“If you are ever going to win the
European Cup, then this is the day and
this is the place. But we don’t just want to
win this cup – we want to do it playing
good football.”
Jock Stein’s words shortly before the 1967
European Cup final have gone down in Celtic
folklore. That day in Lisbon, the Glaswegians
became the first British outfit to be crowned
kings of Europe, rounding off one of the most
remarkable seasons in history.
John ‘Jock’ Stein was a coal miner who
spent the final six years of his playingAfter moving to Hibernian, Stein boosted
the Edinburgh side back up the table and
beat Real Madrid in a friendly, before Wolves
offered him the chance to replace Stan Cullis
in 1965. On the pretext of asking for some
advice, Stein called Kelly hoping to be offered
the Celtic job instead. Kelly put forward the
roles of assistant or joint-manager, before
relenting and giving him the top job.
Celtic had been formed 78 years earlier,
but Stein was only the fourth boss in their
history after a trio of long-servants. The
Bhoys were mid-table and hadn’t won the
league for 11 years – but Stein needed just a
month to bag their first Scottish Cup since
1955, then lifted the league title and
reached the Cup Winners’ Cup semis in his
first full season.
Stein was a tracksuit manager – a rarity in
those days – who told his players before the
1966-67 season, “We could win everything.”
He was right. After scooping the Scottish
Cup, Scottish League Cup and even the
Glasgow Cup, Celtic followed up by clinching
the league in a final-day duel with Rangers.
He’d also guided them to the European
Cup final against Helenio Herrera’s Inter;
victors in two of the previous three seasons.
Desperate to overcome Inter’s catenaccio,
Stein told the press, “We’re going to attack
as we’ve never attacked before.” After Celtic
triumphed 2-1, Bill Shankly told him, “You’re
immortal now.” Stein’s players were too, as
the Lisbon Lions.
They reached another final in 1970,
where they were beaten by Feyenoord, but
Stein oversaw an incredible nine domestic
titles in a row, which equalled a European
record. Kenny Dalglish also broke through
under his management.
Stein landed a 10th league title, then
joined Leeds in 1978. He lasted just 44 days
at Elland Road – the exact same number as
Brian Clough – before being lured to the
Scotland post. His country were edged out in
the group stage of the 1982 World Cup by
Brazil and the Soviet Union, but Stein made
Alex Ferguson his new assistant ahead of
qualification for 1986.
“I spent a year and a half working with him- and I loved him,” said Ferguson. “I asked
why Jock never criticised players and got my
most important piece of advice. He asked
why he should hurt a player’s family by
criticising him in public. All you do is make
enemies of their cousins, uncles, aunties,
teachers, mothers and milkmen.”
That their partnership didn’t last longer
was down to the terrible events of
September 10, 1985. Under pressure after a
home defeat to Wales, Stein took Scotland
to Cardiff knowing they needed a draw to
book a play-off against Australia. Lose, and
he’d probably be sacked. Having opted not
to take his heart medication to avoid any
side effects that might distract him from the
match, he watched his side grab a late
equaliser, only to collapse two minutes from
the final whistle.
Stein died inside the stadium’s medical
room. He was 62 years old.
30 JOCK STEIn
career at Celtic. Placed in charge of the
reserve side after his retirement, Stein was
told by chairman Robert Kelly that he could
never coach the first team because he was
a Protestant.
He departed for Dunfermline, saving a club
without a win in four months from relegation- then secured their first-ever Scottish Cup
the following year, beating Celtic in the 1961
final. In the two seasons after that, they
reached the quarter-finals of the European
Cup Winners’ Cup, then ousted Everton from
the Fairs Cup.
AFTER CELTIC BEAT In TER
I n THE EUROPEAn CUP FIn AL,
BILL SHAn KLY TOLD STEIn ,
“YOU’RE IMMORTAL n OW...”
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