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HERE ARE PICS AND PROFILES OF CELTIC'S GREATEST STARTING 11.
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Jock Stein (Manager)
Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, Celtic rose again to triumph in the late 60s - and their wings were Jock Stein. During his 13 years at Celtic, Stein helped the club to twenty-five domestic titles and European trophies. Many say he was the greatest British manager ever.
Stein was described by one journalist as "a Protestant chieftain emerging from a Catholic stronghold to win great battles and memorable glories for the grand old club,' regaining for Celtic supporters 'a paradise they must have once thought lost forever.'
His own football playing days were ended by an ankle injury but he went on to exert considerable influence at Celtic in the late 50s as a coach and scout.
Under Stein, the Celts dominated Scottish football, winning nine consecutive League Championships -so far the only time this has been done in Scotland. They also won the Scottish Cup seven times, but perhaps their biggest achievement was winning the European Cup in May 1967. Goals by Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers took them to a 2-1 victory over InterMilan and Celtic became the first British side to win the European Cup. No other Scottish side have even reached the final.
Failures were few and far between but losing the European Cup Final in Milan to Feyenoord, in May 1970, was probably the biggest dent Celtic's pride suffered during Stein's reign.
However, the old magic continued to shine when he returned after a year-long convalescence and he enjoyed one last season of success as Celtic took the first ever Premier flag and the Scottish Cup.
In 1977-78, injuries to Conn and Stanton and the transfer of Dalglish to Liverpool, put paid to hopes of bringing the European Cup back to Celtic Park and Stein bowed out amid rumours that his relationship with the Celtic directors had seriously declined.
After a short time with Leeds United, he took over the job as Scotland manager. On September 10th 1985, Scotland played a World Cup qualifying match in Cardiff, against Wales. As the final whistle sounded, and Scotland celebrated their 1-0 victory and a place in the World Cup finals, Stein collapsed and died.
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Ronnie Simpson (Goalkeeper)
Two days before the Scottish league title decider of May 1967, Celtic 'keeper Ronnie Simpson had become only the second ever Celtic player to be named Scottish Footballer of the Year.
At 36-years of age, the player whose career had been resurrected by Jock Stein was almost the antithesis to those players he would face just weeks later in the European Cup final in Lisbon.
Inter Milan were the most expensively assembled team the game of soccer had known, including in their ranks Spain's Luis Suarez, a 214,000 pound capture from Barcelona in 1961.
How ironic then that it would be 'old man' Simpson rather than Inter Milan's 'boys about town' who would have cause to celebrate in the Portuguese capital that balmy summer's evening.
Ronnie Simpson defied the sceptics to succeed in becoming one of the very few Scots to get their hands on a European trophy and to this day he like the rest of the Lisbon Lions is revered by Celts the world over.
Like most of the Lisbon Lions heroes, Ronnie Simpson - the son of a former Rangers player - owed a lot to Celtic boss Jock Stein.
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Tommy Gemmell (Left Back)
During his prime, Tommy was rated as one of the best full-backs in the world and his adventurous, crowd-pleasing yet wholly dependable displays for the Celts earned him great kudos from team-mates, opponents and fans alike.
A real favourite of the Celtic faithful, Tommy was one of the characters of the side which lifted the European Cup in '67 and his value on the field of play was fairly complemented by the enthusiasm and morale-generating abilities he brought to the dressing-room.
A player blessed with a lethal strike, his equalising goal against Inter Milan in Lisbon was just one of many thunderbolts in unleashed in the cause of the hoops. Of course, his expertise from dead ball situations, especially from penalty kicks, was another exceptional tool in his armoury. Was often ribbed because of his similarity to American comedian Danny Kaye.
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Billy McNeil (Central Defender)
Probably the best known and most recognised of the Lisbon Lions, the former Celtic captain and manager remains a steadfast and noted supporter of the football club.
McNeill was Jock Stein's voice and presence on the field and his leadership qualities plus his strength and commitment to the cause earned him the sobriquet, 'Caesar'.
The popular publican and media pundit enjoyed many great days with Celtic but none better than when he captained the side to European glory in Lisbon when he helped steer the hoops to a 2-1 victory over Italian aristocrats, Inter Milan.
After winning everything that could be won in the Scottish game, Billy graduated to management with Clyde and Aberdeen before earning further acclaim at Parkhead where he spent two stints during which time he helped lead the club to a famous league and cup double in its centenary year of 1988.
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Danny McGrain ( Right Back)
A colossus as captain of club and country, McGrain enjoyed a 20-year reign at the very top of Scottish football with all-conquering Celtic.
Injury robbed him of the chance to appear during the 1978 World Cup Finals, and he was sadly missed. An exceptional and versatile footballer - as well as a powerful and imposing figure.
McGrain was one of the Celtic "Quality Street Kids" of the late 1960's, growing up alongside the likes of Kenny Dalglish and Lou Macri.
He suffered from diabetes throughout his career. |
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Bertie Auld (Left Wing-Back)
A confident, irrepressible character on the Celtic teams of yore. A player imbued with a great degree of self-belief, Bertie had the knack of getting the best out of those around him and his tigerish, never-say-die spirit often inspired his colleagues when it mattered most.
He was the senior citizen of the team known as the Lisbon Lions having signed for Celtic as far back as 1955. Although he missed out on the famous 7-1 League Cup final victory over Rangers two years later, his maturity and ball-winning capabilities were to make him an automatic selection on the Celtic team, especially on his second stint to the club after a four year spell with Birmingham.
