Liam Scales: From Peripheral Figure to Celtic’s Defensive Rock
How the Irishman’s Resurgence is Powering Celtic’s Push at Home and in Europe
As Brendan Rodgers prepares to lead Celtic into one of the club’s most important European nights of the season — a pivotal UEFA Europa League clash against Braga under the lights at Celtic Park — one name stands out among the list of expected starters: Liam Scales.
It’s a name that, just a year ago, many Celtic fans might not have expected to see in such a prominent role. Scales, the 25-year-old Irish defender from Wicklow, has undergone one of the most unexpected yet quietly remarkable transformations in recent Celtic memory. Once viewed as a fringe player at best and a loanee at worst, Scales has now cemented himself as a trusted and consistent presence at the heart of the defence — and his stock continues to rise with every passing game.
A Career on the Periphery
Scales arrived at Celtic in 2021 from Shamrock Rovers with a reputation as a technically gifted defender, versatile enough to operate as a left-back or centre-back, and experienced in Ireland’s top flight. But few would have predicted he’d carve out a long-term future at Parkhead. His early performances were sporadic, and with fierce competition for places, he soon found himself sent on loan to Aberdeen for the 2022–23 season — a move many interpreted as the beginning of the end of his Celtic career.
At Aberdeen, he was steady if unspectacular. While he clocked valuable game time, there was little to suggest he’d return to Celtic and seriously contend for a first-team spot. Yet football careers are often shaped not just by individual performance, but by timing, trust, and circumstance. And in Scales’ case, everything aligned just when it needed to.
The Opportunity Knocks
This season has seen Celtic hit by a string of defensive injuries. Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki, and summer signing Auston Trusty have all dealt with various fitness issues, leaving Rodgers with limited options across the backline. It was in this moment of uncertainty that Liam Scales got his chance — and he hasn’t looked back.
He has started 11 matches across all competitions so far this season, and during that stretch, Celtic have conceded just three goals. It’s a defensive record that would be impressive under any circumstances — but considering the fluid nature of the defensive personnel and the calibre of some of the opposition, it’s nothing short of outstanding.
Scales hasn’t just been part of that backline — he’s been central to its success. A composed figure in possession, a dominant aerial presence, and a quietly intelligent reader of the game, he has brought stability during a period when it was badly needed.
Rodgers’ Vote of Confidence
Brendan Rodgers, who has never been shy about demanding high standards from his players, has heaped praise on Scales’ performances. Speaking to Celtic TV, Rodgers was unequivocal:
“I think Liam Scales has been playing at a really, really high and consistent level.
He has been superb in the team, and he is someone who I can trust. I know what I am going to get in every single game from him every week.”
That emphasis on trust is key. For a manager like Rodgers — meticulous in his planning and systems — knowing what you’re going to get from a player every week is one of the most valuable qualities. For Scales to earn that trust, not through reputation or price tag, but through performances, speaks volumes.
A Tactical Asset
Scales’ value to Celtic isn’t just sentimental or symbolic. Tactically, he offers real utility.
At 6’2″, he gives Celtic added height at the back, crucial for defending set-pieces and dealing with physically imposing forwards. His left-footedness offers balance when deployed on the left side of a centre-back pairing — a detail often overlooked but essential in Rodgers’ buildup play. He’s also calm under pressure, and while not the most flamboyant passer, he rarely gives the ball away and is comfortable playing out from the back — a must in Celtic’s possession-heavy system.
Another underrated aspect of his game is his positional discipline. Scales doesn’t rely on pace or last-ditch tackles; instead, he positions himself smartly, reads the play well, and intercepts danger before it develops. These are the kinds of qualities that don’t always make highlight reels but win games.
The European Test: Braga Under the Lights
On Thursday night, Scales faces arguably his biggest test yet in a Celtic shirt — a Europa League fixture against Sporting Braga, a club renowned for its technical excellence and fluid attacking play. Braga will likely press high, dominate possession in spells, and look to exploit any defensive vulnerability.
It’s on nights like these that reputations are made or broken.
European football, especially in the knock-out or late group-stage phases, exposes defenders to a different tempo and variety of attacking threats than they face in the Scottish Premiership. The mental concentration required over 90 minutes is immense. Braga will probe for weaknesses — a misread cross, a poorly timed step up, a second too slow to track a runner.
But Scales has passed every test handed to him so far this season. If he delivers a composed, mistake-free performance against Braga — especially in front of 60,000 fans at a buzzing Celtic Park — it will mark a watershed moment in his career. It would be the night he stops being seen as the fill-in and becomes viewed as the fixture.
A Message to Ireland
This transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans of the Republic of Ireland either. The national team is in a transitional period following a disappointing Euro qualifying campaign, and calls have grown louder for a more in-form, merit-based squad selection.
Scales, who has just a handful of senior caps, could yet be a solution in Stephen Kenny’s (or his successor’s) rebuild. Regular European football, combined with strong domestic form, could force the FAI’s hand — particularly given the lack of depth and consistency among Ireland’s current crop of central defenders.
If Scales continues at this level, international call-ups will not be a reward — they’ll be a necessity.
Unsung No More
There’s something quintessentially Celtic about Liam Scales’ journey. A player written off by many, loaned out, rarely in the headlines — yet now, through perseverance and professionalism, has emerged as one of the most dependable players in the squad.
Celtic fans love their heroes to be relatable. Not every fan favourite has to be a marquee signing or a flair player. Sometimes, it’s the one who kept his head down, worked hard, improved steadily, and showed up when the team needed him most. In 2024–25, that player has been Liam Scales.
He may not be the loudest voice in the dressing room or the flashiest name on the teamsheet — but when Brendan Rodgers looks at his options for one of the club’s most important European nights of the season, Liam Scales’ name will be among the first on the list.
And rightly so.