UPDATE 3-Soccer-Celtic clinch title after 1-0 win at Dundee Utd
(adds Smith quotes in paras 12-13)
GLASGOW, May 22 (Reuters) - Celtic completed a remarkable recovery to win the Scottish Premier League title for the third season in a row after a 1-0 win at Dundee United on Thursday.
They finished three points clear of Rangers, who lost 2-0 at Aberdeen and had substitute Nacho Novo sent off, having trailed their Glasgow arch-rivals by seven points only last month.
Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed the 72nd minute winner on a dramatic last day of the season to secure their 42nd title in 120 years with 89 points from 38 games.
League Cup winners Rangers were bidding for a quadruple just over a week ago but after a 2-0 defeat by Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final on May 14 their punishing schedule caught up with them allowing Celtic to snatch the title.
Gordon Strachan became the first Celtic manager since Jock Stein in 1974 to win three championships in succession.
"We had a challenge and we accepted it and we got on with it without complaining and I really do believe that this is one of the most satisfying nights of my life," Strachan told the BBC.
"Not (just) for me really, but for the players who have come under a lot of pressure during the season." Continued...
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