who briefly seemed capable of reaching Van Dijk’s level was Christopher Jullien, whose style and abilities were often compared to those of the Dutch star. Unfortunately, injuries kept Jullien from achieving a consistent run in the team. Before his arrival, Celtic had another promising defender in Filip Benkovic, who joined on loan from Leicester City in 2018. Despite making only 27 appearances, Benkovic left a lasting impression as a “complete modern centre-back.” He was widely praised, and his potential drew comparisons to Van Dijk, with former Celtic star Frank McAvennie predicting that Benkovic would reach the “very top.”
However, Benkovic’s career took an unfortunate turn following his brief but impactful season in Scotland. After returning to Leicester in 2019, he struggled to secure a place in the first team, making just two senior appearances. His career became marked by loan spells at clubs like Bristol City, Cardiff City, and OH Leuven, with limited playing time in each. Despite early promise, his career began to stall, and a potential return to Celtic in 2021 never materialized. He left Leicester on a free transfer in 2022, after initially joining for £13 million, marking a significant decline from his earlier prospects.
Benkovic’s subsequent move to Udinese offered hope of a revival, but it ultimately fell short. After brief stints on loan in Germany and Turkey, he found himself released by the Serie A club this summer, entering free agency at 27—an age when he should be reaching his peak. For a player who once shone at Dinamo Zagreb and later at Celtic, Benkovic’s journey has been challenging, with his early potential now a distant memory. Only time will tell if he can regain his footing and make a return to the level he once promised to reach.
