Celtic icon Fallon hailed

Many tributes have been paid to Celtic legend and former Ireland international Sean Fallon, who has died at the age of 90.

As assistant to manager Jock Stein, Sligo native Fallon will forever be associated in the club’s history with the famous Lisbon Lions side which won the European Cup by beating Inter Milan in the 1967 final in Portugal.

Fallon, who won eight caps for Ireland, also played with Celtic from 1950 to 1958, as a full-back and centre-forward, making 254 appearances and scoring 14 goals. He won a Scottish League medal, three Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup with the club before retiring through injury.

Later, his managerial partnership with the legendary Stein saw the club win nine League Championships, eight Scottish Cups and six League Cups, as well as becoming the first British team to win European football’s premier competition.

Paying tribute yesterday, FAI President Paddy McCaul said: “Sean was an icon of Celtic FC and will forever be linked with their greatest glory days. He was a huge influence on the development of the club. I met him at a function in Longford a couple of years ago and his knowledge of the game was incredible.

“I was pleased to present Sean’s son with his outstanding international caps in his native Sligo last year. He is a sad loss to football.”

FAI chief executive John Delaney said: “Sean Fallon was a tremendous football man who contributed so much to the game at the highest level. “I met him when we brought together all the former international players for the first international game at Croke Park in 2007 when he was one of the oldest living players at that time.

“This is a sad occasion for Celtic FC, Sligo Rovers and Irish football.”