Celtic players dominate our list of defensive midfielders, but which warrior have DAY SIX: THE MIDF

Celtic (1975 to 1990) Six (1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1988).

FEED The Bear. Roy Aitken was versatile and could play, and play well, in a variety of positions. But when Jock Stein recovered from the car crash which almost claimed his life and returned to manage Celtic in 1976, he fielded him as a holding midfielder. It suited the fast, physical and industrious youngster, and his team, perfectly. The Parkhead club duly won the Premier Division and Scottish Cup double.

Spells as right-back, leftback, centre-half and sweeper followed. But Billy McNeill, who succeeded Stein in 1978, was also rewarded for deploying Aitken in central midfield. His side won the league in his debut season after beating Rangers in a thrilling final day title decider.

The man from Ardrossan (below) was never the most elegant footballer. But he brought boundless energy and unquenchable enthusiasm to a team and lifted those around him. As one former team-mate remarked: “a side with Roy Aitken in it was better than a side without Roy Aitken in it”. He spent 15 years in the Celtic first team, won trophies aplenty, picked up 56 caps for Scotland and played at two World Cups.

Craig Brown worked with him at Mexico ’86 and Italia ’90. “What a great attitude Roy had!” he said. “He was so responsive and so willing. Anything you asked him to do he did. He was always desperate to help the team.”

Rangers (1961 to 1978) Two (1976 and 1978).

THE man who was crowned The Greatest Ever Ranger by supporters in 1999 only played for three seasons in the Premier Division before hanging up

five years and was the captain in the UEFA Cup final in Seville in 2003.

Hibernian (2002 to 2007), Celtic (2007 to present day)

Ten (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020).