CELTIC LEGENDS COUNTDOWN 20-16

20 SEAN FALLON

The Celtic Years: 1950-1958, 1962-78 (assistant manager/chief scout).

Appearances: 254.

Career highlight: Beating Rangers 7-1 in League Cup Final 1957.

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

So what makes you a legend? "I was just an ordinary player with a big heart and a fighting spirit to recommend me," so claimed the humble Sean Fallon in the aftermath of his Celtic career.

One of the gentlemen of Celtic's history, the softly spoken Sligo-man was nevertheless regarded as a something of a hardman on the park, earning the nickname "The Iron Man."

Another outstanding player who featured throughout the '50s when successful seasons were few and far between for Celtic, Fallon nevertheless had his moments – winning a league title as well as two Scottish and League Cups.

It was his relationship with Jock Stein, however, that became pivotal to Celtic. The two men were friends as players, but it went deeper than that when Fallon eventually worked in tandem with Stein when he took over as manager in 1965.

Fallon died in January this year aged 90.

19 BOBBY COLLINS

The Celtic Years: 1948-1958.

Appearances: 320.

Career highlight: Beating Rangers 7-1 in the 1957 League Cup Final.

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

So what mnakes you a legend? Collins spent a decade at Celtic, but the '50s was not the best era in Celtic's history despite the club having a number of outstanding individual players, of whom Collins was one.

However, he was part of the team who won a League and Cup double in 1954 and he also featured when Celtic won back-to-back League Cups in 1956 and 1957.

His highlight, undoubtedly, was the afternoon at Hampden when Celtic trounced Rangers 7-1 to win the League Cup.

The scoreline remains a record in any major British football final and is the record margin of victory in an Old Firm clash.

Collins was transferred to Everton in 1958 – against his wishes – in a move that was believed to pay for the Parkhead floodlights.

18 JOE McBRIDE

The celtic years: 1965-1969.

Appearances: 94.

Career highlight: Jimmy McGrory claiming McBride was the greatest striker he had ever laid eyes on.

Show us your medals: One European Cup, two League titles, two Scottish Cups.

So what makes you a legend? For years Joe McBride had to carry the tag of the 'unluckiest Celt' after injury robbed him of the chance to really show what he was capable of.

The prolific striker scored 86 goals in 94 appearances for Celtic, but he was forever left to wonder just what might have been.

When the club swept all before them to win every competition they entered in 1967, Joe was forced to watch the latter half of the season from the sidelines after aggravating a knee injury at Pittodrie on Christmas Eve.

By then he had already scored 36 goals for the season – and remained the country's top scorer at the end of that season despite missing the last five months of the campaign. McBride was out for a full year and on his first game back scored a hat-trick.

Although injury denied him a place in the European Cup Final, he was still given a winner's medal.

17 STEVIE CHALMERS

The Celtic Years: 1959-1971.

Appearances: 405.

Career highlight: Scoring the goal that won the European Cup.

Show us your medals: One European Cup, four League titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups.

So what makes you a legend? Will always be revered for scoring the most important goal in Celtic's history when he netted the winner in Lisbon in 1967 to win the European Cup.

Had it not been for the injury to Joe McBride, Chalmers may well not have started that game, although that is not to doubt his proficiency in front of goal – Chalmers scored 228 goals for Celtic, a record that was subsequently broken by Bobby Lennox and then Henrik Larsson.

Nevertheless, he remains the fourth-highest goalscorer of all time at the club and his place in the history books is forever assured.

A broken leg sustained in the 1969 League Cup final against St Johnstone effectively brought about the end of his playing career.

A player who was always said to be unselfish on the ball and who created as many as he scored.

16 WILLIE MALEY

The Celtic Years: 1888-1894 (player); 1897-1940 (manager).

Appearances: 96.

Career highlight: Being part of the first Celtic victory over Rangers in May, 1888.

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

So what makes you a legend? One of the very first players of the club, Maley was signed by chance when representatives of Celtic went to his family home to sign his brother, Tom, who was out.

Willie was signed that night, with Tom later agreeing to play for the Glasgow club, too.

Maley's playing career is hugely overshadowed by what he went on to achieve as manager; he led Celtic to 30 major trophies in a whopping 43-year spell as manager.

It was Maley who said: "It's not the creed nor his nationality that counts. It's the man himself," a slogan which still hangs on the walls of Celtic Park to this day.

His relationship with the club ended acrimoniously, although bridges were mended before he died aged 89 in 1958.

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 15-11

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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