Celtic legend and Lisbon Lion John Clark dies aged 84

Celtic great John Clark, who was part of Jock Stein’s team that won the European Cup in 1967, has died at the age of 84.

The Parkhead club announced Clark’s passing on Monday.

Clark made more than 300 appearances for Celtic, enjoying huge success on the pitch, and worked for the club as a player, coach and later kit man.

The former defender won 12 major honours as a Celtic player but will forever be remembered as part of the Lisbon Lions side that defeated Inter Milan to become the first British team to win the European Cup.

Clark was an ever-present for Celtic that season as they won an unprecedented quadruple, and along with his team-mates he enjoyed iconic status with the club’s support.

Having made his debut in 1959, Clark left the club in 1971 but returned a few years later as a coach before linking up with Lisbon Lions captain Billy McNeill as his assistant at Aberdeen and then back at Celtic.

He had a spell as manager in his own right, taking charge of Cowdenbeath, Stranraer and Clyde, before returning to Celtic in the 1990s to work as kit man for the next two decades.

Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell paid tribute to Clark on Monday, describing him as “a hero”.

“John’s passing represents a massive loss to his own family and of course a huge loss to the wider Celtic family,” Lawwell wrote.

“A very dear friend and colleague, John was actually a hero to me and so many others, someone who achieved the greatest feat of all in club football but did so, along with his great team mates, with such grace and humility.

“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.

“John was a fantastic husband, father and grandfather. Such a warm, gentle, and unassuming man. It was an absolute privilege to have known John. Rightly he will forever be regarded as one of Celtics greatest ever servants.

“He will be someone we will all miss so dearly and we send all our love, our thoughts and prayers to John’s family.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers shared his sadness at Clark’s passing, saying: “‘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.

“John’s continued presence at Celtic across so many decades I know served as an absolute inspiration to so many players, managers and staff, including myself very much.

“To have him with us, as part of the club for so long has been a tremendous privilege for us all, it meant so much to us. Through his knowledge, his wisdom and his true love for Celtic, John has made such an important contribution to the club.”

“I know John was loved so dearly by his family, by everyone at the club and our supporters. We will all miss him so much.”

Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson added: “I would like to offer all our sincere and heartfelt condolences to John’s family on such a sad day.

“In losing John, we have all lost a dear friend, such a fine man and someone who gave Celtic everything over such a long time.

“In a sense John was Celtic, on and off the pitch across so many years, contributing so much to our success at all times.

“While John was one of our greatest, he never saw himself as that, his own humility never allowing him to do so.

“The whole Celtic family will mourn John’s loss together, supporters and colleagues alike. We will ensure that we give John’s family every support at such a difficult time.”

Veteran broadcaster Hugh Keevins said: “If it is possible to be a football icon, immortalised because of one afternoon in Lisbon, and yet be a totally unassuming human being at the same time, then that was John Clark.

“For John Clark, Celtic was a way of life, playing for Celtic was a vocation.

“He spent decades working for the club; he was devoid of ego and was devoted to Celtic.

“He went from being a Lisbon Lion, an icon and an immortal, to being the kitman and making sure the jerseys were washed and ironed properly.

“You have to be devoted to your club to be that way.

“He came from a background in Holytown, where Celtic was a big thing in people’s lives and it never left him.

“There were flamboyant players within the Lisbon Lions, the mavericks of Bertie Auld and Jimmy Johnstone, the mercurial talents of Bobby Lennox and Bobby Murdoch.

“John Clark was the unfazed, wonderful heart of defence along with Billy McNeill.

“On the park Billy McNeill was majestic, but John Clark was telepathic, he could sense danger and intercept it before it became a problem. He was just a special talent.

“Imagine trying to follow Jock Stein as Celtic manager, a man who won the European Cup and the most successful in the club’s history, when Billy McNeill took that job on he wanted John Clark beside him.

“That’s because he knew John Clark would bring that unassuming, unfazed side of his personality into the dressing room.

“There is a star above the club crest on Celtic’s shirt for one reason, it signifies Lisbon, it symbolises eleven men who will never be forgotten by the supporters.

“John Clark was one of those eleven men.

“The tragedy is that none of us are larger than life, life eventually comes to an end for all of us.”