Rangers boss Walter Smith today told how the death of Tommy Burns had left him deeply saddened.

The Ibrox manager was among many big names who paid tribute to the Celtic hero, who died early yesterday morning from cancer.

Short life of a football hero 1956: Tommy is born on December 16 in Calton, Glasgow. 1975: Joins Celtic from Maryhill Juniors. 1976: Makes his full debut in a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie. 1988: Member of the side that wins Premier Division and Scottish Cup in club's centenary year. 1989: Bids emotional farewell to fans after move to Kilmarnock. 1992: Handed Kilmarnock manager's job. 1993: Guides Kilmarnock into the Premier Division. 1994: Leads Kilmarnock to the Scottish Cup semi-finals, where they lose to Rangers. 1994: Leaves Kilmarnock on July 11, appointed Celtic manager by Fergus McCann the next day. 1995: Celtic end a six-year trophy famine by winning the Scottish Cup against Airdrie. 1996: Celtic lose just one game in the league but still fail to stop Rangers winning the title. Also lose to Rangers in both cup competitions. 1997: Tommy is released from his contract early by Celtic. Joins Kenny Dalglish as assistant at Newcastle. 1998: Leaves St James' Park after the dismissal of Dalglish. Appointed manager of Reading. 2000: Re-joins Dalglish at Parkhead after John Barnes' exit. Takes over youth development officer role after the appointment of Martin O'Neill. 2002: SFA appoint Tommy as assistant to new Scotland coach Berti Vogts, while continuing as youth development officer at Celtic. 2004: November 1 - Vogts resigns as Scotland manager. Tommy's position as assistant remains unaffected. November 4 - Tommy appointed caretaker Scotland manager for friendly with Sweden. December 2 - Walter Smith named as Scotland boss, and keeps Tommy as assistant. 2005: Gordon Strachan takes over as Celtic boss after O'Neill resigns to look after his sick wife. Tommy named first-team coach. 2006: March 29 - Celtic announce Tommy faces treatment for skin cancer having been diagnosed as suffering from a melanoma. May 16 - Tommy announces he has been given the all-clear after two lumps removed from his leg. 2007: Eight days after Smith quits as Scotland boss, Tommy resigns as assistant manager to work full-time for Celtic. 2008: March 10 - Celtic announce Tommy will receive treatment for cancer again. May 15 - Celtic announce Tommy has died at the age of 51.

Smith, speaking to a packed press room at Ibrox this morning, said: "Obviously it was professionally disappointing to lose the game (Uefa Cup final) on Wednesday night, but personally I was far sadder when I woke up the next morning to hear the news Tommy had passed away.

"I had been fortunate enough to get to know him well over the last four or five years and would have to say he was one of the best people I have ever met."

When Smith was manager of the Scottish international team he appointed Burns as his assistant and today he told how he and Burns worked well together.

He added: "It was a real joy for us to work with him during our period with the Scottish national team.

"Several of our staff here at Rangers, Ally McCoist, Jim Stewart and Pip Yeats, were part of that set-up. Elsewhere, Kenny McDowall worked with Tommy at Celtic before he came here. We were all really saddened to hear the terrible news.

"But like everyone else it's Tommy's family we feel for the most. Our thoughts are with his wife Rosemary and his children at this difficult time.

"Obviously a lot of people don't know Tommy on a personal basis but I think Rangers supporters respected the fact that he was a Celtic man through and through. Tommy was a supporter who played for the club and enjoyed a tremendous career and went on to manage the club. Very few people are as synonmous with Celtic as Tommy was. He had a smashing personality. I knew him a little as a player when he was with Celtic and when he was Celtic manager and I was at Rangers but it was only really when we worked together with Scotland that I got to know him far better. He was a very very likeable personality with a great sense of humour. I don't think that always came through.

"Over and above everything he was a really sincere person and I consider myself fortunate to get to know him. I couldn't help but feel disappointment at losing the Uefa cup final the other night but other aspects outside football - namely Tommy Burns sad death have put it all in perspective."

Meanwhile tributes continued to pour in today for Celtic legend Tommy Burns.

Fans were back outside Celtic Park before heading into work today where the sea of scarves, football tops, flowers and memorials grows by the passing hours.

Politicians today added their voice to the hundreds of footballing tributes from around the world.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Tommy Burns was an outstanding servant for Celtic and Scotland. He always answered the call of club and country, and will be hugely missed throughout the world of football and beyond.

"The grit and determination he displayed as a player and coach were very much in evidence during his battle against cancer."

Shettleston MSP and Celtic supporter Frank McAveety said: "Tommy Burns had the respect of everyone in the game - it crossed both sides of the Old Firm."

Mr McAveety has tabled a parliamentary motion recognising Tommy's career.

Murdo Fraser MSP, the Scottish Tories' deputy leader, said: "This is very, very sad news and everyone involved with Scottish football will miss Tommy Burns."

Yesterday Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "His death robs Scottish football of one of its most inspirational figures of modern times and one of the nicest people in football.

"He will go down as one of the all-time great players for Glasgow Celtic."

Tributes to Tommy have been pouring in since his death yesterday morning.

Former team-mates as well as supporters - from across the Celtic-Rangers divide - have expressed sadness and grief at his passing.

Ex-Celt turned TV presenter Andy Walker said he had known him as "first hero, then team-mate, manager and friend". He added: "Football will always come second when you are talking about good men and Tommy was first and foremost just a very good man and a terrific example."

Other ex team-mates queued up to pay their tributes.

Davie Provan said: "He embodied everything good about the club. He made a terrific Celtic manager but was desperately unlucky that Rangers under Walter Smith were so powerful."

Frank McGarvey said: "He was one of Celtic's greatest servants and was one of the players who would try and go to every event that involved the supporters.

"He was one of the good guys, a winner, with a great sense of humour and he will be badly missed by everyone. A good friend has been taken away."

Alan McInally, who played alongside Tommy at Celtic and under him at Kilmarnock, added: "He was a fantastic football player. I have memories of Tommy Burns being just the most happy, family-loving individual I think I've ever met in my life."

Celtic captain Stephen McManus said that Tommy's death had left the players feeling "numb".

He said: "He was courageous and probably as brave a man as you will ever meet. He will be badly missed by every single one of us not just as a coach but as a person."

Peter Rafferty, of the Association of Celtic Supporters' Clubs, said: "He was a true gentleman and a big family man."

Fergus McCann said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of Tommy's death."