Billy McNeill explained

Billy McNeill
MBE
Upright:1.1
Full Name:William McNeill[1]
Birth Date:1940 3, df=y
Birth Place:Mossend, Scotland
Death Place:Newton Mearns, Scotland
Position:Defender
Years1:–1957
Clubs1:Blantyre Victoria
Years2:1957–1975
Clubs2:Celtic
Caps2:486
Goals2:22
Nationalyears1:1960–1962[2]
Nationalteam1:Scotland U23
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1961[3]
Nationalteam2:SFA trial v SFL
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1961–1967
Nationalteam3:Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps3:9
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1961–1972
Nationalteam4:Scotland
Nationalcaps4:29
Nationalgoals4:3
Manageryears1:1977
Managerclubs1:Clyde
Manageryears2:1977–1978
Managerclubs2:Aberdeen
Manageryears3:1978–1983
Managerclubs3:Celtic
Manageryears4:1983–1986
Managerclubs4:Manchester City
Manageryears5:1986–1987
Managerclubs5:Aston Villa
Manageryears6:1987–1991
Managerclubs6:Celtic
Manageryears7:1998
Managerclubs7:Hibernian (caretaker)

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.

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, an iconic image in their history.

Early life

McNeill was born on 2 March 1940 in Bellshill, Lanarkshire. His father was a soldier in the Black Watch and later the Army Physical Training Corps. Aged nine, McNeill moved to Hereford in England where his father was posted, and stayed for two and a half years. Although he already liked football, he enjoyed playing rugby union in his time there.[4]

He moved to Motherwell and excelled playing football as centre-half at Our Lady's High School. His schoolboy performances led to him signing for the junior team Blantyre Victoria.[5]

Playing career

McNeill was signed by Celtic for £250 in 1957 after then reserve team coach Jock Stein saw him playing for Scotland schoolboys against England. He was given the nickname Cesar after the actor Cesar Romero.[6]

In his early career, Celtic endured some of their most difficult times, and did not win a trophy for eight years. After Stein became manager in 1965, however, the club's fortunes improved. 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, the first year it was awarded.[7]

With McNeill as captain, Celtic enjoyed their most successful period, dominating Scottish football and regularly competing in the latter stages of European competitions. They won nine Scottish League championships in a row, as well as seven Scottish Cups and six Scottish League Cups.[8]

Celtic's greatest season was in 1966–67, when they won every competition they entered; as well as a domestic treble and the Glasgow Cup, McNeill led the team to victory in the 1967 European Cup Final. The team, which became known as the 'Lisbon Lions,' defeated Inter Milan 2–1 and McNeill (whose last minute goal, a characteristic header from a set piece, had ensured progression against Vojvodina Novi Sad in the quarter-final) was the first British footballer to lift the trophy.[9] He also became the first player to captain his side to the European Treble, and remains the only captain to win the fabled Quadruple.[10] [11]

Following another domestic treble in 1968–69, in which another McNeill headed goal set his team on the way to a 4–0 win over Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final,[12] Celtic again reached the European Cup final in 1970, this time losing to Feyenoord.[13]

McNeill retired as a player in 1975, having made a club record 822 appearances for Celtic and never being substituted.[14] He won 29 caps for Scotland, scoring 3 goals, and also played 9 times for the Scottish League XI.[15]

Managerial career

After retiring as a player, McNeill began coaching Celtic Boys Club's under 16 team. He began his management career at Clyde in April 1977, before moving to Aberdeen two months later. McNeill recorded four wins, three draws from eight league matches and recorded a total of 11 out of a possible 16 points at Clyde. His last match in charge was a Glasgow Cup semi-final against Celtic, in which Celtic struck two late goals to win 4–2.[16]

Aberdeen

McNeill was appointed Aberdeen manager in June 1977, having been recommended by Jock Stein.[17] He succeeded Ally MacLeod.[18] In his one season in charge, 1977–78, McNeill led Aberdeen to runners-up finishes in the league and Scottish Cup, and enjoyed a positive working relationship with the club's chairman, Dick Donald. Their performance in the league was their best since 1972, and three places above Celtic. During his season with Aberdeen, McNeill signed Gordon Strachan, Steve Archibald and Neil Simpson.[18] When Stein retired as Celtic manager, he identified McNeill as his successor, and McNeill accepted the club's offer. He was succeeded at Aberdeen by Alex Ferguson.

