CELTIC LEGENDS COUNTDOWN: 50-46

Their exploits are seamlessly stitched into the fabric of the grand old east end team.

Tully, McPhail, Stein, McNeill, McStay, Dalglish and Lennon...they all echo down through the decades.

But which one stands tallest in the Parkhead pantheon of greatness?

Over the next two weeks, we will name the 50 Celtic players in descending order we think truly deserve to be called legends.

Compiled by Ronnie Cully and Alison McConnell, we will count down every day to the player we believe is the ultimate Celtic hero.

Some will shock and surprise you.

And we guarantee that others will generate controversial reactions.

Of course, it's an almost impossible mission, a painstaking task which is bound to spark discussion and disagreement in pubs and clubs and homes.

But football is all about opinions ... and we're happy to chuck in our tuppence worth.

It's a brilliant series that will undoubtedly get Celtic fans talking.

And we want you to let us know what you think.

At the end of the series, we'll publish a selection of your comments over which players you think should be included in our Celtic legends poll.

And you can also have your say over the order the players appear in.

So check out the first of our famous 50...

And let the arguments begin.

50 MURDO MacLEOD

The Celtic Years: 1978-87.

Appearances: 395.

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

Career highlight: Scoring a final-minute Old Firm goal in 1979 to beat Rangers 4-2 as 10 men won the league.

So what makes you a legend?

Blessed with terrific stamina and a shot that was as powerful with both feet, MacLeod was signed from Dumbarton by Billy McNeill for what was then a hefty £100,000 fee. He soon proved himself at Celtic, developing into an attacking midfielder who had a knack for scoring big goals in big games. He was also occasionally used as emergency cover in the full-back positions.

In season 82/83, MacLeod netted 19 goals from the middle of the park, although Celtic lost the league title to Dundee United. His goal in the 1979 triumph when 10 men won the league was voted the 'best ever' in an Old Firm derby.

He left Celtic for a successful spell with Borussia Dortmund. He later returned to the club as assistant manager in 1997 to take his place beside Wim Jansen to stop Rangers winning a 10th successive title.

49 JIM BROGAN

The Celtic Years: 1963-1975.

Appearances: 341.

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

Career highlight: A dramatic 90th-minute winner against Rangers in the New Year fixture of 1972, a rare goal for Celtic.

So what makes you a legend?

Signed from Junior side St Roch's, Brogan had to stick it out for a long period in Celtic's reserves before he was finally handed his chance to shine in Jock Stein's side.

Noted for being able to handle himself when things got over-physical, Brogan became a mainstay of the successful side of the late 60s and early 70s.

In season 1969/70, he helped the club reach its second European Cup Final. He had excelled against Fiorentina and then against Leeds United when he and Billy McNeill helped to blunt the-then sizzling Leeds strike force of Mick Jones and Allan Clarke.

He was moved from sweeper to left-back following Tommy Gemmell's departure from the club in 1971. Such were his performances that season that he landed four Scotland caps, including one against England in a 3-1 defeat at Wembley.

48 PAT BONNER

The Celtic Years: 1978-1995.

Appearances: 641.

Show us your medals: Four League titles; four Scottish Cups; one League Cup.

Career highlight: Will forever be remembered in the colours of his country when he denied Romania's Daniel Timofte in the knockout stages of the 1990 World Cup.

So what makes you a legend?

Bonner enjoyed an exceptional Celtic career and is still a hugely popular figure among the Hoops support. Bonner was Jock Stein's last signing for Celtic and became a mainstay for the club throughout the 1980s and the first half of the 1990s.

He enjoyed both ups and downs in his Celtic career, being part of successful times. However, he also had to impotently watch the Ibrox revolution in the late 80s as Celtic slumped miles behind their great rivals on and off the pitch.

Bonner's worldwide reputation was given a massive lift after the 1990 World Cup when he excelled as Ireland got to the quarter-finals of the competition. He bowed out of Celtic after the 1995 Scottish Cup Final victory over Airdrie as Tommy Burns' side ended a six-year trophy drought, signing off to a wonderful ovation from the Celtic support.

47 TOM BOYD

The Celtic Years: 1992-2003.

Appearances: 364.

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

Career highlight: Captaining Celtic to the 1997-98 league title.

So what makes you a legend?

A bargain buy when Celtic swapped Tony Cascarino to Chelsea to bring Boyd to his boyhood club, the defender went on to be a hugely influential member of the Hoops team.

Unfortunate to play through the dark days of the 90s, he nevertheless savoured the success in the latter stages of his Celtic career.

The image of Boyd kissing the league trophy when Celtic stopped Rangers from winning ten-in-a-row has become an iconic image while he became only the second Celtic captain to lead the club to a domestic Treble (after Billy McNeill).

He did not always get the credit he deserved for his ease on the ball. Boyd's career lasted long enough for him to play a big role in the Treble-winning season under Martin O'Neill. It was a success he really relished.

46 DIXIE DEANS

The Celtic Years: 1971-76.

Appearances: 184.

Show us your medals: Three League titles; two Scottish Cups; one League Cup.

Career highlight: Hitting six goals one afternoon in an eight-goal hammering of Partick Thistle.

So what makes you a legend?

Deans formed a formidable partnership with Kenny Dalglish during their time together at Celtic, with Deans netting 124 goals throughout his time in the Hoops.

Loved by the Celtic fans for his passion, his effort and for his goals, his most celebrated time in a Celtic shirt came between October 19 and 26, 1974. In the first game, in the league, Deans scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over the fine Hibs team of that period and, a week later, he repeated the feat, again against the Hibees, this time in the League Cup Final when Celtic won 6-3.

He is remembered, too, for the game against St Johnstone when he lost two teeth, spat them out and played on with the blood dripping down his shirt.

His darkest moment at the club came in the semi-final of the 1972 European Cup when he blazed a spot-kick over the bar and Inter Milan beat Celtic 5-4 at Parkhead on penalties.

Your shout

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

Tomorrow: The Hoops players ranked 45-41

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