A CELTIC legend who was a Lisbon Lion has sadly died aged 84.
The Glasgow-based club announced that John Clark has passed away.
The legendary footballer made his debut for the Glasgow side in 1959 and went on to make over 300 appearances for the club.
John was also part of Celtic's famous Lisbon Lions, who won the European Cup in 1967.
On top of John, the well-known Lisbon Lions squad was made up of Ronnie Simpson, Jim Craig, Tommy Gemmell, Bobby Murdoch, Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone, Willie Wallace, Stevie Chambers, Bertie Auld, Bobby Lennox, and John Fallon.
The squad was managed by Jock Stein alongside Sean Fallon, who was the assistant manager.
By the time his footballing career at Celtic Park in the East End came to an end, John had won an incredible six league titles, five league cups, three Scottish cups, and one European Cup.
After leaving Celtic in 1971, John then joined Greenock Morton for several years.
The Hoops icon then returned to Parkhead to coach with the Celts' youths and reserve sides before linking up with Billy McNeil, becoming Cesar's assistant manager at Aberdeen and then at Celtic.
After enjoying success in the dugout alongside his former captain, John embarked on his own managerial career in the late 1980s and early 90s, taking charge of Cowdenbeath, Stranraer and Clyde.
His time at Celtic, however, wasn’t finished, and John returned once again to the club that he loved, taking on the role as kit man, a role which he held for almost two decades from the 1990s onwards.
Celtic Chairman, Peter Lawwell said: “John’s passing represents a massive loss to his own family and, of course, a huge loss to the wider Celtic family.
“A very dear friend and colleague, John was actually a hero to me and so many others, someone who achieved the greatest feat of all in club football, but did so, along with his great teammates, with such grace and humility.
“That famous day in Lisbon, which John was such an integral part of, changed our club forever. Ever since, each player who has passed through our club has stood on the shoulders of giants, and John was certainly one of those giants.”
“John gave his life to Celtic both as a player and on our staff in a variety of his roles, and his contribution to our great club over so many decades is immeasurable”.
“John was a fantastic husband, father and grandfather. Such a warm, gentle, and unassuming man. It was an absolute privilege to have known John.
"Rightly, he will forever be regarded as one of the Celtics' greatest ever servants.
“He will be someone we will all miss so dearly, and we send all our love, our thoughts and prayers to John’s family.”
