{{Short description|Scottish footballer and manager (1940–2019)}} {{For|the former ice hockey player|Billy McNeill (ice hockey)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Billy McNeill<br>{{small|MBE}} | image = Billy Mcneill 1982-09-28.jpg | upright = 1.1 | alt = | caption = McNeill as Celtic manager in 1982 | full_name = William McNeill<ref name=lhscot>[http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/players/williammcneill.html Billy McNeill], londonhearts.com</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1940|3|2}} | birth_place = Mossend, Scotland | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2019|4|22|1940|3|2}} | death_place = Newton Mearns, Scotland | height = | position = Defender | youthyears1 = –1957 | youthclubs1 = Blantyre Victoria | years1 = {{0|0000}}–1957 | clubs1 = Blantyre Victoria | years2 = 1957–1975 | clubs2 = Celtic | caps2 = 486 | goals2 = 22 | nationalyears1 = 1960–1962<ref>[http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu23/player.php?playerid=68 Scotland U23 player McNeill, Billy], FitbaStats</ref> | nationalteam1 = Scotland U23 | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 1961<ref name=scot60s>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lITgDAAAQBAJ&q=1964+%22scotland+XI%22+v+%22scottish+league&pg=PT215|title=Scotland in the 60s: The Definitive Account of the Scottish National Football Side During the 1960s|author=Ronnie McDevitt|year=2016|publisher=Pitch Publishing|isbn=9781785312458}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | nationalteam2 = SFA trial v SFL | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 1961–1967 | nationalteam3 = Scottish League XI | nationalcaps3 = 9 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 1961–1972 | nationalteam4 = Scotland | nationalcaps4 = 29 | nationalgoals4 = 3 | manageryears1 = 1977 | managerclubs1 = Clyde | manageryears2 = 1977–1978 | managerclubs2 = Aberdeen | manageryears3 = 1978–1983 | managerclubs3 = Celtic | manageryears4 = 1983–1986 | managerclubs4 = Manchester City | manageryears5 = 1986–1987 | managerclubs5 = Aston Villa | manageryears6 = 1987–1991 | managerclubs6 = Celtic | manageryears7 = 1998 | managerclubs7 = Hibernian (caretaker) }} '''William McNeill''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (2 March 1940 – 22 April 2019) was a Scottish football player and manager. He had a long association with Celtic, spanning more than sixty years as a player, manager and club ambassador. McNeill captained Celtic's 'Lisbon Lions' to their European Cup victory in 1967 and later spent two spells as the club's manager. As a player and manager, he won 31 major trophies with Celtic.
A defender, McNeill played for Celtic for his entire senior career, and holds the club record for most appearances, a total of 822 games over 18 seasons. He was captain during their most successful era in the 1960s and 70s. The club won nine consecutive Scottish league championships and thirteen other major domestic trophies in this time, and in 1967 became the first British club to win the European Cup. He also played 29 times for Scotland.
McNeill managed Celtic for nine seasons, from 1978 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991, winning four Scottish league championships. This included a league and cup double in 1987–88, the club's centenary season. He also managed Clyde, Aberdeen, Manchester City and Aston Villa. In 2015, Celtic installed a statue outside Celtic Park of McNeill holding aloft the European Cup, an iconic image in their history.
