Martin O'Neill was full of praise for his players

The Glasgow side clinched their 39th Scottish championship with a 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock.

And O'Neill said: "This is probably the sweetest of them all as we had to fight back from losing it to Rangers last season and losing the Uefa Cup final.

"I wish we had played better today, but we have won the championship and I'm delighted for everyone at the club."

Celtic secured the title without losing a single league game and are now 16 points clear of deposed champions Rangers.

Rangers won the title on the last day of the season on goal difference despite Celtic defeating Kilmarnock on the same Rugby Park pitch.

I hope the club do everything they can to keep Martin Celtic captain Paul Lambert

And Stilian Petrov, who scored the vital winner this time round, said: "We wanted to put it right after last season and everyone has worked very hard this season."

Club captain Paul Lambert hoped the Celtic board could prevent another club poaching their manager.

"I hope the club do everything they can to keep him," said Lambert, who admitted that it was a particularly emotional occasion for him as he was nearing the end of his career.

"Every club needs a leader, although he himself would say he is only as good as the players and they have all done him a turn."

Assistant manager John Roberston also praised O'Neill.

"He has a gift for making players work hard for him and every bunch of players he has had have done that for him," he said.

Henrik Larsson is leaving Celtic Park after seven years in Glasgow and said he was determined to enjoy the celebrations.

"It's just a pity we could not do it at Parkhead, where more people could have joined in," he said.