CELTIC LEGENDS COUNTDOWN 25-21

25 JOHN THOMSON

The Celtic Years: 1926/27-1931-32

Appearances: 188

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Breaking through to become Scotland's No.1 keeper while still only 21.

show us your medals: Two Scottish Cups.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU A LEGEND? The fact so many Celtic fans continue to make the pilgrimage to his grave in Cardenden in Fife says it all.

The Prince of Goalkeepers died on September 5, 1931, aged just 22, after fracturing his skull and rupturing an artery at his temple while bravely diving at the feet of Rangers' Sam English during an Old Firm game at Ibrox.

Around 30,000 attended his funeral, many making the journey from Glasgow on foot.

There they acknowledged the simple epitath: They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind.

A glittering career lay ahead of this most talented of goalkeepers, who had tremendous agility and wonderful hands.

And the memory of Thomson – who made his debut for the club as an 18-year-old - will always have a poignant place in the history of Celtic FC.

24 JIMMY QUINN

The Celtic Years: 1900/01-1914/15

Appearances: 331

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: A hat-trick to win the 1904 Scottish Cup after Rangers led 2-0.

show us your medals: Six League titles, five Scottish Cups

SO WHAT MAKES YOU A LEGEND? There are 216 reasons, every one a goal, and every one further installing 'The Might Quinn' as a hero of the Hoops.

He scored on his debut, though this did little to allay his own fears that he was not good enough to play at the senior level.

But the Bhoy from Croy - who looked destined for life in the pits before football nabbed him - never gave less than 100 per cent, and his power and pace made him a mainstay of Willie Maley's successful team, the first to win the Double in Scotland.

They recorded six consecutive championship wins, and Maley described Quinn as the keystone of the greatest side Celtic ever had.

Though he was a bull on the deck and in the air, as many a battered and bowed opponent would testify, Quinn was also very able with the ball at his feet, and this helped earn him 11 caps for Scotland.

23 RONNIE SIMPSON

The Celtic Years: 1964/65-1969/70

Appearances: 188

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: An audacious back-heel to a team-mate when under pressure in the 1967 European Cup Final.

show us your medals: Four League titles, three Scottish Cups, five League Cups, one European Cup.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU A LEGEND? By the time 'Faither' arrived at Celtic, he had already made his name playing for Queen's Park (as a 14-year-old), Great Britain at the 1948 Olympics, Third Lanark and Hibs, as well as Newcastle, where he won two FA Cups.

But, when Jock Stein – who had booted the-then 33-year-old out of Easter Road – followed him to Parkhead, Simpson told his wife to pack their bags because he did not think he would have a future under the Big Man.

How wrong that proved to be as Simpson's career enjoyed an Indian Summer, culminating in the European Cup final in Lisbon, where he was the oldest player on the field.

His game-intelligence and agility were his trademarks as he recorded an impressive shut out rate of 48 per cent.

22 SANDY McMAHON

The Celtic Years: 1891/92-1902/03

Appearances: 217

career highlIght: A delightful double to help Celtic win the Scottish Cup replay against Queen's Park in 1892.

show us your medals: Four League titles, three Scottish Cups.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU A LEGEND? 'The Duke' scored 171 goals in his 217 games for Celtic, a strike rate that puts even the likes of Henrik Larsson in the shade.

However it was not just the frequency of his goals, but their importance, which made him the first real hero of the club soon after they were formed.

McMahon played in three Scottish Cup winning teams – and scored in every one of the finals.

Well educated and read, he had little pace, but was a master in the art of dribbling.

It was, however, his prowess in the air that was his main asset, and the hang-time he created added to the power he generated made him stand head and shoulders above anyone else playing the game in that era.

The game's first superstar, sadly, McMahon died of cancer, aged just 45.

21 TOMMY BURNS

The Celtic Years: 1973/74-1989/90

Appearances: 508

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: A pivotal performance in the 1988 Scottish Cup final to secure the double for Celtic in their Centenary year.

show us your medals: Six League titles, four Scottish Cups, one League Cup.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU A LEGEND? The fan who became a player, who became the manager, who remains an icon. Tommy lived the dream, and allowed thousands of others to enjoy the experience with him.

Brought up within a mazy run of the ground, TB was myopically challenged, but wonderfully gifted, his abundance of skill matched only by the size of his heart which saw even Johan Cruyff join his fan club.

He played in every position on the left side of the team, and scored 81 goals in the process.

By the time Fergus McCann brought him back as manager, he was already a cult hero. This stood him in good stead as he struggled to deliver the level of success he had enjoyed as a player.

When he died of cancer at just 51, he was an important assistant to Gordon Strachan, and the outpouring of grief from both sides of the divide underlined how loved and respected he was and is.

Your shout

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Tomorrow: The Celtic players ranked 20-16

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