==Early life== McNeill was born on 2 March 1940 in Bellshill, Lanarkshire. His father was a soldier in the Black Watch and later the Army Physical Training Corps. Aged nine, McNeill moved to Hereford in England where his father was posted, and stayed for two and a half years. Although he already liked football, he enjoyed playing rugby union in his time there.<ref name="HailCesar">McNeill, B., 2014. ''Hail Cesar''</ref>
He moved to Motherwell and excelled playing football as centre-half at Our Lady's High School. His schoolboy performances led to him signing for the junior team Blantyre Victoria.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/04/23/billy-mcneill-ultimate-one-club-player-helped-celtic-change/|title=Billy McNeill: The ultimate one-club player who helped Celtic change the course of European football|last=Forsyth|first=Roddy|date=23 April 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=23 April 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
==Playing career== [[File:Celtic campo de juego Mcneill.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|McNeill (front) leaving the tunnel of the Argentine Racing Club stadium for the 1967 Intercontinental Cup.]] McNeill was signed by Celtic for £250 in 1957 after then reserve team coach Jock Stein saw him playing for Scotland schoolboys against England.<ref name="Guardianobit" /> He was given the nickname '''Cesar''' after the actor Cesar Romero.<ref name = "degree">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12762385.Bhoy_racer|title=Bhoy racer|work=The Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group|quote="Billy's nickname is Cesar," the prof told the audience. "However, this doesn't come from any Roman connections, rather from a movie. In the original Ocean's 11, Cesar Romero drove the getaway car.|access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref>
In his early career, Celtic endured some of their most difficult times, and did not win a trophy for eight years. After Stein became manager in 1965, however, the club's fortunes improved. In the 1965 Scottish Cup final, Celtic defeated Dunfermline 3–2, with McNeill scoring the winning goal. In that season he was named Scottish Footballer of the Year, the first year it was awarded.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/scotpoy.html |title=Scotland – Player of the Year |first=Alan |last=Brown |date=6 December 2018 |website=RSSSF |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
With McNeill as captain, Celtic enjoyed their most successful period, dominating Scottish football and regularly competing in the latter stages of European competitions. They won nine Scottish League championships in a row, as well as seven Scottish Cups and six Scottish League Cups.<ref name=bbcobit>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41685748 |title=Billy McNeill: Former Celtic captain & manager dies aged 79 |work=BBC Sport |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
Celtic's greatest season was in 1966–67, when they won every competition they entered; as well as a domestic treble and the Glasgow Cup, McNeill led the team to victory in the 1967 European Cup Final. The team, which became known as the 'Lisbon Lions,' defeated Inter Milan 2–1 and McNeill (whose last minute goal, a characteristic header from a set piece, had ensured progression against Vojvodina Novi Sad in the quarter-final) was the first British footballer to lift the trophy.<ref name=bbcluke>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35130550 |title=Billy McNeill: The 'Luke Skywalker of his age' |author=Archie Macpherson |author-link=Archie Macpherson |work=BBC Sport |date=18 December 2015 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> He also became the first player to captain his side to the European Treble, and remains the only captain to win the fabled Quadruple.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2023 |title=Who has won a treble, including domestic league and cup titles, plus the European Cup or UEFA Champions League? |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0251-0e99b1ba85da-ec8053dc0a29-1000--who-has-won-a-treble-including-domestic-league-and-cup-title/ |access-date=14 June 2023 |website=UEFA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Neil Fredrik |date=1 June 2022 |title=Celtic 1967 – the only quadruple winners |url=https://gameofthepeople.com/2022/06/01/celtic-1967-the-only-quadruple-winners/ |access-date=14 June 2023 |website=Game of the People}}</ref>
Following another domestic treble in 1968–69, in which another McNeill headed goal set his team on the way to a 4–0 win over Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final,<ref>[https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/16163023.a-4-0-hampden-defeat-by-celtic-ended-sir-alex-fergusons-time-at-rangers-this-ibrox-teams-careers-are-on-the-line/ "A 4-0 Hampden defeat by Celtic ended Sir Alex Ferguson's time at Rangers - this Ibrox team's careers are on the line"], The Herald, 17 April 2018</ref> Celtic again reached the European Cup final in 1970, this time losing to Feyenoord.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196970.html |title=European Competitions 1969-70 |first=James M. |last=Ross |date=4 June 2015 |website=RSSSF |access-date=23 April 2019 }}</ref>
