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Former Celtic striker Jorge Cadete, the former Portugal striker, has joined the tributes to Billy McNeill...

In a 1999 interview with the ´óÏó´«Ã½, Billy McNeill talks about playing alongside his Celtic heroes, the influence of Jock Stein and lifting the European Cup in Lisbon in 1967.

John McKie: Future historians may ask the question about why there was a Sir Craig Oliver and Sir Philip Green but never a Sir Billy McNeill.

chucklesbookcave: To tell you how nice a man Billy McNeill was...he held up the Celtic bus at Love Street for 20 minutes after a game so he could chat to a 15 year old St Mirren fan (me) who wanted his autograph & photo. I never forgot his kindness. RIP.

Maple23: My best memory of Billy McNeill is when he visited my neighbours in Cockenzie. He played football with me in the street. It was exciting to see him when he visited a few weeks after Celtic won the Big Cup. Best day ever, playing kick about with a Lisbon Lion.

Anji Darcy: So sad to hear that the beautiful legend Billy McNeill has passed away. Dementia is a hellish disease. At least we can be grateful that his suffering is over. An absolute gentleman as well as an amazing sportsman and footballer.

Aileen Muir: I’ve come home and made myself greet reading all the tributes to Billy McNeill, a man I’ve never met but who is a part of every Celtic fan and so widely respected. McNeill and Greig were true captains of their teams. What a legend.

Pep Guardiola joins those paying tribute after the death of Billy McNeill, one of his predecessors as Manchester City manager.

Celtic 2-1 Dundee United (1988): McNeill won three titles in his first spell as Celtic manager before moving to England, where he was in charge of Manchester City and Aston Villa. He was brought back for Celtic's centenary season in a bid to regain the title from a Rangers side revitalised by Graeme Souness. McNeill did just that and his team secured the double in dramatic fashion by beating Dundee United in the Scottish Cup final.

Celtic 4-2 Rangers (1979): McNeill returned to Celtic as manager in 1978 after spells in charge of Clyde and Aberdeen, who he led to runners-up spots in the league and Scottish Cup in his only season. He went one better in the league in his first season back at Celtic as his team clinched the title in style. Despite having Johnny Doyle sent off while trailing 1-0, Celtic's 10 men went on to seal a victory that ended Rangers' hopes of catching them.

Celtic 4-0 Rangers (1969): Celtic won the treble again with an emphatic Scottish Cup final victory over their Old Firm rivals. McNeill sent them on their way after heading home from a second-minute corner. The centre-half had escaped his marker, a certain Alex Ferguson, who would never play for Rangers again.

Celtic 2-1 Internationale (1967): McNeill became the first Briton to lift the European Cup after goals from Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers allowed Celtic to come from behind to beat the Italian favourites in Lisbon and make it a clean sweep of trophies.

Celtic 2-0 Vojvodina (1967): Another McNeill header took Celtic through to the European Cup semi-finals on their most challenging hurdle on the way to Lisbon. The skipper rose to head home in the last minute to prevent the game going to a play-off at a neutral venue as Stein's side overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit against the Yugoslavian champions.

The Press Association has picked out six of Billy McNeill's best games for Celtic:

Celtic 3-2 Dunfermline Athletic (1965): The early 1960s were difficult times for Celtic, but the turning point was McNeill's 81st-minute winner in the Scottish Cup final months into Jock Stein's reign as manager - a first major trophy for eight years.

A reminder of why Billy McNeill is considered a Celtic legend. A list of his achievements:

13 league titles - nine as a player and four as a manager

10 Scottish Cups - seven as a player and three as a manager

7 League Cups - six as a player and one as a manager

1 European Cup - Lisbon Lions captain in 1967

Image source, SNS

Former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, now back in his native France with Olympique Lyonnais, has weighed in with his tribute to Billy McNeill.

Interim Celtic manager Neil Lennon was one of the first to react to the news of Billy McNeill's death, describing his predecessor as "a giant of the game".

Both men have managed and captained the club, but the Northern Irishman described McNeill as Celtic's "greatest-ever" skipper.

Lennon pays tribute to club legend

Image source, SNS

Here's a reminder of how the news of Billy McNeill's death at the age of 79 broke this morning and the tributes that have followed...

Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney grew up a fan of the club and is predicting a rousing tribute to legendary player Billy McNeill when Kilmarnock visit on Scottish Premiership duty on Saturday.

"As a supporter, you grow up hearing the stories of what Billy and his team-mates achieved, not only here in Scotland but also in winning the European Cup back in 1967," the 21-year-old says.

"That was an incredible success and the fact that the fans sing a tribute to it in the 67th minute of every match just shows you how much it still means to everyone.

“When we all come to the stadium, the fans and the players, the first thing that welcomes us is the statue of Billy McNeill holding up the European Cup. That’s an amazing sight and it just reminds you what an incredible history that Celtic has.

“I’m sure that, when all the fans get together at Celtic Park this Saturday, they will have a fitting tribute to Billy, who was always a great supporter as well as being a legend as a player and manager."

Image source, SNS

Lisbon Lions John Clark and Bertie Auld reflect on the passing of former Celtic team-mate Billy McNeill at the age of 79.

Billy McNeill talks to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's Reevel Alderson after guiding Celtic to a League and Scottish Cup double in the club’s centenary year, 1988.