The statue celebrates the moment when Billy McNeill lifted the European cup after Celtic won the trophy by beating Inter Milan – F.C. Internazionale Milano in 1967 at Lisbon.

This was the first occasion any British team had won the European Cup and Celtic’s captain, Billy McNeill was the first British football team captain to have that honour of lifting the cup. The Celtic team, managed by Jock Stein went on to become known as ‘the Lisbon Lions’ and had a great run of winning championships over the next years.

http://www.celticfc.net/news/9763

The Billy McNeill statue, created by John McKenna Sculptor at his studio in Ayrshire, the statue was commissioned by Celtic football club and was installed at the entrance to their Parkhed stadium in Glasgow. This is the first of two statues that John McKenna created in bronze for the legendary Celtic FC player. The other later statue McKenna sculpted in bronze for his home town of Bellshill.

Unveiled at Celtic FC Parkhead stadium by Billy McNeill himself and family, 19th Dec 2015.