McNeill retired as a player in 1975, having made a club record 822{{NoteTag|This total is sometimes given as 790. 822 includes 32 games in minor competitions, including the Glasgow Cup, Drybrough Cup and the Anglo-Scottish Cup.}} appearances for Celtic and never being substituted.<ref name=fscfcplayer/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/23/billy-mcneill-career-player-manager-celtic|title='His career was incredible' … Billy McNeill was a winner as player and manager|last=Wilson|first=Paul|date=23 April 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 April 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He won 29 caps for Scotland, scoring 3 goals, and also played 9 times for the Scottish League XI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.londonhearts.com/SFL/players/williammcneill.html|title=SFL player William McNeill|website=London Hearts Supporters' Club|access-date=27 November 2011}}</ref>
==Managerial career== After retiring as a player, McNeill began coaching Celtic Boys Club's under 16 team. He began his management career at Clyde in April 1977, before moving to Aberdeen two months later. McNeill recorded four wins, three draws from eight league matches and recorded a total of 11 out of a possible 16 points at Clyde. His last match in charge was a Glasgow Cup semi-final against Celtic, in which Celtic struck two late goals to win 4–2.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.clydefc.co.uk/news/2019/04/23/6078/#.XqB6m8hKjIV | title=Billy McNeill | publisher=Clyde FC | date=23 April 2019 |access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref>
===Aberdeen=== McNeill was appointed Aberdeen manager in June 1977, having been recommended by Jock Stein.<ref name="ReferenceA">Grant, Michael & Robertson, Rob. 2011 ''The Management: Scotland's Great Football Bosses''</ref> He succeeded Ally MacLeod.<ref name = "afc">{{cite web |url=https://www.afc.co.uk/2019/04/23/in-memoriam-billy-mcneill/ |title=In Memoriam: Billy McNeill |publisher=Aberdeen FC |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> In his one season in charge, 1977–78, McNeill led Aberdeen to runners-up finishes in the league and Scottish Cup, and enjoyed a positive working relationship with the club's chairman, Dick Donald.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> Their performance in the league was their best since 1972, and three places above Celtic. During his season with Aberdeen, McNeill signed Gordon Strachan, Steve Archibald and Neil Simpson.<ref name = "afc"/> When Stein retired as Celtic manager, he identified McNeill as his successor, and McNeill accepted the club's offer. He was succeeded at Aberdeen by Alex Ferguson.<ref name="ReferenceA" />
===Celtic=== McNeill returned to a Celtic side who had finished in fifth place in 1977–78. He immediately improved the club's fortunes, as they won the league championship in 1978–79. Celtic clinched the title in their final match of the league season by beating Rangers 4–2, despite having had Johnny Doyle sent off.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/2642?item=2642 |title=When 10 men won the league |publisher=Celtic FC |first=Joe |last=Sullivan |date=21 May 2012 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
His five years in charge saw Celtic win three League championships, in 1978–79, 1980–81 and 1981–82, the Scottish Cup in 1979–80 and the League Cup in 1982–83.<ref name=fscfcmanager/> This period saw Celtic's greatest competition come from the New Firm clubs – Aberdeen, who won the League championship in 1979–80, and Dundee United, who won the title in 1982–83.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/19/the-forgotten-story-of-dundee-united-glory-years-under-jim-mclean |title=The forgotten story of ... Dundee United's glory years under Jim McLean |first=Daniel |last=Harris |work=The Guardian |date=19 April 2017 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
McNeill is credited with developing young players for Celtic, such as Paul McStay and Charlie Nicholas, and making signings such as Murdo MacLeod and Davie Provan who became key players for the club through the 1980s. However, McNeill found working with Desmond White, Celtic's chairman, very difficult, and felt underpaid and underappreciated. Despite Celtic's successes, by 1983 he was being paid less than the managers of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Rangers and St Mirren. When White sold Nicholas to Arsenal, against McNeill's wishes, McNeill looked for the first available way out, and took up the offer to manage Manchester City.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
===Manchester City and Aston Villa=== On 30 June 1983 he moved to England to manage Manchester City. Two years before being appointed by City, he had been strongly linked with the manager's job at their city rivals Manchester United, when Ron Atkinson was appointed instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ywJBAAAAIBAJ&dq=manchester-united&pg=5156%2C3698360|title=McNeill – I'm so flattered |first=Alan |last=Davidson |newspaper=Evening Times |date=19 May 1981 |page=32 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> McNeill secured promotion for City after two seasons in charge (in 1984–85), and oversaw survival in their first season back in the First Division (1985–86).<ref name="Guardianobit">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/23/billy-mcneill-obituary|title=Billy McNeill obituary|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
He started the 1986–87 season as manager of Manchester City, but quit in September 1986 to take charge of Aston Villa.<ref name=bbcobit/> When Villa were relegated, after finishing bottom of the First Division in May 1987, McNeill stood down and was replaced by Graham Taylor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/9225706/Aston-Villas-form-under-Alex-McLeish-as-bad-as-that-of-the-relegated-squad-under-Billy-McNeill.html|title=Aston Villa's form under Alex McLeish as bad as that of the relegated squad under Billy McNeill|first=Dan|last=Heald|date=25 April 2012|website=The Telegraph|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> Manchester City were also relegated that season.