His influence on the left side of midfield was enormous and his performance against Inter Milan in Lisbon in '67 was thought to have been one of the best ever seen by a midfielder at that level.
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Bobby Murdoch (Right Wing-Back)
One of the most consummate footballers of his generation. A right-half without peers during his hey days of the sixties as he eased Celtic fans over the pain of seeing Pat Crerand move to Old Trafford in 1963.
A powerful engine inside the body of the Lisbon Lions, his was a brillant talent which was as underrated as it was majestic. His midfield mastery was one of the features of Celtic's great European experiences of 1967 and subsequent years. His vision, skill and power were the equal of all the greats of the European game at that time.
Murdoch joined Celtic as a promising 15-year old but even his most ardent admirers could scarcely have predicted just how much influence he would go on to yield on Jock Stein's premier X1. His untimely departure to Middleboro in September 1973 after 184 appearances and 105 goals failed to dim Celtic fans' respect and admiration for him.
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Paul McStay (Center Midfielder)
Paul McStay was born into Celtic tradition. His great-great-uncles Willie and Jimmy McStay played for the club in its formative years while his brothers Willie and Raymond have both been on the playing staff at Parkhead. He said himself: "Like many Celtic fans, I feel as though the great players I have watched and heard about are like members of an extended family: the Celtic family.
" He signed for Celtic in 1981 at the age of 17 and gained a regular place in midfield the following season. In 1990 McStay became the Celtic skipper when Roy Aitken moved to Newcastle United. He led the side from then until he retired in 1997 through injury at the age of 32.
A one-club player throughout his illustrious career, Paul showed his love and deep attachment to Celtic by eschewing the advances of Italian, Spanish and English clubs to remain in Glasgow. McStay's flair coupled with a great ability to read the game, made him one of the most creative players of his time in football. The fact that he represented his country at all levels shows how much his talent was valued.
A member of the international squad for the World Cup in both 1986 and 1990, McStay is arguably the most gifted player to play at Parkhead in recent years and the most capped Scottish player in the club's history with 76 caps. |
Bobby Lennox (Left Attacking-Mid)
Jock Stein was in his element shortly after Celtic lifted the European Cup in 1967 when he said that the only thing the club hadn't won that year was the Derby. He promptly suggested to all and sundry around him that Bobby Lennox would have cantered home in that one if he'd been allowed enter the race. Such was the respect the boss had for the ace attacker.
Bobby Lennox was a mainstay of the Celtic teams under Stein and his influence on the team from 1964/65 onwards cannot be overstated.
Played through the middle more often than not, Lennox's pace and finishing power terrorised defences so much and so often that he ended his career as the highest post-war league goalscorer in the history of the club with a total of 268 goals.
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Jimmy Johnstone (Right Attacking-Mid)
Few players have thrilled and excited so many Celtic fans as wee Jimmy Johnstone did during his 13 year spell at Parkhead.
Quite simply, 'Jinky' was a magician with the ball at his feet and his mazy runs and slide-rule passes to his Wallace and Lennox sunk many opponents without trace.
Tiny in stature but the personification of bravery and tenacity, the classy, fiery winger epitomised the adventurous, positive nature of the teams which played under Jock Stein.
Scotland's equivalent of Stanley Matthews, Johnstone signed for Celtic in 1961 and cut his teeth at the club under the tutelage of then manager Jimmy McGrory but suffered an inauspicious debut, featuring on the Celtic team which went down 0-6 away to Kilmarnock.
His ability to get past his marker and make the 'extra' man en route to goal opened the way for the likes of Bobby Lennox and Willie Wallace to bag a lot of their goals. His paltry tally of 23 caps for Scotland and his failure to grace a World Cup finals were the only blots on an otherwise wonderful career.
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Henrik Larsson (Striker)
Henrik Larsson, the striker hailed as 'the king of kings' by Celtic supporters, needs no introduction. As one of the most prolific strikers in Europe, the Swede has won a plethora of personal accolades including the Golden Shoe award in 2001 when his total of 53 goals made him the first Scandinavian to win the award which put a staggering 14 million pound price tag on the super Swede.
A deadly striker, Larsson nevertheless is a tireless and enthusiastic worker whose overall contribution to the team cannot be underestimated. Quite how O'Neill will replace him when he bids farewell in the summer of 2004 remains to be seen but, regardless, Larsson will depart guaranteed a place at the top table of Celtic legends |
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Kenny Dalgleish (Striker)
Celtic fans were still luxuriating in the success brought about by the Lisbon Lions' achievement in winning the European Cup when a 16-year old staunch Rangers supporter called Kenny Dalglish signed professional forms in July of 1967. Less than a year earlier, Bill Shankly had passed up the opportunity to sign the Dalmarnock teenager. Liverpool's loss would be Celtic's gain - for a ten-year spell anyway.
One of the most revered players in the history of Celtic Football Club, Dalglish was, by his own admission, a reluctant recruit to the green and white cause. Raised in the Docklands district of Glasgow - just a lengthy kick of the ball away from Ibrox - the young Dalglish worshipped the Gers. Thus one can only imagine the powers of persuasion which Sean Fallon, the then Assistant Manager of Celtic, employed to convince Dalglish to don the hoops.
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