Craig Beattie (b. January 16, 1984) is a football (soccer) player who plays for Celtic F.C. in Glasgow, Scotland.
The pacey and direct striker announced his arrival on the first team stage during Celtic’s pre-season visit to Sweden, having previously caught the eye at youth and under-21 level. He was a schoolboy player at arch rival Rangers F.C., the team he supported in his youth, but was released by then manager Dick Advocaat and followed the path of other notable “boyhood Bears” Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain by joining Celtic.
Already, Beattie has featured in numerous high-profile matches – most notably against FC Barcelona in the UEFA Cup – and big things are expected from him in future years. After scoring four goals near the end of the 2004-2005 football season he started the 2005-2006 season by becoming the first Scot since Gerry Creaney to score in three consecutive games for Celtic. He netted seven goals in the first three months of the season but an injury suffered against Dundee United forced him out for the remainder of the season. Beattie was a prolific goalscorer throughout his underage Celtic career. During an under 19 pre-season friendly against prominent Irish side Derry City F.C, Beattie scored all 6 goals in a 6-0 win. Afterwards, Brandywell youth coach James O’Kane said the youngster’s pace, guile and finishing prowess had “simultaneously made and ruined my day”. Beattie recently returned to first-team duty at Celtic Park and could be the answer to Gordon Strachan’s strikers’ goal drought.
Beattie has also played with the Scotland international team, having attained two caps as of December 2005.