Rodgers 'emotional' when visiting the scene of Celtic's greatest triumph
The Celtic manager took his players and staff to the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon, where they became the first British club to lift the European Cup following a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in 1967.
Celtic are in the Portuguese capital to take on Sporting in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday and their training camp is across the road from the place where the Lisbon Lions earned their name.
Rodgers told Celtic TV: 'There's very few times where I'd be lost for words, but today's really about a feeling and just the feeling in the tunnel…. When you grow up as a Celtic supporter, you know all the stories, you know Bertie (Auld) singing in the tunnel and the support that came here.
'But just to actually walk the journey and relive some of those memories and just coming out of the tunnel was very emotional because you sensed, as a manager from a sporting perspective, at that time of the year as well, how hot it was.
'Just to come up the tunnel to then see all the Celtic supporters and then we make our way up to here where big Billy (McNeill) lifted the trophy, and knowing the thousands of Celtic supporters were down there watching.
'So it's a feeling and being brought up with the stories and understanding that that night changed the whole direction of the club, and to be stood here as a Celtic manager for my first time here, it's really special and really emotional.'
Celtic captain Callum McGregor was also touched by the experience of following in his predecessor's footsteps.
'So, so lucky to even be here, to represent this club and to be at a stadium which is so iconic in our history,' he said.
'And to stand where Billy stood just brings into focus, one, how amazing an achievement it was and, two, just trying to get a sense of what it would have felt like and looking out and just seeing a sea of green and white Celtic supporters.
'I'm so, so, so lucky to be a part of this club and on days like this you feel the enormity of it and very, very lucky and blessed.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Conor Benn blames rival Chris Eubank Jr for proposed rematch ‘falling apart'
The British pair engaged in a ferocious battle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, with Eubank Jr prevailing by a close but clear unanimous decision to hand Benn his first defeat as a professional. Much of the focus centred on Eubank Jr's cut to the 160lb middleweight limit and subsequent rehydration clause, and the 35-year-old was hospitalised for two days after the fight owing to severe dehydration. Conor Benn's statement to The Ring's Mike Coppinger following the news that Riyadh Season won't be involved with the scheduled rematch against Chris Eubank Jr on Sept 20th. — Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 17, 2025 A return bout had been in the offing for September 20 but it now appears on the verge of collapse, with Saudi kingpin Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season reportedly withdrawing from the negotiations. Benn said in a statement to Ring Magazine: 'This rematch falling apart had nothing to do with me. I was ready to go on the scheduled Sept 20 date. I'm not sure what happened to Chris Eubank.' The first fight rekindled memories of their fathers' fierce dust-ups, with Chris Eubank Sr defeating Nigel Benn in November 1990 before a hard-fought draw three years later. Eubank Sr was an outspoken critic of their children renewing the rivalry 32 years on, with Eubank Jr campaigning at middleweight or super-middleweight during his career and Benn primarily a welterweight. Eubank Jr incurred a £375,000 fine after missing the middleweight limit by half an ounce but came in under the stipulated rehydration weight of 170lbs on the day of the fight. The rematch was expected to be on the same weight terms but Benn's promoter Eddie Hearn cast doubt on Eubank Jr fighting again. Hearn told IFL TV: 'We've said to Eubank that is the date. And if you don't take the fight on that date, the fight doesn't work. 'There are no stadiums available. Commercially you guys are on a fortune. So if Eubank is not prepared to take the fight on September 20, I don't think there will be a fight. 'That's not my decision, that's a decision of (Alalshikh). Eubank probably can't be bothered to go back into camp. I'm not sure if he'll ever fight again. I've just got the feeling he doesn't want it.'
