Billy McNeill: Former Celtic captain & manager dies aged 79
- Published
A statue of Billy McNeill with the European Cup stands outside Celtic Park
Legendary former Celtic captain Billy McNeill - the first Briton to lift the European Cup - has died aged 79.
McNeill led Celtic when they beat Inter Milan 2-1 in 1967 and captained the club to nine successive titles, seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups.
In two spells as Celtic boss, he won four titles and four cups. He managed Clyde, Aberdeen, Manchester City and Aston Villa too.
McNeill had been living with dementia since 2010.
Celtic say he died on Monday night "surrounded by his family and loved ones".
A statement from the McNeill family said he "fought bravely to the end, showing the strength and fortitude he always has done throughout his life".
It added: "We would also like to note our love and appreciation to our mother, Liz, for the care, devotion and love she gave to our father throughout his illness. No one could have done any more.
"Whilst this is a very sad time for all the family and we know our privacy will be respected, our father always made time for the supporters so please tell his stories, sing his songs and help us celebrate his life."
Big goals in big games - McNeill the player
Born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, McNeill was initially farmed out by Celtic to junior side Blantyre Victoria before making his debut on 23 August 1958.
More than 800 appearances later, the Scottish Cup final win against Airdrie on 3 May 1975 was the imposing centre-back's farewell game.
Among his many career highs was scoring the winner in the 1965 Scottish Cup final, ending an eight-year trophy drought for Celtic. He also found the net in the 1969 and 1972 finals.
The European Cup final of 1967 was the pinnacle, coming in the same season Celtic won a domestic treble, but he was on the losing side three years later when Feyenoord beat Celtic in Milan after extra-time.
He was capped 29 times for Scotland.
More success at Celtic - McNeill the manager
McNeill briefly took charge of Clyde and Aberdeen before returning to Celtic to succeed Jock Stein - under whom he enjoyed his many successes - in 1978.
His first season came to a memorable conclusion, when Celtic's 10-men came from behind to beat Rangers on the final day of the campaign to win the title.
McNeill left for City in 1983, securing promotion to the English top flight in his second year, before joining Aston Villa in September 1986, with both sides ending up relegated that season.
His second spell as Celtic boss began impressively as he delivered a league and Scottish Cup double in the club's centenary season, 1987-88.
However, a four-year stint would yield just one more trophy, the 1989 Scottish Cup.
Seven years after leaving the dugout at Celtic, his last taste of management came at Hibernian in 1998, where he stood in for one game during a brief stint as director of football at Easter Road.
Watch: 'Billy was the top man; he'll never be forgotten'
Plaudits & politics - McNeill after football
McNeill, awarded the MBE in 1974, is in the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
He was voted Celtic's greatest captain in a 2002 fans' poll and the following year stood as a candidate, external for the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party in the Scottish Parliament election.
McNeill was given a Celtic ambassador role in 2009 and a statue of him lifting the European Cup was erected at Celtic Park in 2015.
"Celtic has been in my blood and a part of my life for so many years and to be recognised in this way, by the club I love, is truly humbling," he said at the time.
In May 2017, McNeill was able to attend an event at Glasgow City Chambers, to mark the 50th anniversary of Celtic's triumph over Inter Milan in Lisbon.