Celtic

McNeill returned to a Celtic side who had finished in fifth place in 1977–78. He immediately improved the club's fortunes, as they won the league championship in 1978–79. Celtic clinched the title in their final match of the league season by beating Rangers 4–2, despite having had Johnny Doyle sent off.[19]

His five years in charge saw Celtic win three League championships, in 1978–79, 1980–81 and 1981–82, the Scottish Cup in 1979–80 and the League Cup in 1982–83. This period saw Celtic's greatest competition come from the New Firm clubs – Aberdeen, who won the League championship in 1979–80, and Dundee United, who won the title in 1982–83.[20]

McNeill is credited with developing young players for Celtic, such as Paul McStay and Charlie Nicholas, and making signings such as Murdo MacLeod and Davie Provan who became key players for the club through the 1980s. However, McNeill found working with Desmond White, Celtic's chairman, very difficult, and felt underpaid and underappreciated. Despite Celtic's successes, by 1983 he was being paid less than the managers of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Rangers and St Mirren. When White sold Nicholas to Arsenal, against McNeill's wishes, McNeill looked for the first available way out, and took up the offer to manage Manchester City.[17]

Manchester City and Aston Villa

On 30 June 1983 he moved to England to manage Manchester City. Two years before being appointed by City, he had been strongly linked with the manager's job at their city rivals Manchester United, when Ron Atkinson was appointed instead.[21] McNeill secured promotion for City after two seasons in charge (in 1984–85), and oversaw survival in their first season back in the First Division (1985–86).[22]

He started the 1986–87 season as manager of Manchester City, but quit in September 1986 to take charge of Aston Villa.[8] When Villa were relegated, after finishing bottom of the First Division in May 1987, McNeill stood down and was replaced by Graham Taylor.[23] Manchester City were also relegated that season.

Return to Celtic

He then returned to Celtic, and in his first season, 1987–88, the club won the League Championship and Scottish Cup double in their centenary year.[8] Celtic were renowned for scoring late goals that season, and in both the Cup semi-final and final scored late goals to come from behind and win 2–1. Celtic won the Scottish Cup in 1988–89, defeating Rangers 1–0 in the final.[24] [25]

The following two seasons were disappointing, and Celtic did not win a trophy. They lost the 1990 Scottish Cup Final to Aberdeen on penalties. Celtic's league performance was particularly poor; after finishing in third place in 1988–89, they managed only fifth in 1989–90 and third in 1990–91. This was the beginning of a period of poor results and increasing financial instability for Celtic, which continued until the club was taken over by Fergus McCann in 1994. McNeill was sacked by Celtic on 22 May 1991 after four seasons as manager, at the age of 51.[26] In two spells he won eight trophies as Celtic manager – four League championships, three Scottish Cups and one League Cup.[27]

After leaving Celtic he turned down several offers to return to management, including from Dundee, and worked in the media instead. He remained bitter about the manner of his departure from Celtic, until he was asked to become a club ambassador in 2009.[17]

Hibernian

McNeill had a brief spell as football development manager at Hibernian in the later part of the 1997–98 season.[28] He was brought in as a mentor to manager Jim Duffy,[28] as they unsuccessfully attempted to arrest a decline in fortunes at the club.[29] McNeill took charge of the team for one game after Duffy was sacked, even though he had been out of football since leaving Celtic in 1991 and was recovering from heart surgery.[30] He left Hibernian at the end of the 1997–98 season.[31]

Books

McNeill wrote three autobiographies:

Awards and recognition

McNeill was awarded the MBE in November 1974. In 2002 he was voted Celtic's greatest ever captain, and a member of Celtic's greatest team, by the club's fans.[32] He was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002[33] and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004.[34]