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Give him some brains – Oleksandr Usyk questions Daniel Dubois' pre-fight antics
Dubois cut a more relaxed figure during a drama-free open workout on Wednesday and Thursday's press conference, but previously the 27-year-old from London and his team had seemed eager to get under the skin of the WBA, WBO and WBC champion. The first flashpoint occurred at Wembley in April when Dubois pushed Usyk in the chest before a day later Don Charles, the British boxer's trainer, claimed the undefeated Ukrainian deserved an 'Oscar' for his antics during their first fight in Poland in 2023. A post shared by Usyk. The Cat. Oleksandr (@usykaa) Usyk required nearly four minutes to recover from a punch from Dubois which was deemed an illegal low blow. Talk of the contentious incident has dissipated during fight week, but only after Dubois' emotions threatened to boil over on Tuesday. The Briton screamed his own name and 'the new' in the face of an ice-cool Usyk outside Wembley. Speaking afterwards about the incident, Usyk said: 'I hate stupidity. 'I'm a faithful person. I see only the best in people, but sometimes people show their bad side and even when they're showing their bad side, I would never judge them. 'I wouldn't say anything bad about them or say, 'I do not respect you for that'. In moments like this, I just think, 'Please God, give him (Daniel) some brains, some understanding and just willpower to get better (from) where he is now'. 'I respect every boxer, every sportsman that is going to the ring, going to the ring meaning to be a fighter. 'Every opponent that I see in the ring is the fighter that came there to make himself better, to become better.' It was only 23 months ago that Dubois and Usyk shared the ring and the 38-year-old produced a masterful display before going on to prove himself the best in the blue-riband division with two points triumphs over Tyson Fury. Not long after the end of Usyk's ninth-round stoppage of Dubois, he went up to his defeated opponent and told him to 'keep going'. Fast forward to the present day and Usyk will step into the ring to face a different Dubois, who has claimed impressive wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua. Yet the former undisputed world cruiserweight champion warned: 'I think that Daniel has gotten better and now he has a championship belt, but I haven't been staying in one place either. I've been growing too. 'After the fight, when Daniel lost, I said don't make a mistake and never stop and keep going.' The big question for Usyk in recent years has been how long he will continue and the answer remains for two more fights. It means Saturday is set to be his penultimate bout, but could a trilogy fight with Fury be the perfect way for the Ukrainian great to bring the curtain down on a stellar career? 'I don't know. Now my focus is only Daniel on Saturday,' Usyk said. 'No (retirement). Two (more). This and next. 'I'm not going to quit boxing forever. I'm going to be training younger boxers and giving them the experience I've gained. Maybe I'll even become the coach.'
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Give him some brains – Oleksandr Usyk questions Daniel Dubois' pre-fight antics
Dubois cut a more relaxed figure during a drama-free open workout on Wednesday and Thursday's press conference, but previously the 27-year-old from London and his team had seemed eager to get under the skin of the WBA, WBO and WBC champion. The first flashpoint occurred at Wembley in April when Dubois pushed Usyk in the chest before a day later Don Charles, the British boxer's trainer, claimed the undefeated Ukrainian deserved an 'Oscar' for his antics during their first fight in Poland in 2023. A post shared by Usyk. The Cat. Oleksandr (@usykaa) Usyk required nearly four minutes to recover from a punch from Dubois which was deemed an illegal low blow. Talk of the contentious incident has dissipated during fight week, but only after Dubois' emotions threatened to boil over on Tuesday. The Briton screamed his own name and 'the new' in the face of an ice-cool Usyk outside Wembley. Speaking afterwards about the incident, Usyk said: 'I hate stupidity. 'I'm a faithful person. I see only the best in people, but sometimes people show their bad side and even when they're showing their bad side, I would never judge them. 'I wouldn't say anything bad about them or say, 'I do not respect you for that'. In moments like this, I just think, 'Please God, give him (Daniel) some brains, some understanding and just willpower to get better (from) where he is now'. 'I respect every boxer, every sportsman that is going to the ring, going to the ring meaning to be a fighter. 'Every opponent that I see in the ring is the fighter that came there to make himself better, to become better.' It was only 23 months ago that Dubois and Usyk shared the ring and the 38-year-old produced a masterful display before going on to prove himself the best in the blue-riband division with two points triumphs over Tyson Fury. Not long after the end of Usyk's ninth-round stoppage of Dubois, he went up to his defeated opponent and told him to 'keep going'. Fast forward to the present day and Usyk will step into the ring to face a different Dubois, who has claimed impressive wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua. Yet the former undisputed world cruiserweight champion warned: 'I think that Daniel has gotten better and now he has a championship belt, but I haven't been staying in one place either. I've been growing too. 'After the fight, when Daniel lost, I said don't make a mistake and never stop and keep going.' The big question for Usyk in recent years has been how long he will continue and the answer remains for two more fights. It means Saturday is set to be his penultimate bout, but could a trilogy fight with Fury be the perfect way for the Ukrainian great to bring the curtain down on a stellar career? 'I don't know. Now my focus is only Daniel on Saturday,' Usyk said. 'No (retirement). Two (more). This and next. 'I'm not going to quit boxing forever. I'm going to be training younger boxers and giving them the experience I've gained. Maybe I'll even become the coach.'
