Billy McNeill

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

McNeill was signed by Celtic in 1957 for £250 after reserve coach Jock Stein spotted him playing for Scotland schoolboys. Nicknamed 'Cesar' after actor Cesar Romero, he spent eight years without a trophy before Stein became manager in 1965. In the 1965 Scottish Cup final, McNeill scored the winning goal against Dunfermline. His leadership defined Celtic's most successful era: nine consecutive league championships and thirteen other domestic trophies between the 1960s and 70s. The 1966–67 season saw the team win every competition entered, including a 2–1 victory over Inter Milan in the European Cup Final.

In Their Own Story

In the quarter-final of the 1966–67 European campaign, McNeill scored a characteristic last-minute header from a set piece to ensure progression against Vojvodina Novi Sad. He then captained the side to the final in Lisbon, defeating Inter Milan 2–1 to make history as the first British club to win the European Cup. Following another domestic treble in 1968–69, where his headed goal helped secure a 4–0 Scottish Cup Final win over Rangers, Celtic reached the 1970 European Cup final but lost to Feyenoord. McNeill retired as a player in 1975 having never been substituted.

Reader's Guide

McNeill managed Celtic for two spells (1978–1983 and 1987–1991), winning four league championships, including the centenary double of 1987–88. He also managed Clyde, Aberdeen, Manchester City, and Aston Villa. After leaving management in 1991, he returned to Celtic as an ambassador in 2009. In December 2015, a bronze statue of him holding the European Cup was installed outside Celtic Park. He received the MBE in 1974, was voted Celtic's greatest captain by fans in 2002, and received the 'One Club Award' from Athletic Bilbao in 2019.

Did You Know?

• McNeill scored the winning goal in the 1965 Scottish Cup Final and a crucial last-minute header to reach the 1967 European Cup quarter-finals.
• He holds the record for most appearances at Celtic with exactly 822 games over 18 seasons, never being substituted.
• McNeill is the only captain in history to win the fabled Quadruple and was the first British player to lift the European Cup.
• After retiring as a manager in 1991, he worked briefly as football development manager at Hibernian during the 1997–98 season while recovering from heart surgery.