Former Celtic boss Davie Hay has paid an emotional tribute to Billy McNeill. McNeill was the captain when Hay broke into the Celtic side as a youngster, and he has admitted that he ‘idolised’ the former Hoops skipper.
“Billy was my hero” he admitted to the Evening Times.
“As a Celtic supporter growing up, he was the player I idolised. How could you not? He was everything you would want to be as an aspiring player.”
“Everything he did was perfect”
“Watching him train was an eye-opener. Everything he did was perfect. I wanted to be just like him.”
The comments made by Hay show you just how highly McNeill was thought of by all at Celtic.
He set a standard which all wanted to match, and Hay managed to become a successful player with the Hoops, perhaps after learning from McNeill.
It must have been a daunting task to try to live up to the standards set by McNeill and the rest of the Lisbon Lions at Celtic.
Lived up to high standards
But to be fair to Hay and his team-mates, they almost lived up to those expectations. Indeed, Hay helped the Hoops to a second European Cup Final in 1970. Unfortunately though, the Hoops went down 2-1 to Feyenoord.
That should not distract from what Hay and McNeill managed to achieve in their time at the club, helping the Hoops to countless honours.
It is clear that Hay still holds McNeill in high estimation, and little wonder.
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