In December 2015 Celtic installed a statue at the entrance to the Celtic Way 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.[35]

In 2019, he was recognised with the "One Club Award" by Spanish club Athletic Bilbao for his achievements and loyalty to Celtic.[36] [37]

A short time after his death, the new sports pitch at his former school, Our Lady's High, was named in his honour.[38]

In 2019, the Billy McNeill Commemoration Committee was created in Bellshill, and campaigned to raise funds to build a bronze sculpture of McNeill at the pedestrian area of Bellshill Cross.[39] The statue was unveiled in November 2022.[40]

Personal life

McNeill's maternal grandparents were from Lithuania,[41] while his father was of Irish descent.[42] He was Catholic.[43] [44]

McNeill married Liz Callaghan, a dancer on the TV variety show The White Heather Club in 1963. They had five children.[22]

McNeill, along with former Rangers player Eric Caldow, stood as a candidate for the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party in the 2003 Scottish Parliament election.[45] In 2008, he was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow.[6]

During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum McNeill was a supporter of the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence.[46]

It was reported in February 2017 that McNeill was suffering from dementia and was very limited in his speech.[47] He died on 22 April 2019, aged 79.[48] [8]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[49]
ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupScottish League CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic1957–58Division One0000000000
1958–59170006000230
1959–60190706000320
1960–61311804000431
1961–62291606000411
1962–63281706010421
1963–64280406080460
1964–65220616020361
1965–662507010071491
1966–673306010291583
1967–68345101002031506
1968–69343739060566
1969–703155010290557
1970–713118110051543
1971–72343618070554
1972–733017110040512
1973–743005011070530
1974–75301409020451
Career total4862294713746933178937

NB These totals do not include appearances in the Glasgow Cup, which at the time was a senior trophy.[50]

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Scotland196160
196220
196330
196420
196561
196710
196820
196942
197230
Total293

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McNeill goal.

List of international goals scored by Billy McNeill[51]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 13 October 1965 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 1–0 1–2 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 3 May 1969 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales 1–0 5–3 1968–69 British Home Championship
3 17 May 1969 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 2–0 8–0 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification

Managerial statistics

TeamNatFromToRecord
width=40Gwidth=40Wwidth=40Dwidth=40Lwidth=50Win %
Clyde[52] April 1977June 1977
Aberdeen[53] June 1977August 1978
Celtic[54] August 1978May 1983
Manchester CityJune 1983September 1986
Aston VillaSeptember 1986May 1987
CelticMay 1987May 1991
Total

Honours

Player

Celtic[55] [56]

Scotland[57]

Manager

Celtic[54] [58]

Aberdeen[18]

