SNS GroupFormer Celtic manager Dr Jozef Venglos has died at the age of 84, the club announced on Tuesday night.
The Slovakian was boss at Aston Villa for the 1990-91 season, making history as the first manager from outside the United Kingdom to take charge of a club in the English top flight.
He subsequently went on to manage Celtic during 1998-99, and his career also included spells in charge of Czechoslovakia and Slovakia.
Celtic said in a statement that everyone at the club is “extremely saddened” at the news.
The statement said: “Dr Jo was a legend of Slovakian football and had been the first manager of the Slovakian national side after the country regained its independence in 1993.
“He was in charge at Paradise for the 1998/99 season, and memorably helped the Hoops to a 5-1 victory in a Glasgow derby clash.
“His fellow countryman, Lubomir Moravcik, scored two goals in that game, and it was Dr Jo who brought Lubo to Celtic, something that the Celtic supporters were always thankful for.
“He also brought in Johan Mjallby, another signing who would go on to be a great player for Celtic. At the end of that season, Dr Jo left Celtic, but always remained a hugely popular figure with fans.
“A highly respected figure in football, Dr Jo shared his knowledge of the game through coaching lectures he gave throughout the world, and from 1995 to 2013 he was president of the Alliance of European Football Coaches (AEFCA), subsequently being elected its honorary president.
“He is a member of the Slovak Football Hall of Fame and, indeed, is regarded as Slovakia’s greatest coach of the 20 century.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Dr Jozef Venglos’ family and the whole of football in Slovakia at this very sad time.”
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