CELTIC LEGENDS COUNTDOWN 15-11

Here are numbers 15-11...

15 DANNY McGRAIN

The Celtic Years: 1966/67-1986/87.

Appearances: 633.

Career highlight: The Centenary double, 10 Men Winning The League, the 5-0 last-day victory against St Mirren to snatch the title in 1986.

Show us your medals: Nine League titles, five Scottish Cups, two League Cups.

So what makes you a legend? World-class is a term used too readily to describe players who are, in truth, just this side of good.

But, in the case of McGrain in his prime, he truly was the best in his position anywhere on the planet.

It did not come easily to him, however, as he had to overcome serious handicaps, including diabetes, a fractured skull, a broken leg and an ankle injury which kept him out of action for more than a year.

With typical tenacity, McGrain battled through it all, and came out the other side a multiple winner.

He was a ferocious tackler, but never resorted to foul play, something which earned him the full respect of all who came up against him, and the football world in general.

Now a member of Neil Lennon's backroom staff, McGrain remains a much-loved figure at the club.

14 PAUL McSTAY

The Celtic years: 1980/81-1996/97.

Appearances: 677.

Career highlight: Captaining the Scotland Under-18 side to the European Championship in 1982.

Show us your medals: Three League titles, four Scottish Cups, one League Cup.

So what makes you a legend? He came from a family steeped, for generations, in Celtic history – but 'The Maestro' went on to write a huge chapter all of his own.

McStay was fast-tracked into the first team because the talent he showed while starring for Scotland Schoolboys at Wembley while still only 15 continued to develop, and Celtic couldn't wait to harness it.

His ability to see a pass, then deliver it with unerring accuracy, elevated him to the status of one of the very best midfielders of his generation anywhere in Europe.

Yet, a quieter, more unassuming man you would struggle to find.

McStay had the misfortune to be a captain of the club at a time when Celtic suffered from severe under-investment, a fact reflected in what must be regarded as a meagre medals return given his talent and the number of games he played for the club.

13 TOMMY GEMMELL

The Celtic years: 1961/62-1971/72.

Appearances: 434.

Career highlight: Scoring in the European Cup Final of 1967 – then repeating the feat three years later.

Show us your medals: Six League titles, two Scottish Cups, four League Cups, one European Cup.

So what makes you a legend? The Danny Kaye lookalike (and how he played up to his resemblance to the American movie star) lived life the way he played football – at full throttle.

His rampaging runs up the wing from either full-back position invariably concluded with a shot at goal of such ferocity keepers seldom saw the ball as it flashed past them.

Most famously, he scored the equaliser the day the Lisbon Lions were born, one of just 69 times he found the net for the club.

Big Tam had countless run-ins with Jock Stein, his lifestyle offending the manager who wanted to retain complete control over his players at all times.

But Gemmell was a free spirit who could not be shackled, and these same characteristics were what made him such an effective player. The fans adored him, and never more than the day in 1969 when, playing for Scotland, he chased, then booted on the backside, Germany's Helmut Haller, a reaction to a challenge which earned him the first red card of his senior career and the misfortune to be dropped for the League Cup final a few days later.

12 JIMMY McMENEMY

The Celtic years: 1902/03-1919/20.

Appearances: 515.

Career highlight: Leaving five Rangers players tied up in knots before he scored in the 1914 Ne'erday game.

Show us your medals: 11 League titles, six Scottish Cups.

So what makes you a legend? 'Napoleon' scored on his debut for the Hoops, and continued to find the net for the next 18 years.

By the time he moved on to Partick Thistle – where he helped them win the Scottish Cup in 1921, aged 40 – he had 168 strikes to his name, and a deserved place in the club's folklore.

From his inside-left berth, McMenemy was a pivotal player in the Celtic side which dominated Scottish football at the start of the last century.

His vision and awareness were his hallmark, while his ability to convert chances with head or foot made him the scourge of opposing defenders.

McMenemy brought his cool head to the dug-out when he returned as an assistant to Willie Maley just before the Second World War.

11 CHARLIE TULLY

The Celtic years: 1948/49-1959/60.

Appearances: 319.

Career highlight: Scoring direct from a corner at Brockville in February, 1953 – then repeating the feat when the referee demanded a re-take.

Show us your medals: One League title, two Scottish Cups, two League Cups.

So what makes you a legend? Well, how about the fact he was George Best, before George Best – and not just because they both hailed from Belfast.

Cheeky Charlie was a Fifties equivalent of a modern-day pop star, Tullymania enveloping adoring fans who hung on every tale of his exploits off the field and his tricks on it. He became an instant hit after starring in his first Old Firm game just after joining the club.

Tully's skill knew no bounds, although his willingness to train hard did. Much to the chagrin of his coaches and a few team-mates, he could not see how running round a track would help him play any better. Perhaps as a consequence, this incorrigible inside-left's goal tally was just 47, and he did not win as many trophies as he should have – but he won thousands of followers.

Your shout

Now it's your turn to let us know what you think about our Celtic legends. Get in touch with us via email at sport@eveningtimes.co.uk and we'll give you the chance to have your say on the Famous Fifty.

Tomorrow: the Celtic players ranked 10-6

Celtic Legends Countdown 20 - 16

Celtic Legends Countdown 25 - 21

Celtic Legends Counctdown 30 - 26

Celtic legends Countdown 35 - 31

Celtic Legends Countdown 40 - 36

Celtic Legends Countdown 45 - 41

Celtic Legends Countdown 50 - 46

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