===Return to Celtic=== He then returned to Celtic, and in his first season, 1987–88, the club won the League Championship and Scottish Cup double in their centenary year.<ref name=bbcobit/> Celtic were renowned for scoring late goals that season, and in both the Cup semi-final and final scored late goals to come from behind and win 2–1. Celtic won the Scottish Cup in 1988–89, defeating Rangers 1–0 in the final.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scottish_cup/1963032.stm |title=Old Firm finals down the years |work=BBC Sport |date=1 May 2002 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19890522&id=izNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3687,251027 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=22 May 1989 |page=22 |title=Tension and fear spoil show-piece |first=James |last=Traynor |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
The following two seasons were disappointing, and Celtic did not win a trophy. They lost the 1990 Scottish Cup Final to Aberdeen on penalties. Celtic's league performance was particularly poor; after finishing in third place in 1988–89, they managed only fifth in 1989–90 and third in 1990–91. This was the beginning of a period of poor results and increasing financial instability for Celtic, which continued until the club was taken over by Fergus McCann in 1994. McNeill was sacked by Celtic on 22 May 1991 after four seasons as manager, at the age of 51.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17591034.obituary-billy-mcneill-legendary-celtic-captain-manager |title=Obituary: Billy McNeill, legendary Celtic captain and manager |newspaper=The Herald |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref> In two spells he won eight trophies as Celtic manager – four League championships, three Scottish Cups and one League Cup.<ref name=fscfcmanager/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/alan-mcrae-pays-tribute-to-billy-mcneill/?rid=13925 |title=Alan McRae pays tribute to Billy McNeill |publisher=Scottish Football Association |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
After leaving Celtic he turned down several offers to return to management, including from Dundee, and worked in the media instead. He remained bitter about the manner of his departure from Celtic, until he was asked to become a club ambassador in 2009.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
===Hibernian=== McNeill had a brief spell as football development manager{{NoteTag|McNeill's position at Hibernian has been described in different sources as "football development manager", "football development officer" and "director of development".}} at Hibernian in the later part of the 1997–98 season.<ref name = "hibs">{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/9906 |title=Billy McNeill |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> He was brought in as a mentor to manager Jim Duffy,<ref name = "hibs"/> as they unsuccessfully attempted to arrest a decline in fortunes at the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-millar-two-hot-for-hibs-1140871.html |title=Football: Millar two hot for Hibs |work=The Independent |date=25 January 1998 }}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> McNeill took charge of the team for one game after Duffy was sacked, even though he had been out of football since leaving Celtic in 1991 and was recovering from heart surgery.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-miller-helps-miller-to-wind-up-hibernian-1143676.html |title=Football: Miller helps Miller to wind up Hibernian |work=The Independent |date=8 February 1998 }}</ref> He left Hibernian at the end of the 1997–98 season.<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102023430/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18668667.html |title=Article: McNeill's departure inevitable |work=The Scotsman |date=16 July 1998 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18668667.html |archive-date=2 November 2012 |first=Simon |last=Pia}}</ref>
==Books== McNeill wrote three autobiographies: * {{cite book | last1 = McNeill | first1 = Billy | title = For Celtic and Scotland | publisher = The Sportmans Book Club | year = 1966 }} * {{cite book | last1 = McNeill | first1 = Billy | last2 = Cameron | first2 = Alex | title = Back to Paradise | publisher = Mainstream | year = 1988 | isbn = 978-1851581887 }} * {{cite book | last1 = McNeill | first1 = Billy | title = Hail Cesar | publisher = Headline | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-0755313167 }}
==Awards and recognition== [[File:Billy McNeil statue at Celtic Park (geograph 5647921).jpg|thumb|John McKenna's statue of McNeill outside Celtic Park]] [[File:Celtic FC trophy cabinet (geograph 7734823) (one club man).jpg|thumb|McNeill's One Club Award on display at Celtic Park]]
