The turning point for McNeill and Celtic came in 1965. Manager Jimmy McGrory left the club, and he was replaced by Jock Stein. The impact of the new manager was immediate, and it was a story in which McNeill was a central character.
The Celtic Rising
In April 1965, Celtic met Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final, only a matter of weeks after Stein’s arrival. The Hoops were twice behind in the game, but goals from Bertie Auld brought them level. And then McNeill rose above all others to head home a late winner, giving Celtic their first major trophy in almost a decade.
The Bhoys were now off and running, with McNeill as their clear leader. In the following season, Celtic won the League title for the first time since 1954. They also made their mark in Europe, reaching the European Cup-Winners’ Cup semi-finals, where they lost to Liverpool in a controversial match.
The Championship win in 1966 set up Celtic perfectly for what would become their greatest ever season. In 1966-67, the Bhoys famously won every trophy they entered, securing their first ever domestic Treble of League, Scottish Cup and League Cup, as well as winning the Glasgow Cup.
In the heat of Lisbon
However, the pinnacle moment came in Portugal, creating an icon of McNeill which remains seared in the very DNA of Celtic. After a gruelling 90 minutes, the Celts beat Inter Milan to claim the European Cup, and then Billy famously stood alone holding the trophy for all to see.
Billy McNeill was renowned as Celtic’s leader, and he was given the nickname of Cesar
Billy McNeill was renowned as Celtic’s leader, and he was given the nickname of Cesar. Initially, this was because he drove the same type of car as the American star Cesar Romero. However, many of the Lisbon Lions say it eventually became a tribute to his leadership abilities, akin to a Roman emperor.
