The Lisbon Lions
The Bhoys really done good
Celtic were given no chance of winning the European Cup, but they played mind games before kick-off, with Jock Stein sitting on the bench earmarked for Inter Milan manager Helenio Herrera. He was furious but Big Jock refused to move. And those unsettling tactics seemed to have an effect.
Tommy Gemmell (63)
Stevie Chalmers (85)
Sandro Mazzola (7)
European Cup final,
May 25, 1967
Estadio Nacional, Vale do Jamor, near Lisbon,
Referee: Kurt Tschenscher (Germany),
Att: 45,000
Inter went ahead after just seven minutes thanks to a dubious penalty, converted by Sandro Mazzola. But Celtic’s heroes came storming back after the break to win 2-1 with second half goals from Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers as The Bhoys became the first British team to win the European Cup.
Key Figures
Billy McNeill
A colossus at the back, Stein called him his voice on the park and "one of the greatest Celts of all-time, an inspiring captain and a model for every young footballer". He went on to play 831 times for Celtic.
Bobby Murdoch
The driving force, power and inspiration in the Celtic engine room. Murdoch was a majestic stroller and a genius at the 30-yard defence splitting pass. Stein perhaps paid Murdoch his biggest compliment when he said: “When Murdoch plays, Celtic play.”
Jimmy Johnstone
Lisbon Lion and Celtic legend, the Inter defence had no answer to wee Jinky's trickery. By the time Celtic were running down the clock in the searing heat in Portugal, it was Johnstone who was still a bundle of energy and who kept the ball for what seemed like an eternity in the closing stages.
Did You Know...?
Celtic completed an unprecedented quadruple of Scottish League, Scottish Cup, League Cup and European Cup that year.
During Celtic’s triumphant season, they lost only two league matches – both to Dundee United, who finished ninth, and both by a 3-2 scoreline.
When Matt Busby handed Jock Stein the trophy for winning the BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year award for 1967, the Celtic boss said he hoped Matt would be next to get his hands on it. He did, 12 months later.
What Happened Next
Celtic lost their grip on the trophy when they lost to Russian champions Dynamo Kiev in the first round the following season. The Bhoys also lost a violent World Club Championship tie against Racing Club of Argentina. Celtic won 1-0 at Hampden but lost 2-1 in the return in Argentina. With no away goals rule, a third tie was played in Montevideo, Uruguay, where four Celtic players and two from Racing Club were sent off and police were twice called to restore order on the pitch. Racing won 1-0.
We want your help to grow the MirrorFootball.co.uk archive! Leave your comments about this piece of football history by clicking on the 'Your Memories' tab above. Tell us who or what you'd like to see covered in the MirrorFootball.co.uk archive by emailing archive@mirror.co.uk
(PDF2.5MB)