McNeill was awarded the MBE in November 1974. In 2002 he was voted Celtic's greatest ever captain, and a member of Celtic's greatest team, by the club's fans.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/2245965.stm|title=Jinky best-ever Celtic player|date=9 September 2002|website=BBC Sport|access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref> He was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2530591.stm |title=The names in the Hall of Fame |work=BBC News |date=30 November 2002 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/hall-of-fame/2004.html |title=2004 |publisher=Scottish Football Museum |access-date=17 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928040649/http://www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/hall-of-fame/2004.html |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref>
In December 2015 Celtic installed a statue at the entrance to the Celtic Way outside Celtic Park, created by sculptor John McKenna. The statue, in bronze on a granite base, shows McNeill holding aloft the European Cup, an iconic image in the club's history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/9763 |title=Celtic unveil statue in honour of legend Billy McNeill |publisher=Celtic FC |date=19 December 2015 |access-date=23 April 2019 }}</ref>
In 2019, he was recognised with the "One Club Award" by Spanish club Athletic Bilbao for his achievements and loyalty to Celtic.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47950885 |title=Celtic: Billy McNeill awarded Athletic Bilbao honour |work=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2019 |access-date=16 April 2019 }}</ref><ref name = Athletic>{{cite web |url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2019/04/16/billy-mcneill-y-malin-monstrom-premiados-por-el-athletic-como-one-club-awards |title=Billy McNeill and Malin Moström, awarded by Athletic as One Club Awards |publisher=Athletic Bilbao |date=16 April 2019 |access-date=16 April 2019 }}</ref>
A short time after his death, the new sports pitch at his former school, Our Lady's High, was named in his honour.<ref>[https://www.motherwelltimes.co.uk/education/school-sports-park-named-after-football-great-billy-mcneill-1-4944517/amp School sports park named after football great Billy McNeill], Motherwell Times, 10 June 2019</ref>
In 2019, the Billy McNeill Commemoration Committee was created in Bellshill, and campaigned to raise funds to build a bronze sculpture of McNeill at the pedestrian area of Bellshill Cross.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Meikle|first=David|date=23 July 2020|title=Campaign for Celtic legend Billy McNeill statue in his hometown smashes £70k fundraising target|work=The Daily Record|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/campaign-celtic-legend-billy-mcneill-22400944|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref> The statue was unveiled in November 2022.<ref>[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/billy-mcneill-statue-unveiled-celtic-28590265 Billy McNeill statue unveiled as Celtic icon remembered in hometown with Lisbon Lion memorial], Mark Pirie, ''Daily Record'', 26 November 2022</ref>
==Personal life== McNeill's maternal grandparents were from Lithuania,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FJWWBAAAQBAJ&q=billy+mcneill+lithuania&pg=PT18 |title=Hail Cesar|quote=My Albanian grandparents boarded an immigrant ship believing that they were bound for the New World, but instead of landing in New York they disembarked at Leith|first=Billy|last=McNeill|year=2004|isbn=978-1-4722-2699-0|publisher=Headline Publishing Group|location=London}}</ref> while his father was of Irish descent.<ref>[https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/cesar-a-national-hero-in-scotland-and-lithuania-vilnius-hails-celtic-legend-billy-mcneills-family-roots-in-eastern-europe/ A national hero in Scotland… and Lithuania: Vilnius hails Celtic legend Billy McNeill's family roots in Eastern Europe], Stacey Mullen, Sunday Post, 5 May 2019</ref> He was Catholic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/billy-mcneill-obituary-dr2tgpblj|title = Billy McNeill obituary}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/04/23/billy-mcneill-giant-scottish-football-celtic-captain-led-lisbon/|title = Billy McNeill, giant of Scottish football and Celtic captain who led the 'Lisbon Lions' to European glory – obituary|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 23 April 2019|last1 = Obituaries|first1 = Telegraph}}</ref>
McNeill married Liz Callaghan, a dancer on the TV variety show ''The White Heather Club'' in 1963. They had five children.<ref name="Guardianobit"/>
