Bertie Auld
Lisbon Lion and Scottish international who captained the midfield that conquered Europe in 1967.
Robert Auld (23 March 1938 – 14 November 2021) was a Scottish footballer and manager, best known as a member of Celtic's Lisbon Lions who won the 1967 European Cup Final. Born in Maryhill, Glasgow, he began his career at Maryhill Harp before joining Celtic in March 1955. After being sold to Birmingham City in 1961, where he won a League Cup medal in 1963, he returned to Celtic in 1965. There, converted from winger to midfielder by Jock Stein, he formed a partnership with Bobby Murdoch and became integral to the team's nine league titles and European triumph. In the tunnel before the 1967 final against Internazionale, Auld led the singing of 'The Celtic Song'. He left Celtic in 1971 for Hibernian on a free transfer, eventually focusing solely on his role as a trainer.
- Role
- Midfielder
- Affiliation
- Celtic FC (Two spells), Birmingham City, Hibernian
- Era
- 1955–1971
- Key Achievement
- 1967 European Cup Winner
- Legacy Status
- Scottish Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2009)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Auld started at Celtic in March 1955, scoring his first goal four days after his debut. Initially a fullback converted to winger, his progress was hindered by poor discipline, leading to a loan at Dumbarton and a £15,000 sale to Birmingham City in 1961. With Birmingham, he reached the 1961 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final and won the League Cup in 1963. Returning to Celtic for £12,000 in 1965, he was repositioned as a midfielder alongside Bobby Murdoch. Before the 1967 European Cup Final against Internazionale, Auld instigated the team's rendition of 'The Celtic Song' in the tunnel. He made three appearances for Scotland in 1959, becoming the first player ever sent off for the national team.
In Their Own Story
After leaving Celtic in 1971 to join Hibernian on a free transfer, Auld combined playing with training duties before focusing entirely on management. His managerial career began in 1974 at Partick Thistle, where he stayed six seasons, winning the Scottish First Division title in 1975–76 and reaching multiple cup semi-finals. He managed Hibernian from 1980 to 1982, guiding them to promotion via the 1980–81 Scottish First Division. Following a year at Hamilton Academical, he returned briefly to Partick Thistle in 1986 and finished his managerial career with Dumbarton in 1988. In November 2009, he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
Reader's Guide
Auld's playing career spanned over 200 appearances for Celtic, Dumbarton, and Hibernian, plus more than 100 for Birmingham City in England. He earned three caps for Scotland between January and May 1959. Post-retirement, he ran 'The Buccaneer' pub in Hamilton and was a regular guest on Celtic TV in the early 21st century. During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, he supported the Better Together campaign. He died on 14 November 2021 at age 83.
Did You Know?
- Auld became the first player ever to be sent off for Scotland during his international debut against the Netherlands in 1959.
- Before the 1967 European Cup Final, Auld led the Celtic team in singing 'The Celtic Song' in the tunnel, much to the surprise of the Inter Milan players.
- He won a League Cup medal with Birmingham City in 1963 before returning to Celtic for £12,000 in 1965.
- Auld managed Partick Thistle for six seasons, winning their first-ever Scottish First Division title in 1975–76.
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