Dalglish insists unsung hero Fallon deserves place beside Stein in pantheon of greats

Sean was a brilliant ally to Big Jock. If the gaffer gave you a lashing, he would build you up

KENNY DALGLISH CRAIG SWAN

BILL SHANKLY once declared Jock Stein immortal.

In the eyes of Kenny Dalglish, the same goes for Sean Fallon.

On the day which marks the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s Lisbon triumph, the Lions are remembered as heroes. Manager Stein the same.

Fallon, though, was an integral if less celebrated figure.

After joining forces with Stein in 1965 and becoming his assistant, the duo helped orchestrate one of football’s greatest-ever stories.

The world knows Stein. They know the Jimmy Johnstones and Tommy Gemmells. Fallon was every bit as vital to the machine.

Stein’s No.2 passed away four years ago at the age of 90 but Dalglish insists he will never be forgotten and has particular reasons for cherishing his memories of the Celtic great.

He said: “Although they [Stein and Fallon] are not here, you don’t imagine them to have gone anywhere.

“You might not see them but you still expect to see them pop up somewhere. Maybe if you used the word immortal for both of them, you wouldn’t be too far away.”

Dalglish looks c.swan@dailyrecord.co.uk back and is adamant his entire career was launched by Fallon.

The Scotland legend, who signed provisional forms with Celtic in the same month as that Lisbon triumph, said: “I remember Sean very fondly. He was the first contact I had at Celtic.

“I was 15 when he came down to my house. He had been on his way to West Kilbride, Seamill Hydro, to celebrate his anniversary but Sean popped in just to let myself and my dad know that Celtic wanted to sign me. My dad was having a sleep after being out at work so the doorbell woke him up.

“Fortunately for me, he was in quite a good mood when Sean came in.

“Although my dad had taken me to watch Rangers play, in the end there was no doubt in his mind or my mind that Celtic was the best place to go.

“That was the biggest thing in my career. That was the start.

“The joinery apprenticeship was knocked on the head – the only thing I hit on the head. I couldn’t hit a nail!

“After that, I was up and running and once you’ve got a chance like that you just need to make sure you take it.”

Of course, Dalglish did just that. But,