Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has been pictured at the wedding of former teammate Moritz Jenz this week, showing the strong friendship they built over the years. The two played together at Celtic during the first half of the 2022/23 season, but their connection goes back even further.
O’Riley joined Celtic from MK Dons in January 2022. Jenz arrived in the summer, signing on loan from French side Lorient. They both became part of Ange Postecoglou’s squad and featured regularly during the early part of the season.
Jenz made a strong start in Glasgow, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 win over Ross County. He played as a centre-back while O’Riley worked in midfield, so they didn’t play in the same area of the pitch, but both were key parts of the team. They also played in big Champions League matches together, including games against Real Madrid and RB Leipzig.
Despite his solid start, Jenz left Celtic in January 2023. Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers had become the first-choice defenders, limiting Jenz’s chances. As a result, his loan deal was cut short and he moved to German side Schalke for the rest of the season.
Before their time at Celtic, the pair had already played alongside each other at Fulham. Jenz moved to London from Germany as a teenager and joined Fulham’s academy. O’Riley was already there, having joined the club as a young boy. They played together in Fulham’s youth teams for several years, including the U18 Premier League and the FA Youth Cup.
In interviews, Jenz has said that O’Riley was one of his best friends in football. That bond was easy to see again this week, as O’Riley made the trip to celebrate Jenz’s wedding. Their friendship, built through football, has clearly lasted even as their careers have taken different paths.
The photo of O’Riley at Jenz’s wedding has reminded Celtic fans of their short time together at the club. While Jenz’s stay in Glasgow didn’t last long, the connection he and O’Riley shared went far beyond a few months on the pitch.
Some friendships in football don’t end when the final whistle blows. For O’Riley and Jenz, the link is as strong now as it was when they were young boys chasing a ball around at Fulham.
