Skip to content

Celtic confirm plans for Billy McNeill tribute

Billy McNeill's association with Celtic lasted more than six decades
Image: Billy McNeill's association with Celtic lasted more than six decades

Celtic have confirmed plans to pay tribute to former captain and manager Billy McNeill during their remaining fixtures this season.

McNeill, who passed away at the age of 79 on Monday, will be honoured before and during Celtic's Scottish Premiership meeting with Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Further tributes will be paid when Celtic take on Hearts in their final fixture of the season in the Scottish Cup final against Hearts at Hampden Park.

Billy McNeill is immortalised in bronze outside Celtic Park
Image: Billy McNeill is immortalised in bronze outside Celtic Park

McNeill captained Celtic's famous 'Lisbon Lions' to the European Cup in 1967, before completing a haul of more than 30 trophies as player and manager.

Prior to Saturday's early kick-off at Celtic Park, the club's first-team squad will lay a wreath on Celtic Way, with a minute's applause to be held before kick-off in the stadium.

Members of McNeill's family, some of whom will be present at the game, preferred applause to silence.

"We do not believe football stadiums were ever built to be silent. Our father would not have wanted that. They should be places of noise, passion and enjoyment," a McNeill family statement said.

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.

"Football was his life and Celtic Park was a very large part of that. So please celebrate his life with a moment of cheers, songs and applause because that would make him feel at home again."

The players will wear special black armbands bearing the number five that McNeill wore as a player, while there will also be video tributes within the stadium.

For the Scottish Cup final on May 25, the same date on which McNeill led Celtic to the European Cup in 1967, all of the first team will wear the number five on their shorts during their encounter with Hearts.

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.

Around Sky