28 Facts About Billy McNeill

William McNeill was a Scottish football player and manager.

Billy McNeill had a long association with Celtic, spanning more than sixty years as a player, manager and club ambassador.

Billy McNeill captained Celtic's 'Lisbon Lions' to their European Cup victory in 1967 and later spent two spells as the club's manager.

Billy McNeill was captain during their most successful era in the 1960s and 70s.

Billy McNeill managed Celtic for nine seasons, from 1978 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991, winning four Scottish league championships.

Billy McNeill managed Clyde, Aberdeen, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

In 2015, Celtic installed a statue outside Celtic Park of Billy McNeill holding aloft the European Cup, an iconic image in their history.

Billy McNeill was born on 2 March 1940 in Bellshill, Lanarkshire.

Billy McNeill's father was a soldier in the Black Watch and later the Army Physical Training Corps.

Aged nine, Billy McNeill moved to Hereford in England where his father was posted, and stayed for two and a half years.

Billy McNeill moved to Motherwell and excelled playing football as centre-half at Our Lady's High School.

Billy McNeill was given the nickname Cesar after the actor Cesar Romero.

Billy McNeill retired as a player in 1975, having made a club record 822 appearances for Celtic and never being substituted.

Billy McNeill won 29 caps for Scotland, scoring 3 goals, and played 9 times for the Scottish League XI.

Billy McNeill began his management career at Clyde in April 1977, before moving to Aberdeen two months later.

Billy McNeill recorded four wins, three draws from eight league matches and recorded a total of 11 out of a possible 16 points at Clyde.

Billy McNeill was appointed Aberdeen manager in June 1977, having been recommended by Jock Stein.

Billy 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, Billy McNeill found working with Desmond White, Celtic's chairman, very difficult, and felt underpaid and underappreciated.

Billy McNeill secured promotion for City after two seasons in charge, and oversaw survival in their first season back in the First Division.

When Villa were relegated, after finishing bottom of the First Division in May 1987, Billy McNeill stood down and was replaced by Graham Taylor.

Billy McNeill was sacked by Celtic on 22 May 1991 after four seasons as manager, at the age of 51.

Billy McNeill remained bitter about the manner of his departure from Celtic, until he was asked to become a club ambassador in 2009.

Billy McNeill was brought in as a mentor to manager Jim Duffy, as they unsuccessfully attempted to arrest a decline in fortunes at the club.

Billy 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.

Billy McNeill was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

The statue, in bronze on a granite base, shows Billy McNeill holding aloft the European Cup, an iconic image in the club's history.

Billy McNeill married Liz Callaghan, a dancer on the TV variety show The White Heather Club in 1963.