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BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Emotional' Rodgers 'lost for words' at scene of 1967 triumph
An "emotional" Brendan Rodgers admitted he was "lost for words" after visiting the scene of Celtic's greatest Celtic manager took his players and staff to the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon, where they became the first British club to lift the European Cup following a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in are in the Portuguese capital to take on Sporting in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday and their training camp is across the road from the place where the Lisbon Lions earned their name."There are very few times where I'd be lost for words," Rodgers told Celtic TV."When you grow up as a Celtic supporter, you know all the stories, you know Bertie (Auld) singing in the tunnel and the support that came here."But just to actually walk the journey and relive some of those memories, and just coming out of the tunnel was very emotional."Then we make our way up to here where big Billy (McNeill) lifted the trophy, knowing the thousands of Celtic supporters were down there watching."So it's a feeling and being brought up with the stories and understanding that night changed the whole direction of the club, and to be stood here as a Celtic manager for my first time here, it's really special and really emotional."Celtic captain Callum McGregor was also touched by the experience, adding: "So, so lucky to even be here, to represent this club and to be at a stadium that is so iconic in our history."And to stand where Billy stood just brings into focus, one, how amazing an achievement it was and, two, just trying to get a sense of what it would have felt like to look out and just see a sea of green and white Celtic supporters."I'm so, so, so lucky to be a part of this club and on days like this you feel the enormity of it and very, very lucky and blessed."
Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Brendan Rodgers' Celtic transfer pitch leans heavily on history bucket list destination lets him live
Celtic's visit to the Estadio Nacional follows in the foot steps of their greatest team as legacy helps them build new ones It's a destination that's on every Celtic fan's bucket list. And Brendan Rodgers is no different. The Estadio Nacional was where the Lisbon Lions first roared. Now, it's a place of worship for Hoops supporters. Every day, you'll see green and white jerseys floating in and around the stadium. Punters often stroll down the tunnel and re-enact Bertie Auld singing The Celtic Song - a trick that bemused Inter Milan players and inspired that 1967 European Cup win. Today, it was the turn of Kieran Tierney and Co. as Rodgers took his side for a special visit. It's no surprise that the Scottish champions have based their pre-season camp right next door to the football colosseum. Celts have been put through their paces at Cidade do Futebol - the state-of-the-art training headquarters used by Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national team. A silhouette of history has been looming over their shoulders - a timely reminder of the club's European pedigree ahead of next month's Champions League play-offs. Speaking before they graced the hallowed turf, Rodgers said: "That's what I said to the players. One, we're at a great facility here in Portugal. It's a national team base. "So we always want to give you the best to get the best from you. But also not taking away the notion that you're training in the shadows of greatness here. "Behind you, that night changed the course and direction of this football club forever. "So we will go and see it, because it's a huge part of our history. And we'll look forward to doing that." The remarkable story of Jock Stein's all-conquering side still powers everything at Celtic Park - from the golden star above the crest to the stories passed down through generations. And for new signings walking through the doors at Lennoxtown, Rodgers says it's one of the club's biggest selling points. The Irishman admitted: "Yes, well, it's why they come here. The inspiration is there for them. "They see the star when they come to the ground every other week. "So yes, these guys have done incredible for this football club. "It's what is part of the big attraction for these players to come - having that history in the Champions League, say for example, is really inspiring for them and obviously keeps them grounded, keeps them humble and keeps them focused on being the very best that they can be." Born into a Celtic family in Carnlough, Northern Ireland, Rodgers' close relatives were in the stands as Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers scored the two most important goals in the club's history. Rodgers himself had never made the pilgrimage until now as he and his squad climbed the same chipped steps as Billy McNeill did in the heat of Lisbon 58 years ago. He said: "I've never had a visit. Has it been on the bucket list? Absolutely. "I know for many Celtic supporters that have visited, there's a real emotional feeling around it. "For Scottish football, not just Celtic, it put the flag in for the country as well. So yes, it will be nice to go and feel the nostalgia." Celtic's visit to the holy ground comes just a week since legendary Lisbon Lion, John Clark, was laid to rest. The humble Hoops great was a crucial figure in Celts becoming the first British team to be crowned Kings of Europe. And Rodgers is determined to carry on that legacy. Rodgers added: "I think life in general. If you think of Diogo Jota as well, what happened to him and his brother. "People can sometimes think that these young guys are just invincible. "Because they have superstar status. But I think it shows you that it's real life, what happened to him. "And obviously for John, who had an amazing career and life, at 84 he leaves us with an incredible history and an incredible legacy. "So for these guys, it's our job to continue that."
Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Paul O'Connell's Ireland make history by putting a tonne on Portugal in Lisbon
Portugal 7 Ireland 106 Paul O'Connell's second-string Ireland produced a record Test victory for the national men's team with a 16-try, 99-point spanking of a hapless Portuguese side at a picturesque Estadio Nacional on Saturday evening. A huge Irish contingent made up a major part of what was an estimated 8,000 crowd in a 37,000-capacity stadium where Jock Stein's Celtic had won their European Cup back in 1967. Not so much Lisbon Lions here as lambs to a slaughter. The scorers? We'll keep that as simple as possible. 1st half: Stuart McCloskey, Hugh Gavin, Tommy O'Brien, Shayne Bolton, Tommy O'Brien, Thomas Clarkson, Bolton, Gavin. 2nd half: Craig Casey, Cian Prendergast, Calvin Nash, Ciaran Frawley, Prendergast, Alex Kendellen, Ben Murphy, penalty try. This always looked like a mismatch, even with so many of Ireland's players, coaches and staff on duty in Australia with the British and Irish Lions. It wasn't long before we were reaching for the record books. Ireland's biggest win prior to this was an 83-3 hockeying of the USA in New Hampshire in 2003. Portugal's worst defeat before now had come four years later at the World Cup in Lyon where they lost 108-13 to the All Blacks. Add in Ireland's stroll against Georgia in Tbilisi last weekend and it all adds up to a two-match mini-tour of highly questionable value for a shadow touring side that handed out nine Test debuts in the absence of so many frontline stars. The cliché with games like this is to suggest that it was no more than a glorified training session, but then Portugal had given Andy Farrell's Ireland a right old scare during a behind-closed-doors game before the last World Cup. They've fallen off a cliff since. It took Ireland less than a minute to get off the mark, McCloskey doing the honours. Tone set. Seven more five-pointers followed in the first-half alone, by the end of which the visitors were 52-0 to the good. The ease with which most of the scores came, even the early efforts, was embarrassing. Just awful. Any semblance of a defensive line crumbled at the merest of prods or probes, vast acres of turf were there for gambolling all evening long. Portugal didn't help themselves with some risky stuff out of their own third. and there were rare glimpses of the flowing rugby that so captured the eye and the imagination at the last World Cup in France where they beat Fiji. Full-back Nuno Sousa Gedes was involved in much of what they did manage. It was the 15 who ran under the posts off the back of a clever crosskick from his ten and dizzying feet from Victor Pinto out wide. The problem was a forward pass and it was ruled out. Worse was to follow when Portugal's captain Tomas Appleton was stretchered off after lengthy treatment for what appeared to be a bad ankle injury, and his replacement followed shortly after coming on. All this well before the half-time pause in punishment. It never rains but it pours. The torrent continued on the restart. The only shaft of light for Portugal was a try for their openside Nicolas Martins after 53 minutes but it was a score off the back of a lineout maul from Alex Kendellen that took Ireland past the record margin set in the States 22 years ago. Ben Murphy's converted effort took them to the 99-mark with three minutes to go. They brought the ton up at the very last with English referee Adam Leal awarding a penalty try off a lineout maul in the corner. History made, but what a tough watch. Portugal: N Sousa Guedes; S Bento; V Pinto, T Appleton, M C Pinto; H Aubry, H Camacho; D Costa, L Begic, D H Ferreira; A R Andrade, P Ferreira; D Wallis, N Martins, D Pinheiro. Replacements: G Aviragnet for Appleton (21); F Almeida for Aviragnet (33); G Costa for Andrade (50); M Souto for Begic and A Cunha for Costa (both 57); PS Lopes for Begic (57); AR Andrade for Ferreira (60); V Baptista for Pinheiro 62). Ireland: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, H Gavin, S McCloskey, S Bolton; J Crowley, C Casey; J Boyle, G McCarthy, T Clarkson; T Ahern, D Murray; R Baird, A Kendellen, C Prendergast. Replacements: M Deegan for Baird, M Milne for McCarthy, T Stewart for Boyle, T O'Toole for Clarkson and C Frawley for McCloskey (all 52); C Nash for T O'Brien (54); C Izuchukwu for Murray (60); B Murphy for Casey (61). Referee: A Leal (RFU).
Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland looking to make their own history in shadow of the Lisbon Lions
The past holds sway at the Estadio Nacional on the outskirts of Lisbon. The marbled halls of its grand old entrance give way to a three-sided and otherwise old-fashioned bowl that would make for the perfect backdrop were someone to remake Escape to Victory. The place reeks of history. Its enormous floodlights stand sentinel from amidst the trees on the surrounding hills. And then there's the plaque on a wall beside the dressing-rooms that bears witness to the rickety ground's most memorable of occasions. Dedicated in 2017, it details the day half a century before when Jock Stein's Celtic side came from behind against the catenaccio kings of Inter Milan and claimed a first ever European Cup for Britain and wrote themselves into history as the Lisbon Lions. Craig Casey didn't need educating on all that history. A keen football fan, he had already taken note of this hallowed ground: just the very act of walking up onto the pitch from the subterranean tunnel was a moment for him to appreciate. 'Looking up into the press box or whatever, it's a cool mix of historic and then you see the wraparound. Then the running track on one side, it's completely open. It's a completely different stadium to anything I've ever played in and I think it's class.' Now all that past gives way to invited expressions of intent for the future. Paul O'Connell and his travelling party arrived in Lisbon on the back of an impressive win over Georgia in difficult conditions in Tbilisi seven days before, and in the hope that they can wrap up their season in some style against more Tier Two opposition. Portugal captured hearts with their effervescence at the 2023 World Cup where they drew with Georgia and defeated Fiji. The pickings since, with former Munster coach Simon Mannix replacing Patrice Lagisquet, have been slimmer. Iffy form and poor results will be reflected in a crowd of just 8,000 or so in a stadium that could hold four-and-a-half times that number come kickoff with plenty of those on site, including families of those involved, liable to be supporting the away team. For those looking on from home, the images beamed from your TV screens will make this look even less of an event given the main camera, for some reason, has to be positioned in the main stand and thus facing the empty expanse opposite. This is still a mighty big deal for those involved. Portugal don't get Six Nations sides in town all that often and for those in the visiting ranks this is another chance to put their hands up for more meaningful involvement when the big guns are back in situ next season. Interim head coach Paul O'Connell has made five changes to the side that impressed in Georgia. Alex Kendellen, Shayne Bolton and Hugh Gavin all make their debuts, the last of them elevated into the XV after Jamie Osborne's Lions switch. Plenty will choose to focus on how Jack Crowley goes at ten after managing just a few minutes off the bench for Sam Prendergast last time out, but everyone will be playing with a view to leap-frogging someone else in their own particular queue. All told, it's a youthful and inexperienced lot. Last week's starting side could put together 165 caps, this week's is down to just 113 with another 45 on the bench, largely due to the loss through injury of Jacob Stockdale. 'It's another chance in an Ireland jersey to put your name out there and put your performance down,' said Casey, 'and we know for a fact that those coaches coming back in the autumn will be looking at this game.' The signs are good. The turf is magnificent, as would be expected for a ground that still plays host every year to Portuguese football's Cup final, the hosts this time around are weaker, the ball will be drier, and this Ireland has been together for a month now. The tourists played smartly in the rain seven days ago but will look to unleash a lot more adventure here against a Portuguese side hewn mostly from their domestic league and one that likes to throw the ball about with a bit more abandon than the Georgians. O'Connell has spoken approvingly about how his lads adapted to those conditions, avoiding the temptation to overplay their hand during that audition, while stressing that there is no-one here who isn't capable of standing out at this level for their country. That extends to the handful of players who won't have appeared on the tour. 'It's not about just giving out caps, certainly,' said O'Connell. 'It's about giving guys an opportunity that we think can kick on in the next two-year window and do something for us and compete for places and go back and make their provinces better, which allows them to compete more for places as well. 'It might have been a bit too early for some of the guys, but it's been brilliant for us to have them on the tour with us and for them to train with us and for them to hear the language and see the way they like some of the lads prepare ,and see the way some of them take responsibility for preparing the team. It's great learning for them.' A first ever meeting of these two sides, the hope is that it will be remembered in years to come for something a tad more historic: as the day a star or two of the future is born, or at least burned its brightest yet.
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Diogo Jota's tragic death & Celtic legend John Clark's passing are a lesson to us all
ELEVEN Portuguese flags fluttered from the church's balcony, one for each member of a football team the priest admitted he could name easier than he could the Apostles. We were there to say farewell to John Clark, the eighth of the band of brothers they call the Lisbon Lions, to take the final walk up the tunnel. 3 Diogo Jota was killed in a horror car crash in Spain alongside his brother Credit: Getty 3 Adored Lisbon Lions player John Clark sadly passed away aged 84 Credit: SNS 3 The tragic Liverpool player's distraught wife broke down in tears over his coffin Credit: Darren Fletcher He lived into his 85th year,...
