JIMMY JOHNSTONE 30th September 1944 - 13th March 2006

Ex-Celtic captain Billy McNeill has paid tribute to ex-team-mate and fellow Lisbon Lion Jimmy Johnstone, who died on Monday from motor neurone disease. The duo were in the side that won the European Cup in 1967 and McNeill said: "Jimmy was a lovely wee man and was a team-mate and a friend to all of us.
"I was lucky enough to play alongside him but I have as much respect for the courageous way he handled his illness. "He loved the Celtic fans. This news is devastating for everyone."

Tommy Gemmell, who was also in the Celtic team that beat Inter Milan in 1967, said Johnstone would go down in history as the club's finest ever player. "It's a tragedy. We've lost a great pal and a colleague," said Gemmell. "He fought the disease with great courage and he stood up to it well.
"On the pitch he had the heart of a lion and the ability of a maestro. He was an unbelievable player, as good as any you will see. "We have lost a magnificent player who created a lot of history for the club. I doubt very much if we'll see his like again."

Another ex-team-mate, Bertie Auld, said he could not believe Johnstone had passed away. "I still can't get to grips with the news. You know what a player he was, but what a person. He was the kindest guy in the world," said Auld.
"All the time he was lying there he never complained. I saw him on Friday and, like any time you met him, you left feeling a stronger person.

"Jimmy was so desperate to help other people with the same disease, he wanted a cure for it even though he knew he couldn't be helped." Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said it was a very sad day for the Parkhead outfit.
"It is a sad time for the whole Celtic family," said Lawwell. "Jimmy was rightly regarded as the greatest ever Celt. "This was an accolade the Celtic supporters voted to give him and was a measure of the esteem in which they held him, even above the many great players who have played for the club over the years. "Our thoughts are with Jimmy's wife Agnes and his family and friends."

Jimmy's talent was evident from an early age and at just 13 he was approached by Manchester United while playing for his local boys’ club.

But despite United’s interest, Celtic won the race for the prodigy. Celtic’s chief scout John Higgins lured Johnstone to the Glasgow giants with the offer of a ballboy job at Parkhead and a place in the club’s youth team.

Johnstone featured in the reserves in 1961 before making his first team debut against Kilmarnock in March of 1963. His skill on the ball made him a big favourite with the Celtic faithful and ensured he would be invaluable to his team.

The tricks were unrehearsed and were the product of pure skill. Many opposition players resorted to kicking him as it was the only way they knew how to deal with the winger’s twisting runs. Johnstone would often retaliate too, and received plenty of red cards during his career.

He famously feared flying and his manager Jock Stein even used the phobia to motivate his eccentric star.

Drawing 1-1 at half-time at Parkhead in a European match against Red Star Belgrade, Stein promised Johnstone that if he played well in the second-half he would not have to travel by plane to the away leg - he scored two of the goals in an outstanding performance to earn a 5-1 victory.

Johnstone’s flamboyance on the pitch was matched off it. His antics led to Stein's assertion that "no player has caused me more headaches since I went to Celtic and on no one has more time been spent to sort out his troubles". He was the subject of bans by the club on numerous occasions.

His talent was recognised across the continent and earned him a place in the top three in the 1967 European Footballer of the Year awards.

He was capped on 23 occasions for Scotland but it was his domestic achievements that defined his career.

He won nine Championships, four Scottish Cups, five League Cups and the ultimate, his European Cup final medal won in Lisbon in 1967.

Bothered by injury as a result of the physical nature in which opposing defenders often dealt with him, Johnstone was granted a free transfer by Celtic in June 1975.

After spells in America, England and Ireland he had a brief spell as coach at Celtic Park under the leadership of manager Davie Hay.

In June 2005, Johnstone became the first living person since the time of the Tsars to have a Fabergé Egg designed in his honour. The egg was designed by Carl Fabergé's granddaughter Sarah.

To see some of Jinky's magic, click here