A TRUE LEGEND

Football in mourning as Lisbon Lion dies aged 83

- RYAN CARROLL

RIP Bertie.. you'll never walk alone

Lisbon Lion hero had been bravely battling dementia

SCOTTISH football was in mourning last night after it was revealed Celtic legend Bertie Auld had died, aged 83.

He played in Celtic's 1967 European Cup final win over Inter Milan at Lisbon's Estadio Nacional and was also part of the Parkhead squad that won nine Scottish league titles in a row.

It was revealed earlier this year that the former midfielder had been battling dementia.

He was the fourth member of the historic squad to be diagnosed with the brain disease.

Celtic said in a statement last night: “Everyone at Celtic FC is devastated to hear of the passing of Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.

“Bertie was a legend of the club and was adored by the entire Celtic family. Rest in Peace, Bertie, You'll Never Walk Alone.” Celtic chairman Ian Bankier said: The most sincere thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Bertie's family at such a difficult time following this tragic loss.

I don't think words can ever adequately describe what Bertie meant to the club and our supporters. He was a giant of a player, a giant of a man and quite simply Mr Celtic.

“He scaled the greatest of heights as a player with his talent, but it is who he was as a man that made him so much more to us all.

He enriched all our lives so greatly with his humour, his character and personality and for that we will forever be grateful.