Tributes as Scots football legend and Lisbon Lion legend John Clark dies aged 84

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

Football legend John Clark, one of the Lisbon Lions who lifted the European Cup for Celtic, has died aged 84.
Mr Clark made more than 300 appearances for Celtic between 1958 and 1971 before spending decades as a coach, assistant manager and kit man at the Glasgow club.
His finest moment came as part of the side which beat Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon to win the 1967 European Cup.
Mr Clark's death means there are now only three remaining Lisbon Lions - Jim Craig, Willie Wallace and Bobby Lennox.
Tributes yesterday poured in, with club chairman Peter Lawwell saying he had 'given his life to Celtic'.
But Mr Clark's granddaughter, Clare, posted a touching tribute to a family man who 'took me to feed the ducks when I was little'.
She wrote on X: 'A Legend to Many, But to Me… Just Gangan. To the world, he may have been a legend, remembered for his days on the football pitch, for the games he played and the history he made. But to me, he was simply my Gangan. The one who took me to feed the ducks when I was little.
'The proudest smile at every school awards and graduation. The man who thought 'you look clean' was the biggest compliment you could give. And I wouldn't be who I am today without him.
'He didn't need a stadium or a European Cup medal to be a hero. He earned that title in the everyday moments – the 10pm phone calls every night to make sure I'd locked the door and switched the plugs off.
'The 'make sure you don't leave your drinks unattended' before every night out.
'Losing him will leave a hole I don't know how to fill but I'll carry his stories, his sayings, and his love with me forever.'
A Celtic statement read: 'Everyone at Celtic Football Club is deeply saddened at the news that legendary Lisbon Lion, John Clark has passed away at the age of 84.'
The club added: 'His love for the club was a constant throughout his life and, after leaving his role with the first team, he was able to enjoy matches from the stands at Celtic Park. He will be greatly missed by everyone at the club.'
MrClark won four Scottish league titles, four League Cups, three Scottish Cups and one European Cup during a 13-year playing career with the Hoops before moving on to Morton in 1971.
He returned to Celtic Park as coach of the reserve and youth sides before becoming former manager - and fellow Lisbon Lion - Billy McNeill's assistant, first at Aberdeen and then, in 1978, at Celtic.
Mr Clark went on to take charge of Cowdenbeath, Stranraer and Clyde before returning to Celtic Park as kit man, a role he held for nearly 20 years.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said: 'Greatness is a word people throw around, but for John Clark, it is a very fitting tribute.
'John was instrumental in delivering our greatest day ever and his achievement is forever etched in Celtic's proud history.'
Chairman Peter Lawwell added: 'John's passing represents a massive loss to his own family and of course a huge loss to the wider Celtic family.
'That famous day in Lisbon, which John was such an integral part of, changed our club forever. Ever since, each player who has passed through our club has stood on the shoulders of giants and John was certainly one of those giants.
'John gave his life to Celtic both as a player and on our staff in a variety of his roles and his contribution to our great club over so many decades is immeasurable.'