Celtic’s 'Lisbon Lion' John Hughes passes away
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
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Celtic are mourning the passing at the age of 79 of John Hughes – a key member of the Glasgow club’s famous 'Lisbon Lions' that won the European Champion Clubs’ Cup in 1967.
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The former winger and striker was part of Jock Stein’s squad that won the title with a famous 2-1 win over Internazionale in Lisbon. Although injury kept him out of the final as Celtic became the first British club to lift the European Cup, Hughes received a medal, having played in five of the nine games on the club’s road to the final.
In 12 years as a Celtic player, Hughes – known as ‘Yogi’, a nickname derived from the popular cartoon character Yogi Bear – scored 189 goals in 416 appearances for the Hoops between 1959 and 1971. He won seven Scottish titles and four Scottish Cups, as well as five League Cup medals. He earned eight Scotland caps and scored his solitary goal in a 1-1 draw against England in a European Championship qualifier in 1968.
His equaliser and performance in the 2-1 win over Leeds United in front of over 130,000 fans at Hampden in 1970 was arguably his greatest moment for Celtic as they qualified for a second European Cup final. This time, Hughes played, but couldn’t prevent Celtic from losing 2-1 to Feyenoord after extra-time at the San Siro stadium in Milan.
After leaving Celtic in 1971, he had short spells with Crystal Palace and Sunderland before retiring in 1973, but will forever be associated with Celtic, of whom he once said: “I wouldn't want to be remembered for one goal or game, even that match against Leeds ... You know what? I would just want it to be known that I was a Celtic man.”