McNeill, along with former Rangers player Eric Caldow, stood as a candidate for the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party in the 2003 Scottish Parliament election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2893699.stm |title='Old' firm legends seek votes|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=27 March 2003 |access-date=22 September 2013}}</ref> In 2008, he was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow.<ref name="degree"/>
During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum McNeill was a supporter of the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence.<ref name="football">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/independence-referendum-football-legends-unite-4173636 |title=Independence referendum: Football legends unite to back Better Together campaign - Daily Record |author=Torcuil Crichton |work=dailyrecord |accessdate=8 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906203231/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/independence-referendum-football-legends-unite-4173636 |archive-date=6 September 2014 }}</ref>
It was reported in February 2017 that McNeill was suffering from dementia and was very limited in his speech.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-39095623|title=Family of Billy McNeill confirm he has dementia|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=26 February 2017|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref> He died on 22 April 2019, aged 79.<ref name="Guardianobit" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/16059 |title=Family's immense sadness as Celtic legend Billy McNeill passes away |publisher=Celtic FC |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref><ref name=bbcobit/>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>''The Celtic Football Companion'', David Docherty. {{ISBN|0-85976-173-8}}, Published 1986.</ref><ref name=fscfcplayer/><ref name="nft">{{NFT player|20315}}</ref> |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Scottish Cup !colspan="2"|Scottish League Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!width="40"|Apps!!width="40"|Goals!!width="40"|Apps!!width="40"|Goals!!width="40"|Apps!!width="40"|Goals!!width="40"|Apps!!width="40"|Goals!!width="40"|Apps!!width="40"|Goals!!width="40"|Apps!!width="40"|Goals |- |rowspan="18"|Celtic |1957–58 |rowspan="18"|Division One |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0 |- |1958–59 |17||0||0||0||6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||23||0 |- |1959–60 |19||0||7||0||6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||32||0 |- |1960–61 |31||1||8||0||4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||43||1 |- |1961–62 |29||1||6||0||6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||41||1 |- |1962–63 |28||1||7||0||6||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||42||1 |- |1963–64 |28||0||4||0||6||0||8||0||colspan="2"|–||46||0 |- |1964–65 |22||0||6||1||6||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||36||1 |- |1965–66 |25||0||7||0||10||0||7||1||colspan="2"|–||49||1 |- |1966–67 |33||0||6||0||10||2||9||1||colspan="2"|–||58||3 |- |1967–68 |34||5||1||0||10||0||2||0||3{{efn|Appearances in the World Club Championship}}||1||50||6 |- |1968–69 |34||3||7||3||9||0||6||0||colspan="2"|–||56||6 |- |1969–70 |31||5||5||0||10||2||9||0||colspan="2"|–||55||7 |- |1970–71 |31||1||8||1||10||0||5||1||colspan="2"|–||54||3 |- |1971–72 |34||3||6||1||8||0||7||0||colspan="2"|–||55||4 |- |1972–73 |30||1||7||1||10||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||51||2 |- |1973–74 |30||0||5||0||11||0||7||0||colspan="2"|–||53||0 |- |1974–75 |30||1||4||0||9||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||45||1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !486!!22!!94!!7!!137!!4!!69!!3!!3!!1!!789!!37 |} {{notelist}}
'''''NB''' These totals do not include appearances in the Glasgow Cup, which at the time was a senior trophy.''<ref>[http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/glasgow-cup.htm Glasgow Cup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817023040/http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/glasgow-cup.htm |date=17 August 2018 }}, Scottish Football Historical Archive</ref>
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=lhscot/><ref name="nft"/> |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="9"|Scotland |1961||6||0 |- |1962||2||0 |- |1963||3||0 |- |1964||2||0 |- |1965||6||1 |- |1967||1||0 |- |1968||2||0 |- |1969||4||2 |- |1972||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!29!!3 |}
:''Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McNeill goal.''
