CELTIC LEGENDS COUNTDOWN 45-41

We kicked the debate off yesterday when we published the first of our fab 50 icons from each side of the city's famous footballing divide.

And today, we're pitching in with the second batch of players who are revered by fans of both sides.

Our top team of writers have been sifting through the archives and compiling the players they think qualify as legends.

And, at the end, we'll give you the chance to have your say in an exclusive fans' poll.

You can get in touch online at www.eveningtimes.co.uk and let us know what you think.

45 CHARLIE SHAW

The Celtic Years: 1913/14-1924/25.

Appearances: 436.

Career highlight: Winning the double in his first season, when every goal lost was an affront to his professionalism.

Show us your medals: Six League titles; two Scottish Cups.

So what makes you a legend: Shaw had a shut-out record of more than 50 per cent. Not bad for any goalkeeper, but all the more commendable when you consider this was a man who stood only 5ft 6in tall and who played in an era when strikers were almost encouraged to barge the guys in woolly jumpers and flat caps into the net along with the ball.

On December 13, 1913, this most intelligent and athletic of keepers – who was born in Twechar, but started his career with Queens Park Rangers – erected the barricades around the Celtic goal which were not breached again until Falkirk defeated them 1-0 on February 28, setting a new British record.

In that season, the man who went on to become captain had 26 clean sheets as he conceded only 14 goals in 38 games, which remains a club record.

Shaw later emigrated to the States and became player-manager of New Bedford Whalers.

44 BILLY McPHAIL

The Celtic Years: 1956/57-1958/59.

Appearances: 57.

Career highlight: 1957, Hampden in the sun: Celtic 7 Rangers 1.

Show us your medals: Two League Cups.

So what makes you a legend? The answer lies in the number 57, and the variety of ways it is significant in the short-but-oh-so-sweet Celtic career 'Teasy Weazy' enjoyed before a knee injury forced his retirement from the game.

The two seasons McPhail played in the Hoops after signing from Clyde – where he had starred for 10 years – saw him bang home 38 goals in just 57 appearances.

But the two most important games he played were both at Hampden, in League Cup finals, and they ensured his place in Celtic folklore.

He scored twice in the 1956 3-0 replay win against Partick Thistle. Then, a year later, the former soldier, restaurateur and hairdresser scored a hat-trick in the famous and aforementioned 1957 final to help the Hoops run rings round Rangers and win 7-1.

43 LOU MACARI

The Celtic Years: 1966/67-1972/73.

Appearances: 105.

Career highlight: Scoring the winner in each leg of the 1972 European Cup quarter-final against Ujpest Dozsa.

Show us your medals: Four League titles; two Scottish Cups.

So what makes you a legend? He may only have played for Celtic for four years, and scored 56 goals, but Macari made an immediate and lasting impression on all who saw him wear the Hoops.

One of the Quality Street Gang handed the daunting task of replacing the Lisbon Lions, the young striker was never overawed by his challenge or his team-mates.

Jock Stein had watched him develop, and promoted him early to the first team where his penchant for scoring goals – often against Rangers – saw him fit right in.

Macari wore the gallus label with pride, though his outspokenness did not always sit well with the hierarchy at Celtic Park.

Eventually, it was conversations with Scotland team-mates based in England which led to him agitating for a move to the richer pickings down south, and the £200,000 paid by Manchester United was then a record fee received by a Scottish club.

42 PAUL LAMBERT

The Celtic Years: 1997/08-2004/05.

Appearances: 295.

Career highlight: Playing a huge part in stopping Rangers' run to 10-in-a-row in his first season.

Show us your medals: Four League titles; three Scottish Cups; three League Cups.

So what makes you a legend? Paul Lambert arrived at Parkhead with a Champions League winner's medal already in his possession from his time at Borussia Dortmund.

But a need to bring his family back to the west of Scotland opened the door for his move to Celtic.

Martin O'Neill described him as having great courage on the field allied to great moral courage, and his leadership qualities earned him the respect of all he played alongside, and the captaincy of the club.

Though twice voted SFWA Player of the Year, Lambert never sought the spotlight, preferring to provide the platform from which others could star.

But his importance to the team was incalculable, and his unflappable demeanour the rock on which so many Cetic successes was built.

41 NEIL LENNON

The Celtic Years: 2000/01-2006/07.

Appearances: 304.

Show us your medals: Five League titles; four Scottish Cups; two League Cups.

Career highlight: The Uefa Cup final in 2003, even though Porto finally overcame Celtic's stubborn resistance in extra time.

So what makes you a legend? A fiercely-competitive midfielder, Lennon's success on the field – where he was a key figure in the team Martin O'Neill built to wrest power back from a then-rampant Rangers – was matched only by the controversy which attached itself to him away from the pitch.

Death threats brought his international career with Northern Ireland to a premature end, while he was a target of verbal abuse at almost every Scottish ground he visited, and, indeed, the victim of physical attacks away from football.

This escalated when he became manager in 2010, with bullets and potential bombs in the post. But Lennon refused to be bowed, endearing himself even more to the club's supporters.

This year he became only the third Celtic man to win the League and Scottish Cup double as a player then manager, following Jock Stein and Billy McNeill, and taking his tally to four trophies in three seasons in charge.

Your shout:

Now it's your turn to let us know what you think about our Celtic legends. Get in touch with us online by emailing us at sport@eveningtimes.co.uk and we'll give you the chance to have your say on the famous 50.

Tomorrow: the Celtic players  ranked 40-36

Celtic Legends Countdown 50 - 46

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