THE GLORY YEARS

Jock Stein had an almost immediate impact on Celtic. Taking over
the reins in March 1965, Stein led the club to Scottish Cup
success in April, their first victory in the Cup for 11 years
and their first trophy since 1958.

Over the next couple of seasons he began to develop a side that
was the equal of any in Europe. Harnessing the players' undoubted
individual talents into a superb team unit, Stein introduced
tactical nous and professionalism to create a tough, fluent
side committed to attacking football.


For the rest of the 60s and well into the 70s Celtic dominated
the Scottish game, eclipsing even the success of the pre-World
War One side.

In 1966 Celtic ended a 12-year barren spell in the league when
they won the first of nine league titles in a row and also picked
up the League Cup for good measure. The following season they
completed a domestic treble, before facing perhaps their greatest
test - the European Cup final.

Celtic's brilliant 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in the National
Stadium near Lisbon, proved a decisive blow against the stiflingly
defensive catenaccio system which had been so influential in
European football. Celtic's willingness and ability to attack
continuously graced that final in a match even Inter's coach
, Helenio Herrera, described as a "victory for sport".

European nights at Celtic Park became an integral part of each
season in the late 60s, with fans enjoying memorable games against
the likes of St Etienne, Red Star Belgrade, Benfica and in the
1970 European Cup semi-final, Leeds. Celtic won the battle of
Britain, silencing their English critics, by beating Don Revie
's uncompromising side in both legs. Unfortunately, that year
they fell at the final hurdle, in an under-par performance against
Dutch side Feyenoord.

A year later the Lisbon Lions played their final game together
as Stein prepared to build a new team for a new decade.

  


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