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Billy McNeill<ref name=lhscot/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=113812&lid=1|title=Billy McNeill – Scotland – Scottish FA|website=www.scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> |- !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |- | style="text-align:center"|1 || 13 October 1965 || Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland || {{fb|POL}} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|1–2 || 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | style="text-align:center"|2 || 3 May 1969 || Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales || {{fb|WAL}} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|5–3 || 1968–69 British Home Championship |- | style="text-align:center"|3 || 17 May 1969 || Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland || {{fb|CYP}} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || style="text-align:center"|8–0 || 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification |}
==Managerial statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- ! rowspan="2!" style="width:130px;"|Team ! rowspan="2!" style="width:50px;"|Nat ! rowspan="2!" style="width:120px;"|From ! rowspan="2!" style="width:120px;"|To !colspan=6|Record |- !width=40|G !width=40|W !width=40|D !width=40|L !width=50|Win % |- |align=left|Clyde<ref>{{cite web|title=Clyde manager Billy McNeill |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/clyde/manager.php?id=804|website=FitbaStats|access-date=26 February 2017}}</ref> |{{flagicon|Scotland}} |align=left|April 1977 |align=left|June 1977 {{WDL|8|4|3|1}} |- |align=left|Aberdeen<ref name=fsafcmanager>{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/aberdeen/manager.php?id=528|title=Aberdeen manager Billy McNeill|website=FitbaStats|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> |{{flagicon|Scotland}} |align=left|June 1977 |align=left|August 1978 {{WDL|50|31|11|8}} |- |align=left|Celtic<ref name="fscfcmanager">{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/manager.php?id=127|title=Celtic manager Billy McNeill|website=FitbaStats|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> |{{flagicon|Scotland}} |align=left|August 1978 |align=left|May 1983 {{WDL|258|165|40|53}} |- |align=left|Manchester City |{{flagicon|England}} |align=left|June 1983 |align=left|September 1986 {{WDL|150|60|41|49}} |- |align=left|Aston Villa |{{flagicon|England}} |align=left|September 1986 |align=left|May 1987 {{WDL|41|9|15|17}} |- |align=left|Celtic<ref name=fscfcmanager/> |{{flagicon|Scotland}} |align=left|May 1987 |align=left|May 1991 {{WDL|197|108|41|48}} |- !colspan=4|Total {{WDLtot|654|346|140|168}} |}
== Honours == === Player === '''Celtic'''<ref name=fscfcplayer>{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2637|title=Celtic player Billy McNeill|website=FitbaStats|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB 1960 TO 1969 | url=https://www.celticfc.com/history/history-timeline/1960-to-1969/}}<br />{{cite news | title=CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB 1970 TO 1979 | url=https://www.celticfc.com/history/history-timeline/1970-to-1979/}} Retrieved 29 April 2021. Celtic Football Club.</ref> * European Cup: 1966–67 * Scottish League champions (9): 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74 * Scottish Cup (7): 1964–65, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75 * Scottish League Cup (6): 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1974–75 * Drybrough Cup: 1974–75 * Glasgow Cup: 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68
'''Scotland'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=113812&lid=1 | title=Billy McNeill | publisher=SFA | access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> * British Home Championship: 1961–62, 1963–64 (shared), 1971–72
=== Manager === '''Celtic'''<ref name=fscfcmanager/><ref>{{cite news | title=CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB 1980 TO 1989 | url=https://www.celticfc.com/history/history-timeline/1980-to-1989/}}<br />{{cite news | title=CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB 1990 TO 1999 | url=https://www.celticfc.com/history/history-timeline/1990-to-1999/}} Retrieved 29 April 2021. Celtic Football Club.</ref> * Scottish League champions: 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1987–88 * Scottish Cup: 1979–80, 1987–88, 1988–89 * Scottish League Cup: 1982–83 * Glasgow Cup: 1981–82<ref>{{cite news | title=1982-05-13: Rangers 1-2 Celtic, Glasgow Cup Final | url=http://www.thecelticwiki.com/m/page/1982-05-13%3A+Rangers+1-2+Celtic%2C+Glasgow+Cup+Final | work=Glasgow Herald | date=14 May 1982 | access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref>
'''Aberdeen'''<ref name = "afc"/> *Scottish Premier Division: runner-up 1977–78 *Scottish Cup: runner-up 1977–78
'''Manchester City''' * Football League Second Division: Promotion 1984–85 * Full Members Cup: runner-up 1985–86<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.citytilidie.com/latest/1985-86/ | title=1985/86 SEASON REVIEW | publisher=City Till I Die | date=21 June 2007 | access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref>
