Billy McNeill - a day of tributes to a football legend

Summary

Former Celtic player & manager Billy McNeill dies aged 79
He captained the club to a European Cup, nine successive titles, seven Scottish Cups & six League Cups
In two spells as manager, he won four titles and four cups
He also managed Clyde, Aberdeen, Man City & Aston Villa

Live Reporting

Clive Lindsay and Colin Moffat

'Tributes speak volumes' - First Ministerpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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Postpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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Tributes on BBC Radio Scotland from noonpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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Postpublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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'Every Celtic fan will be hurting'published at 11:27 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Former Celtic captain and assistant manager Murdo MacLeod, who played under Billy McNeill in his first stint as a Celtic manager, tells BBC 5 live: "Every Celtic fan will be hurting just now."
He adds: "When you’re a young boy and you’ve seen Billy McNeill lifting the European Cup, the first British person to lift it, and then he signs you for his team - Celtic - it is just wonderful.
"From day one and the first time you met him there was something about him. You felt taller, stronger. Whenever he was in charge of the Celtic team, going out, you always played for Billy McNeill. It was just a fabulous feeling."
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Thoughts from Villapublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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'A big thin boy with spindly legs'published at 11:18 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld has been remembering his old friend and team-mate.
"I was there when the boss signed Billy at 17 years of age and even then he had tremendous presence about him," he said.
"He was a big thin boy with spindly legs but he was majestic in the air, even at that age. He had a tremendous temperament for a centre-back. As the months went on, you could see he had this ability to be a leader. Despite being so young, he would give everybody his opinion and everyone respected him.
"I remember in Lisbon, him carrying the ball out onto the park in Portugal. His chest was out and his head was back. He knew we would win and that filtered through the rest of us. He was never arrogant or egotistical. He just believed in himself and the rest of us."
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Image caption,
Billy McNeill and Bertie Auld (right) recalling their European Cup triumph in 2014
Postpublished at 11:15 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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Scenes from Celtic Parkpublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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McNeill 'set the benchmark' at Celticpublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Some more from current Celtic captain Scott Brown, talking to the club website, external...
"All of the players at the club are deeply saddened to hear of Billy’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
"Billy set the benchmark as a Celtic player and captain, and that’s something everyone who pulls on the jersey has to aspire to.
"He and his team-mates created history with their success, both in Scotland and in Europe, and every successive Celtic team since then have always strived to emulate that."
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Image caption,
Scott Brown with the Scottish Cup last year
Postpublished at 11:04 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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Respect on and off the pitchpublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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Former Rangers captain and manager John Greig told the Ibrox club's website:, external “We were very good friends for many years and we had a great respect for each other both on and off the pitch.
“We were the captains of Rangers and Celtic in the past of course but, more recently, we received our honorary doctorates from Glasgow University on the same day which was a special occasion – so we had a lot in common.
“As a player I remember Billy was like an extra forward because of his aerial ability at set-pieces. He was also a leader and a commanding and respected figure in the Lisbon Lions team of the Sixties.
“He was a great man and at this sad time my thoughts are with Liz and her family.”
Rangers pay tribute to 'Celtic legend'published at 10:57 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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On the international stage...published at 10:52 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Billy McNeill was capped 29 times for Scotland, making his international debut in an eye-watering 9-3 defeat to England at Wembley in 1961.
His final appearance came at Hampden in 1972 and was an another loss to the Auld Enemy, 1-0 this time.
He scored three international goals - against Cyprus, Wales and Poland.
And yes the big defender did manage a couple of wins against England, in 1962 and 64.
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Postpublished at 10:43 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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McNeill will be celebrated by 'generations to come'published at 10:40 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Celtic chairman Ian Bankier said: “This is an extremely sad day for everyone connected with Celtic Football Club, and our thoughts are with Billy’s wife, Liz, and their family at this time.
"Billy’s career, as a Celtic player and manager, was incredible, and his achievements will continue to be celebrated by supporters for generations to come.
"He and his team-mates, led by the legendary Jock Stein, made history and became football legends themselves, achieving extraordinary success both here in Scotland and on the European stage.
"For those of us lucky to meet and get to know Billy over the years, having already known he was a great footballer, we realised that he was also a great man. His love for Celtic was evident, while his humility was always something to be admired."
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Postpublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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Captain, leader, legendpublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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Image caption,
Current Celtic captain Scott Brown shakes hands with Billy McNeill at his statue unveiling in 2015.
Postpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
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'A hero and a friend'published at 10:27 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has been remembering "a hero and a friend".
"I know that everyone, regardless of their football allegiance, will be sending their thoughts and prayers to Billy’s family," he told the club website., external
"Those of us who were lucky enough to see Billy play, particularly during that golden era under Jock Stein, appreciate we were truly privileged to have done so. There were so many gifted players at the club during that time, and their leader on the pitch and in the dressing-room was always Billy McNeill.
"It has also been one of the great privileges of my life that, over the years, I got to meet and know Billy, not just as a great Celt, but also as a great man and someone I was delighted to call a friend.
"It is often said that you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but with Billy, as with all the Lisbon Lions, meeting them has always been a wonderful experience. They have remained humble men, regardless of their incredible achievements as Celtic players.
"This is the saddest of days for the Celtic Family, and also for the wider football world. We mourn Billy McNeill’s passing and we send our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends, while we also give thanks for Billy’s life and the incredible joy he brought to so many people as a Celtic player, a Celtic manager and a great Celtic man."
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