Photo Of The Day: Proud Celtic Fan Celebrates Club’s Greatest Triumph At Airport

Today’s photo of the day is one of unbridled joy. Look at the happiness on the face of this Celtic fan as he holds aloft an Italian newspaper to reveal the identity of the new European champions in 1967.

For many of the thousands of Celtic supporters in Lisbon, the celebrations continued into the airport and beyond. This incredible image shows possibly the proudest fan on the planet as he holds the publication in the air on the runway!

His winter attire and the fact that he is holding an Italian newspaper poses many interesting talking points. Was the photo taken on arrival in Scotland? (Where despite being summer the temperature wouldn’t have matched the heat of Lisbon) And how did the fan get a copy of the Italian newspapers in Portugal? (It may have been unusual to be able to get your hands on another country’s publication in such short time back then)

Over half a century later, the Lisbon Lions continue to give Celtic fans great joy. The memories and stories live on, continuing to fascinate the faithful.

About Author

Hailing from an Irish background, I grew up on the English south coast with the good fortune to begin watching Celtic during the Martin O'Neill era. I have written four Celtic books since the age of 19: Our Stories & Our Songs: The Celtic Support, Take Me To Your Paradise: A History Of Celtic-Related Incidents & Events, Walfrid & The Bould Bhoys: Celtic's Founding Fathers, First Season & Early Stars, and The Holy Grounds of Glasgow Celtic: A Guide To Celtic Landmarks & Sites Of Interest. These were previously sold in Waterstones and official Celtic FC stores, and are now available on Amazon.

5 Comments

  1. Liam,
    Brilliant iconic picture which we have seen many many times. The sheer joy on his face captures the magic of our triumph in Lisbon. As you say, a wee bit of mystery surrounding the pic so may I suggest you put feelers out to the wider support to try to find out who this supporter was, and maybe the story of his trip and the pic, his relatives/younger supporters may be able to provide info. It would be wonderful to find out the background to the pic and perhaps a good story for a future article? I’m sure many supporters like me would be very interested in this

    I recall (The Celtic Star Editor) doing something similar to locate the guy who wore the ‘Jock Stein’ knitted jumper pictured on the pitch after the game. He was traced to a University in Vietnam if I remember correctly😄

  2. Sherlock Holmes on

    Guardian article with more photos shows/ says it was Celtic fans back in Glasgow after the historic win. It was an Air London plane.Guardian says Portuguese newspaper, but it is definitely Italian, like you said .. it only says the final is in Lisbon, it doesn’t say Celtic won, so I’m assuming oor auld man in the bonnet took it as a souvenir & it once belonged to an Inter Milan fan who’d brought it to Portugal.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2017/may/25/lisbon-lions-remembered-celtics-historic-victory-50-years-on-in-pictures