runner-up 1977–78

runner-up 1977–78

Manchester City

Individual

See also

References

General sources
Specific citations

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/players/williammcneill.html Billy McNeill
  2. http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu23/player.php?playerid=68 Scotland U23 player McNeill, Billy
  3. Book: Scotland in the 60s: The Definitive Account of the Scottish National Football Side During the 1960s. Ronnie McDevitt. 2016. Pitch Publishing. 9781785312458.
  4. McNeill, B., 2014. Hail Cesar
  5. News: Billy McNeill: The ultimate one-club player who helped Celtic change the course of European football. Forsyth. Roddy. 23 April 2019. The Telegraph. 23 April 2019. en-GB. 0307-1235.
  6. News: Bhoy racer. The Herald . Herald & Times Group. "Billy's nickname is Cesar," the prof told the audience. "However, this doesn't come from any Roman connections, rather from a movie. In the original Ocean's 11, Cesar Romero drove the getaway car.. 29 November 2016.
  7. Web site: Scotland – Player of the Year . Alan . Brown . 6 December 2018 . . 23 April 2019.
  8. News: Billy McNeill: Former Celtic captain & manager dies aged 79 . BBC Sport . 23 April 2019 . 23 April 2019.
  9. News: Billy McNeill: The 'Luke Skywalker of his age' . Archie Macpherson . Archie Macpherson . BBC Sport . 18 December 2015 . 23 April 2019.
  10. Web site: 10 June 2023 . Who has won a treble, including domestic league and cup titles, plus the European Cup or UEFA Champions League? . 14 June 2023 . UEFA.
  11. Web site: Jensen . Neil Fredrik . 1 June 2022 . Celtic 1967 – the only quadruple winners . 14 June 2023 . Game of the People.
  12. https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/16163023.a-4-0-hampden-defeat-by-celtic-ended-sir-alex-fergusons-time-at-rangers-this-ibrox-teams-careers-are-on-the-line/ "A 4-0 Hampden defeat by Celtic ended Sir Alex Ferguson's time at Rangers - this Ibrox team's careers are on the line"
  13. Web site: European Competitions 1969-70 . James M. . Ross . 4 June 2015 . . 23 April 2019 .
  14. News: 'His career was incredible' … Billy McNeill was a winner as player and manager. Wilson. Paul. 23 April 2019. The Guardian. 23 April 2019. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  15. Web site: SFL player William McNeill. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 27 November 2011.
  16. News: Billy McNeill . Clyde FC . 23 April 2019 . 22 April 2020.
  17. Grant, Michael & Robertson, Rob. 2011 The Management: Scotland's Great Football Bosses
  18. Web site: In Memoriam: Billy McNeill . Aberdeen FC . 23 April 2019 . 23 April 2019.
  19. Web site: When 10 men won the league . Celtic FC . Joe . Sullivan . 21 May 2012 . 23 April 2019.
  20. News: The forgotten story of ... Dundee United's glory years under Jim McLean . Daniel . Harris . The Guardian . 19 April 2017 . 23 April 2019.
  21. Web site: McNeill – I'm so flattered . Alan . Davidson . Evening Times . 19 May 1981 . 32 . 23 April 2019.
  22. News: Billy McNeill obituary. The Guardian. 23 April 2019.
  23. Web site: Aston Villa's form under Alex McLeish as bad as that of the relegated squad under Billy McNeill. Dan. Heald. 25 April 2012. The Telegraph. 23 April 2019.
  24. News: Old Firm finals down the years . BBC Sport . 1 May 2002 . 23 April 2019.
  25. News: Tension and fear spoil show-piece . The Glasgow Herald . 22 May 1989 . 22 . James . Traynor . 23 April 2019.
  26. News: Obituary: Billy McNeill, legendary Celtic captain and manager . The Herald . 23 April 2019 . 26 November 2020.
  27. Web site: Alan McRae pays tribute to Billy McNeill . Scottish Football Association . 23 April 2019 . 23 April 2019.
  28. Web site: Billy McNeill . Hibernian FC . 23 April 2019 . 23 April 2019.
  29. News: Football: Millar two hot for Hibs . The Independent . 25 January 1998 .
  30. News: Football: Miller helps Miller to wind up Hibernian . The Independent . 8 February 1998 .
  31. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20121102023430/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18668667.html . Article: McNeill's departure inevitable . The Scotsman . 16 July 1998 . 2 November 2012 . Simon . Pia.
  32. News: Jinky best-ever Celtic player. 9 September 2002. BBC Sport. 29 August 2019.
  33. News: The names in the Hall of Fame . BBC News . 30 November 2002 . 23 April 2019.
