“Jock Stein being interviewed in Prague after the Dukla game in 1967, one more step and his side would become immortals,” wrote the excellent Lisbon Lion @tirnaog09 on Twitter this morning. It’s a video that Most Celtic fans haven’t seen before. I certainly hadn’t seen this footage after Celtic’s 0-0 draw in the second leg of the 1967 European Cup final in Prague – a result that sent Celtic through to the final in Lisbon where they would play Inter Milan.
After the legendary Celtic manager talks about his delight at becoming the first British club to reach the European Cup Final after several had previously failed at the the semi-final stage, he spoke of his hope that others would follow Celtic’s lead and reach the final themselves.
Stein took Celtic back to another final in 1970 in Milan and sides like Manchester Utd, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Leeds Utd, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have all followed Celtic’s lead – but no other Scottish club has made it through to a Final in Europe’s Premier club competition.
The English interviewer seems surprised that players like Bertie Auld and Joe McBride were doing so well at Celtic having in his view failed to make an impression in England. Jock puts him right. This is well worth watching. Matt Cott, of this parish and of course a Celtic Tour Guide at Celtic Park noted that this footage was new to him too. ‘Brilliant clip of Jock. First time I’ve seen this,’ Matt wrote.
It’s well worth the a look…
Jock Stein being interviewed in Prague after the Dukla game in 1967, one more step and his side would become immortals pic.twitter.com/fgr4ulpWzT
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog09) November 25, 2019
Brilliant clip of Jock. First time I’ve seen this.
— Matt Corr (@Boola_vogue) November 25, 2019
Big Jock… humble and articulate💚
— Jmn67 (@sixtaeseven) November 25, 2019
Tommy Gemmell had this photograph on his wall and often told me that it was the most special of all images he had of his time playing football. It’s of course of him and Jimmy Johnstone celebrating together in Prague in April 1967…
