LET’S JOIN LISBON LEGENDS
Celts one game from invincible league season & Rodgers wants to seize the day
CELTIC v HEARTS
Eleven men, along with manager Jock Stein, who were the original inventors of the ‘Celtic Way’.
And Rodgers accepts that every Hoops side since 1967 – including his own – will be measured against the European Cup-winning greats.
His team can make history of their own in the next seven days by completing an invincible Treble.
But in the week that marks the 50th anniversary of the Lions’ victory over Inter Milan, Rodgers took time out to pay tribute to Stein and his legends.
Having grown up as a Celtic fan in Northern Ireland, he was well aware of the magnitude of the achievement.
But only after arriving at the club a year ago, when he got to meet some of the Lions, did he get a true sense of what they had achieved.
Rodgers said: “I was always aware of the Lisbon Lions’ story. When you think of the football they played, they started the idea of the Celtic Way. “Every Celtic team in the future would be judged and measured against that. Every side held up against it. They were the architects and pioneers of Celtic. “To think nine of those players came through the system, with only Ronnie Simpson and Willie Wallace brought in. “Big Jock had bombed Ronnie out at Hibs and when he came to Celtic, Ronnie must have thought his time was up. Ronnie was in the reserves but brought back into the team and was part of the great history. “I come across some of the Lions now. I see John Clark on a daily basis and always take a little bit of gold dust from our meetings. “It’s the humility of these guys. John has incredible stories. I still see Bobby Lennox at the club and he looks really well. “Jim Craig is a great ambassador for Celtic. I’ve seen Stevie Chalmers at some of the functions and Bertie Auld still has great energy. He’s a great guy. “It’s great they are all being recognised now. The club have done a brilliant job. It would be fitting if we honour them by our achievements on the park. If you look at how they played – the creativity, togetherness, spirit and behaviour – it’s fitting of the team and how we’ve played.” As Rodgers searches for little motivational nuggets to use on his team against Hearts today and Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final next week – he revealed that he has already used the Lions’ story.
He said: “I mentioned it earlier this season. I went to a tribute to the Lions and some of the guys were there. It was inspiring and I said that to the players. I hope they have taken inspiration from it.”
Even the Lisbon Lions didn’t manage to go through a full campaign unbeaten.
So if Celtic avoid defeat to Hearts at Parkhead today, he’s well aware of what a remarkable feat it will be.
Rodgers said: “It will be the first one since 1898 when I believe players were still playing with caps on.
“Any manager will tell you about the extremes and difficulties you face in a season, the psychological twists and turns that take place.
“So to go through it, having equalled the record of 33 wins and four draws, it would be fantastic.”
The Lisbon Lions were architects and pioneers of modern Celtic