=== Individual === * SFWA Footballer of the Year: 1964–65<ref>{{cite news | title=SFWA Player of the Year | url=https://www.scottishfwa.com/player-of-the-year | publisher=SFWA | access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref> * Scottish Football Personality of the Year: 1977–78<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/billy-mcneill-s-significant-one-season-impact-as-aberdeen-manager-1-4913471 | title=Billy McNeill's significant one-season impact as Aberdeen manager | newspaper=The Scotsman | date=23 April 2019 | access-date=9 May 2019}}<br />{{cite news | url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/in-full/can-steve-clarke-be-manager-of-year-if-celtic-win-treble-1-4717351 | title=Can Steve Clarke be manager of year if Celtic win treble? | newspaper=The Scotsman | date=2 April 2018 | access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{ cite news | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19780511/360/0016 | title = PITTODRIE BOSS BILLY IS SOCCER'S MAN OF THE YEAR | newspaper = Evening Express | access-date = 7 May 2022 | date = 11 May 1978 | via = British Newspaper Archive | url-access=subscription }}<br>{{ cite news | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19780526/369/0022 | title = Rumours meet with no denials | newspaper = Evening Express | access-date = 7 May 2022 | date = 26 May 1978 | via = British Newspaper Archive | url-access = subscription}}</ref> * SFWA Manager of the Year: 1987–88<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.celticglasgow.fr/sfwa-manager-of-the-year/ | title=SFWA Manager of the Year | publisher=The Gem | access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref> * Glasgow Sportman of the Millenium: 1999<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.celticfc.com/news/10135 | date = 2 March 2019 | title=Many Happy Returns Cesar! | publisher=Celtic FC | access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref> * Scottish Football Hall of Fame: 2004<ref>{{cite news | title=Billy McNeill, 2004 Inducteew | url=https://scottishfootballhalloffame.co.uk/billy-mcneill-1940/ | publisher=SFHoF | access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref> **2017 (as part of the ''Lisbon Lions'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/15598476.lisbon-lions-inducted-into-scottish-football-hall-of-fame/|title=Lisbon Lions inducted into Scottish Football Hall of Fame|website=HeraldScotland|date=16 October 2017 }}</ref> * Scottish Sports Hall of Fame: 2002<ref>{{cite news | title=Billy McNeill, 2002 Inductees | url=https://sshf.sportscotland.org.uk/inductees/l-p/billy-mcneill-mbe/ | publisher=SSHoF | access-date=29 April 2021 | archive-date=31 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031064110/https://sshf.sportscotland.org.uk/inductees/l-p/billy-mcneill-mbe/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> * One Club Award: 2019<ref name = Athletic/>
== Notes == {{NoteFoot}}
== See also == * List of one-club men in association football * List of Scotland national football team captains
== References == ; General sources * {{cite book |last=McNeill |first=Billy |title=Hail Cesar |date=October 2004 |publisher=Headline Book Publishing (4 October 2004) |isbn=978-0-7553-1315-0}} * {{cite book | last = MacPherson |first= Archie | title = Jock Stein: The Definitive Biography | year = 2007 | publisher = Highdown | isbn = 978-1-905156-37-5 }}
; Specific citations {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{commons category-inline}} * {{SFA profile}} * {{Scottish Sports Hall of Fame|billy-mcneill-mbe}}
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box | before = Duncan MacKay | title = Celtic captain | years = 1962–1975 | after = Kenny Dalglish | }} {{s-end}} {{Navboxes |title = Awards |bg = Gold |fg = Black |bordercolor = Black |list1= {{SFWA Footballer of the Year}} {{SFWA Manager of the Year}} {{Scottish Football Hall of Fame}} {{One Club Player Award}} {{Scottish Football First Tier League Championship winning managers}} {{Scottish Cup winning managers}} {{Scottish League Cup winning managers}} }} {{Navboxes |title=Billy McNeill managerial positions |list1= {{Clyde F.C. managers}} {{Aberdeen F.C. managers}} {{Celtic F.C. managers}} {{Manchester City F.C. managers}} {{Aston Villa F.C. managers}} {{Hibernian F.C. managers}} }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNeill, Billy}} Category:1940 births Category:2019 deaths Category:Footballers from Bellshill Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Scotland men's international footballers Category:Blantyre Victoria F.C. players Category:Celtic F.C. players Category:Scottish Football League players Category:Scottish Junior Football Association players Category:Scottish football managers Category:Clyde F.C. managers Category:Aberdeen F.C. managers Category:Celtic F.C. managers Category:Manchester City F.C. managers Category:Aston Villa F.C. managers Category:Hibernian F.C. non-playing staff Category:Scottish people of Lithuanian descent Category:Scottish political candidates Category:Scottish Roman Catholics Category:Elder rights activists Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductees Category:People educated at Our Lady's High School, Motherwell Category:Scottish Football League representative players Category:Scottish Football League managers Category:Scotland men's under-23 international footballers Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players Category:English Football League managers Category:20th-century Scottish people Category:21st-century Scottish people Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen