Mick McCarthy was part of one of the most iconic seasons in Celtic’s histroy.
Billy McNeill retook charge of the Hoops ahead of their centenary season, after a trophyless campaign the season prior.
It goes without saying that McNeill was already a Celtic legend at this point, having captained the Hoops throughout Jock Stein’s iconic reign before later taking over as manager.
In his first managerial period, he oversaw the famous ‘Ten men won the league’ season in 1979, also delivering back-to-back titles in 1981 and 1982 against Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous Aberdeen side.
But perhaps the most famous season of all was yet to come.
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Mick McCarthy recalls Billy McNeill at Celtic
A league and Scottish Cup double had eluded McNeill in his managerial career, until the centenary year.
Greats such as Tommy Burns, Roy Aitken and Paul McStay were stars of that Celtic team – but McCarthy reckons one moment in pre-season was also decisive.
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Speaking on Virgin Media Sport, McCarthy recalled a McNeill moment from pre-season that ‘stuck with him’.
He said: “We went out on the pitch, we set it up, and there was no silverware at all. No trophies.
“Somebody said: ‘Where’s all the trophies this year?’ And somebody said ‘Ibrox’.
“There was a bit of a giggle, but Billy McNeill wasn’t too happy, that’s for sure. We got a bit of a volley for even joking about it, because there should be some silverware there at Celtic.
“Billy gave us a bit of a going over. I’ll always remember that, thinking ‘Wow. We’re having a team photograph, and they’re surprised.
“At how many clubs would you be at, where there’s shock and surprise when there’s not one trophy in front of you for the pre-season photograph? That stuck with me, that.
“This is a place where you’re expected to win, this isn’t, ‘I’ll come up here and I’m just going to play for Celtic’. No.
“You’re going to come up here and you’re going to have to win playing for Celtic. This is a whole new ball game.
“We’d travel to grounds, going to Hibs, going to Hearts, and I remember when we’d gone to play at Hearts, and one of the lads said, ‘Shall we just go in and nick the points from Hibs on the way back?’
“Jokingly, but that’s what was expected.”
Mick McCarthy’s brilliant story about Billy McNeill
Billy McNeill and Celtic’s centenary season
McNeill had left Celtic acrimoniously in 1983, but with so much importance riding on the special campaign, he was convinced to return.
He oversaw a rebuild of the squad, with Brian McClair, Danny McGrain and Mo Johnston all departing in the off-season.
McNeill replaced Davie Hay as boss – just days before his departure, Hay had orchestrated the signing of McCarthy. Classic Celtic.
Celtic rallied to win the league title by a ten-point margin, and the Scottish Cup final was won in iconic fashion thanks to Frank McAvennie’s late double.
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