Hail, Cesar: How Lisbon Lions king McNeill became a legend

The word legend is overused in football. Even the most heroic of players should remain heroes during their lifetimes, becoming legends only when they are gone.

The same goes for statues: they should be memorials to the dead rather than a homage to the living, But there are a few exceptions to every rule, and Billy McNeill was one of them. He earned that legend status as the unique leader of an unique team. And it was entirely appropriate that he should be present, along with thousands of Celtic supporters, when his triumphal statue was unveiled on a chilly Glasgow day in 2015.