  34. Web site: 2004 . . 17 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928040649/http://www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/hall-of-fame/2004.html . 28 September 2011 .
  35. Web site: Celtic unveil statue in honour of legend Billy McNeill . Celtic FC . 19 December 2015 . 23 April 2019 .
  36. News: Celtic: Billy McNeill awarded Athletic Bilbao honour . BBC Sport . 16 April 2019 . 16 April 2019 .
  37. Web site: Billy McNeill and Malin Moström, awarded by Athletic as One Club Awards . Athletic Bilbao . 16 April 2019 . 16 April 2019 .
  38. https://www.motherwelltimes.co.uk/education/school-sports-park-named-after-football-great-billy-mcneill-1-4944517/amp School sports park named after football great Billy McNeill
  39. News: Meikle. David. 23 July 2020. Campaign for Celtic legend Billy McNeill statue in his hometown smashes £70k fundraising target. The Daily Record. 13 April 2021.
  40. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/billy-mcneill-statue-unveiled-celtic-28590265 Billy McNeill statue unveiled as Celtic icon remembered in hometown with Lisbon Lion memorial
  41. Book: McNeill, Billy. Hail Cesar. My Albanian grandparents boarded an immigrant ship believing that they were bound for the New World, but instead of landing in New York they disembarked at Leith. 2004. 978-1-4722-2699-0. Headline Publishing Group. London.
  42. https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/cesar-a-national-hero-in-scotland-and-lithuania-vilnius-hails-celtic-legend-billy-mcneills-family-roots-in-eastern-europe/ A national hero in Scotland… and Lithuania: Vilnius hails Celtic legend Billy McNeill's family roots in Eastern Europe
  43. News: Billy McNeill obituary.
  44. News: Billy McNeill, giant of Scottish football and Celtic captain who led the 'Lisbon Lions' to European glory – obituary. The Telegraph. 23 April 2019. Obituaries. Telegraph.
  45. News: 'Old' firm legends seek votes. BBC News. BBC. 27 March 2003 . 22 September 2013.
  46. Web site: Independence referendum: Football legends unite to back Better Together campaign - Daily Record . Torcuil Crichton . dailyrecord . 8 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140906203231/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/independence-referendum-football-legends-unite-4173636 . 6 September 2014 .
  47. Web site: Family of Billy McNeill confirm he has dementia. BBC News. BBC. 26 February 2017. 20 August 2017.
  48. Web site: Family's immense sadness as Celtic legend Billy McNeill passes away . Celtic FC . 23 April 2019 . 23 April 2019.
  49. The Celtic Football Companion, David Docherty., Published 1986.
  50. http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/glasgow-cup.htm Glasgow Cup
  51. Web site: Billy McNeill – Scotland – Scottish FA. www.scottishfa.co.uk. 23 April 2019.
  52. Web site: Clyde manager Billy McNeill . FitbaStats. 26 February 2017.
  53. Web site: Aberdeen manager Billy McNeill. FitbaStats. 23 April 2019.
  54. Web site: Celtic manager Billy McNeill. FitbaStats. 23 April 2019.
  55. Web site: Celtic player Billy McNeill. FitbaStats. 23 April 2019.
  56. News: CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB 1960 TO 1969 .
    News: CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB 1970 TO 1979 . Retrieved 29 April 2021. Celtic Football Club.
  57. Web site: Billy McNeill . . 23 April 2019.
  58. News: CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB 1980 TO 1989 .
    News: CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB 1990 TO 1999 . Retrieved 29 April 2021. Celtic Football Club.
  59. News: 1982-05-13: Rangers 1-2 Celtic, Glasgow Cup Final . . 14 May 1982 . 29 April 2021.
  60. Web site: 1985/86 SEASON REVIEW . City Till I Die . 21 June 2007 . 24 April 2019.
  61. News: SFWA Player of the Year . . 29 April 2021.
  62. News: Billy McNeill's significant one-season impact as Aberdeen manager . . 23 April 2019 . 9 May 2019.
    News: Can Steve Clarke be manager of year if Celtic win treble? . . 2 April 2018 . 9 May 2019.
  63. Web site: SFWA Manager of the Year . The Gem . 9 May 2019.
  64. Web site: Many Happy Returns Cesar! . 2 March 2019 . Celtic FC . 9 May 2019.
  65. News: Billy McNeill, 2004 Inducteew . SFHoF . 29 April 2021.
  66. Web site: Lisbon Lions inducted into Scottish Football Hall of Fame. HeraldScotland.
  67. News: Billy McNeill, 2002 Inductees . SSHoF . 29 April 2021 . 31 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201031064110/https://sshf.sportscotland.org.uk/inductees/l-p/billy-mcneill-mbe/ . dead .