NEIL DONCASTER, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Professional Football League, has described Celtic great Tommy Gemmell as one of the most significant figures in Scottish football history.
The Parkhead club announced the death of the Lisbon Lion at the age of 73 on Thursday morning following a long struggle with illness.
Gemmell scored in two separate European Cup finals for Celtic, including the famous win over Inter Milan in 1967 that saw the Bhoys crowned as the first British champions of Europe.
Read more: Tributes flood in for Tommy Gemmell after Celtic announce death of Hoops great
Doncaster said in a statement that Scottish football has lost one of its 'most significant figures'.
He said: "On behalf of everyone at the SPFL, we were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Tommy Gemmell. Our immediate thoughts are with his family and close friends.
“Tommy is one of the most significant figures in Scottish football history having scored in two European Cup Finals, including the famous 1967 victory over Inter Milan in Lisbon.
"Today’s news is particularly poignant with this year being the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s achievement in becoming the first British club to win that special trophy.
“As well as serving both Celtic and Scotland as a player with such distinction, Tommy played for and managed Dundee and was also manager of Albion Rovers in two different spells.
"The SPFL passes on its condolences to the staff and supporters of those three clubs but we know that all SPFL clubs and football fans across the country will share in their sadness today.”
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