Billy McNeill

Celtic's legendary captain and manager, the Lisbon Lion who lifted the European Cup.

William McNeill (2 March 1940 – 22 April 2019) was a Scottish football player and manager. He had a long association with Celtic, spanning more than sixty years as a player, manager and club ambassador. McNeill captained Celtic's 'Lisbon Lions' to their European Cup victory in 1967 and later spent two spells as the club's manager. As a player and manager, he won 31 major trophies with Celtic.

Quick Facts

Full name: William McNeill
Born: 2 March 1940
Birthplace: Mossend, Scotland
Died: 22 April 2019
Place of death: Newton Mearns, Scotland
Position: Defender

Lore & Background

A defender, McNeill played for Celtic for his entire senior career, and holds the club record for most appearances, a total of 822 games over 18 seasons. He was captain during their most successful era in the 1960s and 70s. The club won nine consecutive Scottish league championships and thirteen other major domestic trophies in this time, and in 1967 became the first British club to win the European Cup. He also played 29 times for Scotland. McNeill managed Celtic for nine seasons, from 1978 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991, winning four Scottish league championships. This included a league and cup double in 1987–88, the club's centenary season. He also managed Clyde, Aberdeen, Manchester City and Aston Villa. In 2015, Celtic installed a statue outside Celtic Park of McNeill holding aloft the European Cup.

Reader's Guide

McNeill was signed by Celtic for £250 in 1957. He was given the nickname Cesar after the actor Cesar Romero. In the 1965 Scottish Cup final, Celtic defeated Dunfermline 3–2, with McNeill scoring the winning goal. In that season he was named Scottish Footballer of the Year.

As captain, he led Celtic to nine consecutive Scottish League championships, seven Scottish Cups and six Scottish League Cups. In 1966–67, Celtic won every competition they entered, including the European Cup. McNeill was the first British footballer to lift the trophy. He retired as a player in 1975, having made a club record 822 appearances.

As manager, he won three League championships in his first spell (1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82), the Scottish Cup in 1979–80 and the League Cup in 1982–83. In his second spell, he won the League Championship and Scottish Cup double in 1987–88, and the Scottish Cup in 1988–89. He was sacked by Celtic on 22 May 1991.