Sir Rod Stewart is celebrating his 80th birthday today and as well as his music, over his eight decades, the icon is best known for his blonde barnet, his whacky sense of fashion and most of all, his love of Celtic Football Club.
More often that not, the Baby Jane singer can be seen donning green and white clobber and also includes his love for the Hoops whilst performing on stage.
He even kicked off his birthday celebrations early by rounding up his family and dressing up in Celtic gear on a yacht in the Caribbean.
And to honour Rod on his big birthday, we take a look at his love affair with the Scottish club over the years…
Introduction to football
Rod was first introduced to football by his Scottish father Robert Stewart.
Even though his dad was a Hibs fan, he introduced his youngest son to the Scottish game and Rod opted to cheer on a different green and white…Celtic Football Club.
On his last album, the song Touchline was dedicated to his late father.
Speaking about the tribute to his father, he said: “If you know anything about me you know that our dad’s love of football has most definitely left its impact on me and my brothers and I’m delighted that it’s now such an important part of my children’s lives as well.”
He added: “The song Touchline was my tribute to him and I’m so happy and moved that the new video takes that to the ultimate level just in time for Father’s Day.
The track and video are a heartfelt dedication to Leith-born Robert, with Rod describing him as “a Scotsman and plumber by trade” in the lyrics.
Throughout the track, he speaks beautifully of his father’s love for football, his eventual passing and watching over him and his family forever.
In Touchline, Rod sings: “Now it’s my time on the side in the rain and watch my boys play the beautiful game.
“And sometimes, sometimes I look up to the clouds and I say ‘Dad I hope you’re looking down, cause if it wasn’t for you, all this might not have been.’”
Celtic on the stage
Any Rod Stewart fan will know that the rocker always loves to somehow incorporate Celtic into his performances and even has his band’s drum emblazoned with a Hoops crest.
He even paid tribute to his beloved team on his new album by releasing a special Hoops themed vinyl edition.
Rod, who has re-issued four of his mid-Seventies albums as part of a vinyl box set, included an extra LP filled with rare and unreleased studio outtakes from the era.
Whilst the covers of the other four records in the pack feature old photographs of the star, the fifth vinyl inclusion boasts a green and white cover sleeve and inside the record Celtic fans will be delighted to see a Celtic badge in the central label.
A wardrobe fit for a Celt
The 80-year-old has always been known for his fun sense of fashion featuring tartan and leopard print but he often hints at his love of the Hoops with his choice of clothing and accessories.
Sir Rod previously showed off his special Celtic logo socks as he donned his strip, scarf, alongside sons Alastair and Aiden Stewart and daughter Renee who were also clad in green and white to cheer on the Celts.
Rod wrote on his Instagram: “Celtic forever.”
Renee posted a video of her dad walking in his special socks and wrote: “You know Celtic is about to play a game when dad has these socks on.”
When it comes to clothes, Rod is often spotted in a full white Celtic tracksuit and strip along with a huge gold chain with the word ‘Celtic’ and a gold shamrock.
Permanently, Celtic!
In 2023, Rod marked the end of his tour by getting a Hoops tattoo.
The singer posted a snap of his new tattoo on Instagram, writing: “Getting a ‘Glasgow Celtic’ tattoo in Auckland to celebrate my beloved team ‘You’re in My Heart”, with wife Penny Lancaster commenting: “Amazing celebration to end a great Australian/New Zealand tour” alongside a shamrock emoji.
The tattoo picture shows the words ‘Glasgow Celtic’ on Rod’s arm surrounded by another ink as the Maggie May singer posed in a white vest and Celtic accessories including a gold chain and a shamrock.
It’s a family thing
Rod has passed his love for Celtic on to his children. The Stewart clan often travel to Glasgow in a private jet to cheer on the Hoops at Celtic Park.
The rocker is also known to stick around Glasgow after the games, recently visiting the Anchor Line restaurant for a meal after cheering on his team.
Last year after watching a 2-1 victory over Rangers, Rod and his son Alastair celebrated in style as the teen shared videos of the celebrations in Glasgow‘s Murphy’s Irish bar on his Instagram.
The Maggie May singer was spotted belting out the infamous tune along with fans and putting his hands in the air as he wrapped a Celtic scarf around him.
And even the littlest of the Stewart clan is a Celtic fan as when it was announced that Rod was set to become a grandfather again as his son Liam and his partner Nicole were expecting, the couple vowed that their son would follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps and support the Glasgow side.
The pair began collating a Celtic-themed wardrobe for the tot, after picking up some baby clothes in the Celtic Superstore during a visit to Celtic Park.
And of course as soon as Louie Mark Roderick Stewart was born in 2023, he was wearing a Celtic strip straight away in a photo shared by Liam on Instagram
Gifts to the manager
Back when Celtic was managed by Australian Ange Postecoglou, Rod admitted that he sent Ange a special gift every time his team defeated rivals Rangers.
During an interview in November 2022, he was asked during an interview: “You’re probably Celtic’s best known supporter and there is currently an Aussie in charge of your team… have you met Ange Postecoglou and how do you think he’s doing?”
As Rod laughed, saying he’s a ‘lovely fella’, he added: “Are you kidding? I know Ange and his wife. I always see his wife in the director’s box when I go up there to see Celtic.”
He went on to say that he sends him a special gift when they beat their rivals. He said: “Every time Ange beats Rangers, I send him a crate of Australian wine – I think it’s twice now. And if they beat them again I will send him another crate of Australian wine.”
That Rangers photo
The infamous picture of the Celtic mad rocker is often talked about but in fact, it was all for a good cause.
Rod donned a full Gers kit for the memorable 1976 charity clash, which also boasted Old Firm legends Jim Baxter and Billy McNeill.
Organised by local legend Johnny Hubbard, the team list featured England World Cup winners Bobby Charlton and Gordon Banks and Billy McNeill, Jim Baxter and John Greig for Scotland.
As a last-minute stand-in, George McLean, of Ayr, was replaced by Rod Stewart, who had to be smuggled in a side entrance in a plumber’s van.
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