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Former Celtic captain and manager Billy McNeill dies aged 79

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Celtic legend Billy McNeill has passed away, aged 79.

Born in Bellshill in 1940, McNeill joined Celtic from junior side Blantyre Victoria and made his debut on 23 August 1958.

McNeill led Celtic when they defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in 1967 to win the European Cup 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 also managed Clyde, Aberdeen, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

He was awarded the MBE in November 1974. He had been inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, and was named Glasgow’s Sportsman of the Millennium in 1999. He won 29 caps for Scotland.

In 2002 he was voted Celtic’s greatest ever captain, and a member of Celtic’s greatest team, by the club’s fans.

In December 2015 Celtic installed a statue outside Celtic Park, created by sculptor John McKenna. The statue, in bronze on a granite base, shows McNeill holding aloft the European Cup, an iconic image in the club’s history.

McNeill had been suffering from dementia.

A statement from the family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father Billy McNeill. He passed away late last night (Monday, April 22) surrounded by his family and loved ones. He suffered from Dementia for a number of years and fought bravely to the end, showing the strength and fortitude he always has done throughout his life.

“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.”

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell paid tribute: “We have lost a great Celtic man with the passing of Billy McNeill, and I would first of all like to pass on my condolences on behalf of the club to Billy’s wife, Liz, their children, Susan, Paula, Libby, Carol and Martyn, and their grandchildren at this very sad time. Their loss is a deep and profound one, and I know that everyone, regardless of their football allegiance, will be sending their thoughts and prayers to Billy’s family.

“I also want to send my condolences to his football brothers, in particular, the Lisbon Lions, with whom he shared so many extraordinary triumphs with Celtic, but also to all the countless friends he made in football, people such as Mike Jackson, with whom he formed a lifelong friendship after the two of them were team-mates here in the late 1950s and early ‘60s.

“Billy McNeill was our greatest ever captain and one of the finest players ever to wear the famous green and white Hoops. His record as a player is extraordinary. He made 790 competitive appearances for Celtic – more than any other player in our history – and during that time he won nine league titles, seven Scottish Cups, six League Cups and, of course, the European Cup triumph in 1967.

“That remains the greatest moment in our club’s long and illustrious history, and the image of Billy holding aloft the trophy in the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon is an iconic one which is now immortalised in the stunning statue at the front of The Celtic Way.

“He also managed the club in two separate periods, winning a total of four league titles, three Scottish Cups and the League Cup. Among his many successes from the dugout are memorable triumphs such as the 1979 title win, when 10 men won the league and, of course, the Centenary Double success in 1988.

“He also become our first ever club ambassador in 2009, and there was no more fitting candidate to take up such a role than the man whom fans always knew and loved as Cesar.

“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.”

Celtic Chairman Ian Bankier, paying his own tribute to Billy McNeill: “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. They ensured that the name of Celtic will always be synonymous with an exciting brand of attacking, successful football.

“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.

“We all mourn his passing, we offer all our support to his family and we will be forever thankful for everything he did for our football club.”